Alternative Teaching Certification in Alabama
Alabama offers three routes to alternative teaching certification for bachelor’s degree holders: the Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF, formerly ABC), the Interim Employment Certificate (IEC, formerly SAC), and the Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) through an approved teacher preparation organization. All three require a job offer, a mentor, and passing the required Praxis and edTPA exams.
A bachelor’s degree in biology, history, or business doesn’t have to sit unused if you want to teach in an Alabama classroom. The state built three alternative routes for people in that position, and each lets you start teaching before you finish every requirement. Here’s how Alabama’s Provisional Certificate, Interim Employment Certificate, and Conditional Certificate actually work, including what has changed since the state renamed and expanded these programs.
Use the links below to jump to Alabama’s alternative certification routes, requirements, and application steps.
- Alabama’s alternative certification routes
- PCTF requirements and application process
- Approved alternative teacher preparation organizations
- Contact information
Alabama’s Three Alternative Certification Routes
All three routes to alternative teaching certification fall under the Alabama State Department of Education’s rules for alternative approaches to certification, set out in Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 290-3-2. Each requires a recommendation from a superintendent or administrator willing to employ the applicant, and each requires you to already hold a bachelor’s degree.
Interested in the traditional approach instead? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Alabama.
| Route | Who It’s For | Certificate Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF), formerly the Alternative Baccalaureate Level Certificate (ABC) | Bachelor’s degree holders who haven’t yet started an approved teacher preparation program, in K-12, 4-8, or 6-12 fields (excludes Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Special Education, and instructional support areas) | Issued one scholastic year at a time, renewable while requirements are completed |
| Interim Employment Certificate (IEC), formerly the Special Alternative Certificate (SAC) | Candidates already admitted to an approved teacher preparation program who want to teach before finishing it | Issued for up to three scholastic years, requested annually by the employer |
| Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) | Candidates enrolled with an Alabama-approved Alternative Teacher Preparation Organization (ATPO) | Issued one scholastic year at a time, renewable up to three times within four consecutive scholastic years |
The PCTF is the most common route for bachelor’s-degree holders who haven’t started any certification program yet. The IEC fits someone already enrolled in a post-baccalaureate or alternative master’s program with a job offer in hand. The CCTF is the newest option, built specifically around the ATPO programs covered below. If you’re still deciding between routes, Alabama’s substitute teaching license is another way to get classroom experience while you weigh your options.
PCTF Requirements and Application Process
Main Requirements
The PCTF covers K-12, 4-8, and 6-12 teaching fields. It doesn’t cover Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education, or instructional support areas, so confirm with your hiring district if your field falls into one of those categories before counting on this route. Beyond an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, ALSDE’s approved coursework lists vary by teaching field and change as certification rules are updated. Your hiring district’s certification officer can confirm the exact path that applies to you.
Examinations
Alabama’s testing requirements now run through the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP), which replaced the older Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program (APTTP). You’ll need a passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment for your teaching field, plus the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA), required since 2018 for most fields. A short list of fields without an edTPA handbook, including Computer Science, Gifted Education, Health Science, and Technical Education, uses the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam instead. If you haven’t already passed a basic skills assessment, that’s required as well.
Mentorship
You’ll need a mentor assigned before you qualify for certification. Your employer is typically the one who provides it.
Criminal History Background Check
Every applicant for a PCTF in Alabama completes a Criminal History Background Check through the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You’ll be fingerprinted and will need to authorize your criminal history information for review by the Alabama Department of Education. Fingerprinting carries its own fee, and third-party fingerprinting locations are available through your local police department or through additional locations disclosed by your education program’s certification officer.
The Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) and Approved ATPOs
Alabama’s third route works through Alternative Teacher Preparation Organizations (ATPOs): iteach Alabama, #T.E.A.C.H., and, as of 2025, American Board. Candidates complete their coursework directly through the ATPO instead of a college or university, then apply for a Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) once they’ve secured a teaching position. Applications go through your hiring superintendent, and CCTFs run one scholastic year at a time, renewable up to three times within four consecutive scholastic years.
You’ll typically need a passing Praxis Subject Assessment score for your field. Candidates in fields without a Praxis Subject Test can instead show 30 credit hours, including 18 upper-division hours, in the content area. Complete the program in under three years, and you’ll take the edTPA. Teach three full years on a CCTF, and you can take the Praxis PLT instead. If you’re weighing an ATPO against a university-based PCTF or IEC, ask your target school district’s certification officer which organizations and routes they currently accept, since approval status and requirements can change.
Contact Information
Find more information regarding alternative certification routes, requirements, and procedures by contacting the Alabama Department of Education’s Teacher Certification Section by phone: (334) 353-8567, by email at [email protected], or through their teacher certification page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Alabama’s PCTF, IEC, and CCTF alternative certificates?
The PCTF (formerly the ABC) is for bachelor’s degree holders who haven’t yet started a teacher preparation program. The IEC (formerly the SAC) is for candidates already admitted to an approved program who want to begin teaching before they finish it. The CCTF is for candidates completing coursework through an approved Alternative Teacher Preparation Organization instead of a university. All three require an employer’s recommendation and a bachelor’s degree.
Do I need a job offer before applying for alternative certification in Alabama?
Yes. The PCTF, IEC, and CCTF all require a recommendation from a superintendent or school administrator who intends to employ you. Alabama doesn’t issue any of the three certificates without an employer already lined up.
What exams do I need to pass for Alabama alternative certification?
Most applicants need a passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment for their teaching field, plus the edTPA, which has been required since 2018 for most fields. A handful of fields without an edTPA handbook use the Praxis PLT instead, and candidates who teach three full years on a CCTF can also choose the PLT over the edTPA. If you haven’t already passed a basic skills assessment, that’s required too.
What happened to Alabama’s ABC and SAC certificates?
Alabama renamed both programs. The Alternative Baccalaureate Level Certificate (ABC) is now the Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF), and the Special Alternative Certificate (SAC) is now the Interim Employment Certificate (IEC). Alabama also added a third route, the Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF), for candidates working through an approved teacher preparation organization. The older ABC and SAC names still show up on many program pages and in casual conversation.
How long can I teach on a PCTF before I need full certification?
PCTFs are issued for one scholastic year at a time, and Alabama caps how long you can work under alternative certificates before you need to complete requirements for the full Class B Professional Educator Certificate. Once you’ve earned that certificate, you’ll eventually need to renew your Alabama teaching certificate on the state’s regular cycle. Your education program’s certification officer can confirm your exact timeline based on your teaching field and enrollment status.
- Three routes exist for bachelor’s degree holders — the PCTF (formerly ABC) for those not yet in a prep program, the IEC (formerly SAC) for those already enrolled in one, and the CCTF for candidates working through an approved teacher preparation organization.
- A job offer comes first — all three certificates require a recommendation from an Alabama superintendent or school administrator before you can apply.
- Testing now includes edTPA — most fields require the Praxis Subject Assessment plus the edTPA, in place since 2018, with the Praxis PLT used for a short list of fields and for CCTF candidates who teach three full years.
- A background check is mandatory — every applicant is fingerprinted and screened through the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the FBI.
- The old names haven’t disappeared — ABC and SAC are still widely used even though ALSDE now calls the certificates PCTF and IEC, and has since added the CCTF as a third option.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Alabama, including alternative pathway coursework and support for your certification exams.
