How to Become a Teacher in Alabama
How to become a teacher in Alabama starts with ALSDE's certification requirements. For most routes, that means a bachelor's degree from a state-approved preparation program, the Praxis exam tied to your specific certification field, and fingerprint-based background clearance through the Educator Certification Section. Traditional, alternative, and Career and Technical Education pathways are all available depending on your background.
How teacher certification works varies by state, but Alabama's process is built around one central body: the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). For the traditional and alternative Professional Educator Certificate routes covered here, that means a bachelor's degree from an ALSDE-approved program, the Praxis assessment tied to your specific certification field, and background clearance through the Educator Certification Section. Alabama also certifies Career and Technical Education teachers through a separate pathway based on industry and occupational qualifications, and some of those routes don't require a bachelor's degree at all. Here's how to become a teacher in Alabama, step by step, and what changes if you're coming to teaching from a different career.
Choose What You Want To Teach
Before you pick a program, decide what age group and subject you want to teach. Elementary, middle, and secondary certification each come with different coursework and different Praxis subject tests, so settling this early shapes every step that follows. If you already know you want to teach a specific subject, like math or a foreign language, check that your target program offers certification in that area before you enroll.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree and Complete an Approved Program
According to the Alabama State Department of Education, the requirement for a Professional Educator Certificate is a bachelor's degree from a state-approved teacher education program at a regionally accredited college or university, plus passing the Praxis assessment for your certification field. The state maintains a list of approved educator preparation programs: check that your target school is on it before you enroll.
This standard applies to Alabama's traditional and alternative Professional Educator Certificate routes, which cover most K-12 classroom teaching and are the focus of this page. Alabama separately certifies Career and Technical Education teachers through a pathway based on industry and occupational qualifications, and some CTE routes don't require a bachelor's degree at all.
The most direct route is a bachelor's degree in your certification area from a state-approved program at an Alabama college or university. Work with your program's certification officer throughout: they're the one who submits your recommendation for certification once you finish.
Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
Alabama requires certification for anyone teaching in a public school, and that certification comes after completing an approved preparation program. These programs combine coursework (pedagogy, subject-specific teaching methods, classroom management, and instructional technology) with a fieldwork component that includes classroom observation and student teaching. Student teaching typically means writing lesson plans, reflecting on your own instruction, and assembling a portfolio.
Preparation programs can run online or on campus, as long as the program itself is state-approved. If you already hold a bachelor's degree in a different field, you can take an alternative route instead, often a post-baccalaureate program and sometimes paired with a master's degree.
Alternative Teacher Certification in Alabama
If your bachelor's degree is in a field outside education, Alabama offers alternative paths into the classroom that don't require starting over with a second bachelor's degree. The two main current pathways are the Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field and the Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field, alongside additional field-specific alternatives for areas like special education.
Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF)
The CCTF pathway is available to candidates who complete a program through an ALSDE-approved Alternative Teacher Preparation Organization (ATPO). The ATPO handles eligibility and program requirements, and an employing local board of education or nonpublic school requests the certificate on the candidate's behalf. You teach under the CCTF while finishing the ATPO's coursework toward a full Professional Educator Certificate.
Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF)
The PCTF pathway runs as a series of one-year certificates over three years, paired with designated coursework at an Alabama college or university completed alongside your teaching. As with the CCTF, an employing local board of education or nonpublic school requests the certificate on your behalf.
Alabama also has field-specific alternative approaches for areas such as special education. Eligibility rules, employer-request requirements, and coursework vary by pathway, so contact the Educator Certification Section directly before you commit to a route.
Pass the Exams Required for Teacher Certification in Alabama
Once your education requirements are complete, the next step is passing the Praxis assessment tied to your specific certification field. Alabama doesn't use one universal test sequence: the required Praxis Subject Assessment and, in some cases, an additional pedagogy or performance assessment depend on which teaching field and certification pathway you're pursuing.
ALSDE's Educator Certification Section publishes the current, approved list of Praxis tests by certification field and pathway. Check it directly rather than assuming one standard sequence applies, since requirements are field-specific and can change.
Some colleges and universities also require passing your field's exam before you can enter or exit their teacher preparation program: check with your program advisor for your specific requirements.
Apply for Your Alabama Teacher Certification
Certification forms for prospective teachers are available on the Alabama State Department of Education's website.
Application Requirements
To apply for an Alabama teaching certificate (Professional Educator Certificate), use the appropriate form from ALSDE's Certification Forms list and submit it along with:
- A recommendation for certification from your state-approved program
- Official college transcripts
- The application fee
- Fingerprint-based background clearance from the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation (ASBI) and FBI, through the Educator Certification Section, unless you already have qualifying clearance on file
Contact Information
Office of Teaching and Leading
Teacher Certification Section
5215 Gordon Persons Building
PO Box 302101
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-2101
Phone: (334) 353-8567
Find a Teaching Job in Alabama
Once you're certified, you're ready to start applying. Alabama's public and private schools both hire year-round, though postings pick up heavily in spring for the following school year. If you're weighing options beyond Alabama, certification requirements shift by state: see how the process compares in Florida, Georgia, or Tennessee.
Public School Teaching Jobs
Teaching jobs in Alabama are trending slightly upward as class-size ratios shift to benefit students. Growth areas include agriculture, foreign languages, the sciences, special education, business, mathematics, and computer science.
Private School Teaching Jobs
Alabama has nearly 400 private schools serving roughly 75,000 students. Private school teachers may see smaller class sizes, a specific religious affiliation, or a single-gender environment, depending on the school.
Alabama Education Association
The Alabama Education Association (AEA) is the state's teachers' union, serving more than 100,000 educators. Beyond standard membership benefits, the AEA provides legal support for teachers facing disciplinary action, transfers, or lawsuits connected to their employment, plus access to insurance, loans, and financial planning. For retirement, teachers can contribute to the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA), which manages public pension funds for the state's education employees.
Teacher Shortage Areas in Alabama
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education identified the following shortage areas in its most recent Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) report for Alabama:
- Mathematics (PreK-12)
- Science - Biological Sciences (PreK-12)
- Science - Physical Science (PreK-12)
- Language Arts (PreK-12)
- Special Education (PreK-12)
- Special Education - Life Skills (PreK-12)
Alabama Teacher Employment and Wages
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Alabama employed 22,030 elementary school teachers and 15,880 secondary school teachers as of May 2025, with median annual wages of $61,380 and $61,990, respectively.
| Occupation | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Job Growth (2024-2034) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 7,910 | $28,310 | +12.2% |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 310 | $50,900 | +3.2% |
| Elementary School Teachers | 22,030 | $61,380 | +1.0% |
| Middle School Teachers | 10,000 | $61,770 | +0.8% |
| Secondary School Teachers | 15,880 | $61,990 | +1.1% |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary | 870 | $64,520 | +1.1% |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 460 | $62,850 | +0.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 740 | $62,210 | +0.4% |
Unlike the national trend, where most K-12 teaching occupations are projected to decline slightly, Projections Central shows Alabama's teaching workforce growing across every category above, from a modest 0.4% for middle school special education to a strong 12.2% for preschool teachers.
Continue Your Education and Professional Development
Teachers build their skills over the course of a career, not just in their prep program, and Alabama treats professional development as an ongoing requirement, not an optional extra. Development happens through formal and informal sessions, often alongside peers and more experienced colleagues, with the goal of improving outcomes for students.
Professional Development in Alabama
The Alabama Council for Leadership Development works with ALSDE to help teachers determine appropriate professional development content and delivery methods. Common measures of ongoing development include Professional Learning Units (PLUs) and Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Teachers looking for courses can check eLearning Alabama, the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX), Alabama Technology in Motion (ATIM), and other district- and state-approved options.
Class A Certification and Graduate Study
Alabama's baseline Class B certification, earned with a bachelor's degree, is what you need to teach in the state. ALSDE also offers a Class A certificate, a higher-level credential built on top of Class B, but earning a master's degree on its own doesn't automatically produce it. Class A certification carries its own program and certification requirements, set by ALSDE, separate from simply holding a graduate degree.
Working toward Class A certification generally means completing graduate coursework through a program on ALSDE's Approved Programs list, in your current certification field or one of the state-approved subject areas, then applying for the certificate once you meet ALSDE's requirements. A master's degree completed out of state goes through Alabama's reciprocity review before it can count toward Class A.
Graduate coursework has a use even short of Class A: Class B certificates expire every five years and require continuing education to renew, and six hours of allowable graduate credit can satisfy that requirement on its own. If you're admitted to a Class A-qualifying program, you may also be eligible for an Interim Employment Certificate, which lets you teach for up to three years while you finish.
Teacher Certification Reciprocity in Alabama
If you're already certified in another state, Alabama doesn't require you to start from scratch. ALSDE reviews out-of-state certificates through its reciprocity process, evaluating your existing credential and teaching experience against Alabama's requirements. Depending on the review, you may be issued a full Professional Educator Certificate or a provisional certificate that lets you teach while you complete any remaining Alabama-specific requirements. Start by contacting the Educator Certification Section directly - reciprocity reviews are handled case by case, and the exact paperwork depends on your current state and certificate type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bachelor's degree in education to teach in Alabama?
Not necessarily. A bachelor's degree in any field qualifies you for an alternative certification route like the CCTF or PCTF, which pairs on-the-job teaching with the coursework and exams you still need to complete. Career and Technical Education certification goes further: some CTE routes use industry or occupational qualifications instead of a bachelor's degree at all. A degree in education through a traditional program is the more direct path for standard classroom certification, but it isn't the only one.
What tests do I need to pass for Alabama teacher certification?
It depends on your certification field and pathway. Alabama requires a Praxis Subject Assessment specific to your teaching area, and some fields or pathways add a pedagogy or performance assessment on top of that. ALSDE's Educator Certification Section publishes the current, field-by-field list of required tests: check it directly rather than assuming one standard sequence applies.
How long does it take to become a certified teacher in Alabama?
A traditional bachelor's-degree program typically takes about four years. Alternative routes for candidates who already hold a bachelor's degree can move faster, since coursework happens while you're already teaching under a temporary certificate.
Can I transfer my teaching certificate to Alabama from another state?
Yes, through ALSDE's reciprocity review process. Your out-of-state certificate and teaching experience are evaluated against Alabama's requirements, and you may be issued a full or provisional certificate depending on the outcome.
Is there a teacher shortage in Alabama?
Alabama has documented shortage areas in mathematics, the sciences, language arts, and special education, per the U.S. Department of Education's most recent Teacher Shortage Area report. Job growth data from Projections Central also shows Alabama's teaching workforce expanding across nearly every grade band through 2034.
- ALSDE sets the requirements - a bachelor's degree for most routes, the Praxis test tied to your specific field, and fingerprint-based background clearance through the Educator Certification Section, before you can be recommended for certification.
- Alternative routes exist - candidates with a non-education bachelor's degree can pursue certification through the Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field, the Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field, or other field-specific alternatives while already teaching.
- A bachelor's degree isn't universal - Career and Technical Education certification uses a separate industry or occupational-qualification pathway, and some CTE routes don't require one at all.
- Alabama's job outlook runs counter to the national trend - Projections Central shows growth in every teaching category here, from 0.4% in middle school special education to 12.2% for preschool teachers.
- Class A certification takes more than a graduate degree - ALSDE sets specific program and certification requirements on top of holding a master's, and reciprocity lets out-of-state certificate holders skip starting over through an ALSDE review.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, plus Special Education Teachers and Preschool Teachers. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.
Certification is only one piece of the plan: the other is finding a program built around how you actually need to study, whether that's a traditional four-year track or an alternative route you can start while working. The sponsored programs listed here include options for both, and several accept applicants who already hold a degree outside education.