Alabama Special Education Teacher Certification

Special education is one of Alabama's most persistent shortage areas, and the certification pathways reflect that urgency — the state has built routes specifically designed to get qualified candidates into collaborative classrooms faster than the traditional program timeline allows. But the routes have grade-band restrictions that trip up candidates who don't check them early.

Two Alternative Routes, Two Different Grade Bands

Alabama offers two main alternative pathways into special education, and they cover different grade levels:

Temporary Special Education Certificate (TSEC) — available exclusively for grades 6-12 collaborative teaching. This route is designed for candidates who hold a bachelor's degree but lack a traditional education background. You teach full-time as a Collaborative Teacher 6-12 while completing five designated special education courses at an approved Alabama university.

Interim Employment Certificate (IEC) — available for all grade bands including K-6 and P-3 special education. This route requires enrollment in an approved Alternative Class A master's program. You teach full-time while earning your graduate degree.

The critical distinction: if you want to teach special education at the elementary level (K-6 or P-3), the TSEC is not available to you. Your only alternative route is the university-based IEC through an Alt-A master's program. The PCTF and CCTF routes through ATPOs like iteach or American Board also exclude special education entirely.

TSEC Route Requirements (Grades 6-12)

To qualify for a TSEC, you need:

• A bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum 2.50 overall GPA (or 3.00 on a master's degree)
• Full-time employment as a Collaborative Teacher 6-12 in an Alabama school district
• Enrollment in or completion of at least one of the five required special education courses at an approved university — this must happen before your initial temporary license is issued
• A cleared criminal background check through Fieldprint Alabama ($46.20)

The TSEC is a three-year pathway. Before the end of year three, you must pass the Special Education: Foundational Knowledge Praxis (test 5355). You'll also need to complete either the edTPA portfolio ($300) or, if you have three or more years of teaching experience, the Praxis PLT exam ($156).

Universities approved for the TSEC program include the University of West Alabama, University of North Alabama, Athens State University, and the University of Montevallo. Each offers the five required courses, though delivery format (online, hybrid, or campus) varies by institution.

Testing Requirements for Special Education

Special education candidates face a specific testing sequence:

• Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (test 5355) — required for the TSEC special education 6-12 route. Cost: $120-$170
• Pearson Foundations of Reading (test 890) — required if your certification covers K-6 collaborative special education. Cost: $139, passing score of 233
• edTPA or Praxis PLT — the pedagogical assessment requirement. edTPA costs $300; PLT costs $156

The Foundations of Reading requirement is one that catches K-6 special education candidates off guard. Even if your primary focus is behavior support or inclusion services rather than reading instruction, the state requires the test for any credential that covers elementary grades.

The Emergency Certificate Is No Longer an Option for Special Ed

Alabama discontinued the Emergency Certificate in Special Education after the 2018-2019 school term. Districts can no longer request emergency credentials to fill special education vacancies — they must use the TSEC or IEC pathways instead.

This means there's no shortcut into a special education classroom. Every candidate must have a structured plan for completing the required coursework and testing within the certificate's validity window.

First-Year Mentorship

Like all alternatively-certified teachers in Alabama, special education candidates are placed in the Alabama Teacher Mentor Program (ATMP) during their first year. The program requires a minimum of 2.5 hours of weekly contact time with an assigned mentor. This is a mandatory requirement for converting your temporary or interim credential to a standard Professional Educator Certificate.

Which Path Should You Choose?

If you want to teach grades 6-12 collaborative special education and prefer the faster, more affordable route, the TSEC through a university partnership keeps costs to roughly five courses of tuition plus testing fees. You're earning a full salary while you complete the program.

If you want to teach K-6 or P-3 special education, or if you want to earn a master's degree (and the higher Class A salary), the university Alt-A program with an IEC is your path. It costs more in tuition but positions you on a higher salary lane for your entire career.

The Alabama Teacher Certification Guide includes a route comparison worksheet that maps your degree, GPA, and target grade band to the right special education pathway, along with a testing logistics tracker to sequence your Praxis and Foundations of Reading registrations.

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