How to Become a Teacher in Alabama

The Short Version

Getting certified to teach in Alabama boils down to five steps: earn at least a bachelor's degree, register on the ALSDE's AIM portal, clear a criminal background check through Fieldprint, pass the required AECAP exams (Praxis content tests, and possibly the edTPA or Foundations of Reading), and submit a complete application through your university's certification officer or a sponsoring school district. The entire process takes anywhere from 4 to 18 months depending on which route you take.

What trips most people up isn't the difficulty — it's the sequencing. Submit your fingerprints before your transcripts arrive, and you'll wait weeks for nothing. Register for the wrong Praxis test code, and you've wasted $170 and a testing window. The ALSDE processes about 4 to 8 weeks per application, so a single misstep can push your start date back an entire semester.

Six Routes Into an Alabama Classroom

Alabama doesn't offer a one-size-fits-all certification path. The right route depends on your existing degree, your GPA, whether you already have a teaching job lined up, and which grade level and subject you want to teach.

Traditional Program Approach — You graduate from a state-approved teacher preparation program at an Alabama college, complete student teaching, and your university's certification officer recommends you directly to the ALSDE. This is the most straightforward path and results in a Class B Professional Educator Certificate. You'll need a 2.50 GPA across your overall coursework, professional studies, and teaching field — and the state does not round (a 2.49 is a disqualifier).

Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) — For career changers with a non-education bachelor's degree. A school district must hire you first and have their superintendent sponsor your application. You teach full-time while completing four pedagogy courses at an approved Alabama university over three years. Not available for early childhood, elementary, or special education fields.

Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) — Similar to the PCTF but through a state-approved Alternative Teacher Preparation Organization (ATPO) like iteach or American Board. The ATPO handles your pedagogical training while you teach under a sponsored credential for up to three one-year terms within a four-year window.

Interim Employment Certificate (IEC) — For candidates already enrolled in an approved Alternative Class A master's program or traditional Class A program. Covers all fields including elementary and special education, unlike the PCTF.

Temporary Special Education Certificate (TSEC) — A focused pathway for grades 6–12 collaborative teaching positions. Requires completing five designated special education courses at an approved university while teaching full-time. You must pass the Special Education: Foundational Knowledge Praxis (test 5355) before your third year ends.

Certificate Reciprocity — Out-of-state teachers with an active standard professional license in a comparable teaching field can apply for reciprocity. Three or more years of verified full-time experience typically waives the Praxis requirement.

The Step-by-Step Process

Regardless of which route fits your situation, the operational steps follow the same general sequence:

1. Inventory your transcripts — Confirm your degree, GPA, and major alignment. The standard GPA threshold is 2.50 on a 4.0 scale. If you fall between 2.00 and 2.49, you can still qualify through the alternative route by scoring 5% above the standard Praxis passing score or completing six upper-level semester hours in your teaching field.

2. Create your AIM account — Register at aim.alsde.edu. The system generates your unique ALSDE identification number, which links all your background checks, test scores, and applications going forward.

3. Complete your background check — Register through the AIM portal for a Fieldprint fingerprint scan. The fee is $46.20 for in-state electronic Livescan or $56.15 for out-of-state paper card processing. Results reach the TCERT system in 2 to 5 business days for electronic scans.

4. Register for and pass your exams — Praxis Subject Assessments ($120–$170 per test) through ETS, plus the edTPA portfolio assessment ($300) or Praxis PLT ($156) depending on your route. Early childhood, elementary, and Collaborative Special Education K–6 candidates also need the Pearson Foundations of Reading exam (test 890, $139). When registering through ETS, designate ALSDE code 7020 as your automatic score recipient.

5. Secure employment — Alternative route candidates must be hired by an Alabama school district before applying for certification. Traditional candidates apply for positions through careersalk12education.org or directly with district HR offices.

6. Submit your application — Your university certification officer (traditional route) or employing superintendent (alternative routes) submits the completed packet. You pay the $38 nonrefundable application fee through AIM/ACE.

7. Complete mentorship — First-year teachers enter the Alabama Teacher Mentor Program (ATMP), with a minimum of 2.5 hours of weekly contact time with an assigned mentor.

What It Costs

The baseline certification costs add up to roughly $350–$700 depending on your pathway:

• Application fee: $38 per certificate
• Fingerprinting: $46.20 (in-state) or $56.15 (out-of-state)
• Praxis Subject Assessment: $120–$170
• edTPA: $300 (or Praxis PLT: $156)
• Foundations of Reading (if required): $139

Alternative certification program fees run separately — from $1,450 (American Board promotional pricing) to $4,949 (iteach discounted plan) to $30,000 for a full Alternative Class A master's program.

Two Deadlines That Catch Everyone

The ALSDE enforces two hard deadlines that regularly trip up new applicants:

The 60-day rule — If your application is incomplete, the Certification Section sends a deficiency letter. You have exactly 60 calendar days to submit the missing documentation. Miss it, and the application closes. Your $38 fee is gone, and you restart under whatever rules are in effect at that point.

The 6-month testing rule — Once the ALSDE sends you an eligibility letter specifying which tests you need, you have six months to submit official passing scores. Miss this window, and the same thing happens: application closed, fee forfeited, start over.

Both rules apply regardless of your route. Plan your testing schedule around these windows, not around your convenience.

Your Next Step

If you're mapping out your certification path and want every step, deadline, and document requirement organized into one sequenced plan, the Alabama Teacher Certification Guide walks you through each route with checklists and trackers built specifically for Alabama's system.

See more Alabama guides →