CERTIFICATION GUIDELINES

All candidates are required to successfully complete the APTT [Basic Skills] and appropriate Praxis II exam for their teaching field as a criteria for certification in the state of Alabama,  However, both are required for admission or retention in the TEP prior to program completion.

BEYOND THE INTERNSHIP

After you complete your internship, you will need to do several things in order to find a teaching  position. You will need to apply for certification, develop a resume and cover letter, get letters of reference, and polish your interviewing skills.

CERTIFICATION - EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999

Individuals who have completed a baccalaureate or higher degree with a regionally accredited senior institution may be eligible for Alabama certification.   Apply at least one month before graduation.  Applications are available in the Office of Teacher Education Services (Wills 207) and in the Office of Graduate Studies (Wills 208).

Those seeking certification in an additional area(s) or at a higher level than that which is currently held in Alabama are advised to contact an institution of higher education with an approved teacher education program in the area in which certification is desired.  The institution’s certification officer can provide information concerning requirements.

Undergraduates should return completed application and (2) money orders for the appropriate amounts to TES Office (Wills 207).  Graduate or NTFY students should return money orders and applications to the Office of Graduate Studies (Wills 208).  Students should apply for certification within five years of graduation. 

For ECE/ELEM and ELEM with collaborative endorsement, submit $40.  For secondary comprehensive or two teaching field certificates, submit $20.  If you are adding a middle school endorsement to the secondary certificates, submit $40.  Students will also need to submit a separate $49 check for a background clearance.

Effective July 1, 1999, applicants will be required to obtain background clearance through a fingerprinting review conducted by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).   There is a $49 fee.  Individuals who have obtained background clearance within the past two years will not be required to obtain another background clearance for additional certification since they hold a valid Alabama certificate.  Individuals who obtain background clearance and allow their certificates to lapse for more than 90 days (hold no Alabama certificate for that 90-day period) will be required to obtain another background clearance for the issuance of any certificate or license. Every individual seeking initial certification will be required to obtain background clearance from the ABI and FBI.

The State Department of Education may refuse to issue or may suspend or revoke a teaching certificate for several reasons that include the following:

a.         If the applicant or certificate holder is proven guilty of immoral conduct or unbecoming or indecent behavior in Alabama or in any other state.

b.         If the applicant or certificate holder is proven guilty of a felony.

c.         If the applicant or certificate holder alters the certificate or provides
            fraudulent information.

d.         An applicant whose certificate has been revoked or suspended in another state must have that certificate reinstated by the originating state before any actions will be taken on an application for Alabama certification.

The certificate becomes valid on July 1 of the year in which it is issued.  For example, the Certificate for students graduating in December 2006 and May and August 2007 will be valid beginning July 1, 2007.  Certificates of students graduating between December 2006 and August 2007 will be valid beginning July 1, 2007.

All professional certificates, the B level certificate (baccalaureate degree) and A level (masters degree) are valid for 5 years.  Each certificate is continued based on the following requirements.  Requirements must be met prior to September 1 of the year of its expiration.  Criteria for continuing professional certificates are discussed later.

• 3 years of satisfactory educational experience and either 5 allowable Continuing Educational Units (CEUs), which equate to 50 clock hours of professional development, or 3 semester/4 quarter hours of allowable credit.

• 5 allowable CEUs and 3 semester/4 quarter hours of allowable upper division credit or 6 semester/9 quarter hours of allowable credit.

All educational experience, CEUs, and credit hours applied toward the continuation of a certificate shall be completed during the valid period of the current certificate but no later than September 1 of the year of expiration of the certificate.

It is your professional responsibility to continue your certificate.

To reinstate a lapsed certificate meeting requirements on or after September 1 of the year of its expiration must validate it.  Most lapsed professional certificates can be reinstated with the verification of 9 semester hours/14 quarter hours of allowable credit earned within five years prior to the beginning date of the reinstated certificate.

Alabama has certificate reciprocity agreements with the following states:

Arizona Arkansas Colorado California Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Guam

Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts

Michigan Mississippi Montana Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina

Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah

Vermont Virginia Washington Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wyoming

The following items must be submitted to the SDE for background reviews to be processed:

§       Appropriate application for certification/licensure

§       $20 certification/licensure fee (cashier’s check or money order payable to the SDE)

§       Two legible fingerprint cards

§       Release Form

§       Background Review Consent Form

§       $49 ABI and FBI background review fee (cashier’s check or money order payable to the SDE; must be a separate cashier’s check or money order from the $20 for the certification).

Note:  State and Federal background checks may take four to eight weeks.  Recent changes in the State rules allow school systems to hire students that have completed State approved programs and have been recommended for certification.

 

Please note that you have five years from the completion of program to apply for certification.  Applications submitted past the five year period will be required to be evaluated and complete any curriculum and program admission and/or completion requirements.