Professional Licensure (Certification)
The curricula offered by the College of Education are designed to prepare teachers and school administrative and supervisory officials for the appropriate certificates. Certification programs are available for the Alabama Class A and Class AA professional certificates. The College of Education, in accordance with the regulations of the Alabama State Board of Education, also provides assistance to individuals who need courses for the renewal of a certificate.
The associate dean for student services in the College of Education has been designated the teacher certification officer for the University. Students who need information about or assistance with certification should consult the associate dean for student services.
Alabama Educator Code of Ethics
The Alabama Educator Code of Ethics defines the professional behavior of educators in Alabama and serves as a guide to ethical conduct. The code protects the health, safety and general welfare of students and educators; outlines objective standards of conduct for professional educators; and clearly defines actions of an unethical nature for which disciplinary sanctions are justified.
Fingerprinting/Background Clearance
Applicants to a State-approved certification program shall be required to be fingerprinted for a criminal history background check through the Alabama State Department of Education to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) pursuant to ACT 2002-457. This includes all students (traditional, alternative, out-of-state, and distance learners) enrolled in programs that lead to Alabama certification, regardless of whether or not they are pursuing Alabama certification. The background check is completed at the student’s expense, and suitability must be documented in the Office of Student Services & Certification before the student is assigned placement in a clinical setting. [Alabama Administrative Code] A candidate whose suitability determination precludes admission to a state-approved teacher education program has the right to due process procedures in accordance with the current Educator Certification Chapter of the Alabama Administrative Code (Revocation and Suspension of Certificates and Unsuitability Determinations).
Application for Certification
All students must complete the proper application form for Alabama certification. Forms are available through the Alabama State Department of Education. Applications should be submitted to Student Services in 104 Carmichael Hall. A student who does not apply for professional licensure within 60 months after completing the state-approved program will be required to meet the current program. Students who plan to teach in other states must secure the proper professional licensure application forms from those states' departments of education.
Alabama Class A Professional Certificate
Class A teacher education programs are designed to help teachers more effectively serve the purposes defined for the same teaching field at the Class B level, provided such programs exist. The intent of the fifth-year program is to help the teacher develop higher levels of competence than is possible in the Class B program.
Effective for candidates admitted July 1, 2017, and thereafter, a cumulative GPA of not less than 3.25 is required for all courses used to meet the requirements on the approved program checklist for a Class A teaching field or area of instructional support, and a final comprehensive examination is required.
A survey of special education course is required. An individual who completed a survey of special education course prior to meeting requirements for unconditional admission to a Class A program on July 1, 2017, and thereafter, must take an approved course focused primarily on one of the following categories: methods of accommodating instruction to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities in inclusive settings, multicultural education, teaching English language learners, rural education, or urban education. A course used to meet this requirement for one level of certification may not be used to meet the requirement for a higher level of certification.
Following a review by the Alabama State Department of Education, the Class A Professional Certificate is granted to the student who (a) has applied for and has been recommended for certification by the College of Education, and (b) has completed a pre-planned graduate program, approved by the state board of education, that includes a master's degree. It is important to remember that the awarding of a master's or higher degree does not necessarily imply that the student is eligible for Class A certification.
Applicants for initial certification in a teaching field or area of instructional support must meet the requirements of the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP). Information about Praxis assessments is available at https://www.ets.org/praxis/al/test-takers/plan-your-test/certification.html, and information about Foundations of Reading 190 is available at https://www.al.nesinc.com/. Information is also available in the Office of Student Services & Certification (104 Carmichael Hall).
An individual who completes an Alabama State-approved program must submit an application for Alabama certification within 60 calendar months of the program completion date. The Class A certificate is valid for five years and may be renewed according to regulations of the Alabama State Department of Education. Individuals are responsible for meeting renewal requirements and submitting the application for renewal.
Alabama Class AA Professional Certificate
The essential objective of the sixth-year program is to extend upward the level of competence of the teacher. Following a review by the Alabama State Board of Education, the Class AA Professional Certificate is granted to students who (a) have applied for and are recommended for certification by the College of Education, and (b) have completed a pre-planned graduate program, approved by the state board of education. Students seeking Class AA professional certification must enroll in and complete the EdS (or doctoral) degree program in the desired certification area in order to obtain the University's recommendation for Class AA professional certification. Courses used to qualify for a lower-level supporting certificate may not be used again as part of a higher-level certification program.
Effective for candidates admitted July 1, 2017, and thereafter, a cumulative GPA of not less than 3.50 is required for all courses used to meet the requirements on the approved program checklist for a Class AA teaching field or area of instructional support; and a final comprehensive examination is required.
A survey of special education course is required. An individual who completed a survey of special education course prior to meeting requirements for unconditional admission to a Class AA program on July 1, 2017, and thereafter, must take a course focused primarily on one of the following categories: methods of accommodating instruction to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities in inclusive settings, multicultural education, teaching English language learners, rural education, or urban education. A course used to meet this requirement for one level of certification may not be used to meet the requirement for a higher level of certification.
Applicants for initial certification in a teaching field or area of instructional support must meet the requirements of the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP). Information about Praxis assessments is available at https://www.ets.org/praxis/al/test-takers/plan-your-test/certification.html, and information about Foundations of Reading 190 is available at https://www.al.nesinc.com/. Information is also available in the Office of Student Services & Certification (104 Carmichael Hall).
A maximum of 15 semester hours of appropriate post-master's-degree credit earned through an institution approved to offer graduate programs beyond the master's level in the field of study in which the credits were earned may, with approval by the department head or his or her designee, be applied toward the Class AA Professional Certificate. It is important to remember that the awarding of a graduate degree does not necessarily imply that the student is eligible for Alabama certification.
An individual who completes an Alabama State-approved program must submit an application for Alabama certification within 60 calendar months of the program completion date. The Class AA certificate is valid for five years and may be renewed according to regulations of the Alabama State Department of Education. Individuals are responsible for meeting renewal requirements and submitting the application for renewal.
Alternative Approaches to Certification
In addition to "regular" certification programs, the Alabama State Board of Education offers alternative approaches to certification. Some of these include: (a) Alternative Class A approach (see information in this catalog); (b) provisional certificate in a teaching field; (c) provisional certificate in Library Media or School Counseling; (d) CACREP-accredited School Counseling Program approach; (e) Nationally Certified School Psychologist approach; and (f) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards approach. Information regarding these approaches is available via the Alabama State Department of Education.
Policies for Out-of-State Students at Master's Level (Class A) and Educational Specialist Level (Class AA) for Any Area Except Educational Administration
Students planning to teach outside the state of Alabama are held personally responsible for knowledge of professional licensure requirements in those states.
Admission requirements for master's level (Class A) programs for teachers include "eligibility for Class B certification in the teaching field(s) in which Class A certification is sought," except in a few specified fields.
Admission requirements for educational specialist level (Class AA) programs for teachers include "eligibility for Class A certification in the teaching field(s) in which Class A certification is sought," except in a few specified fields.
Out-of-state students who do not meet the above admission requirements to enroll in courses at the respective levels may be recommended to other state departments of education based only on completion of coursework, not completion of approved programs. Thus, these students will not be eligible for Alabama certification and, if and when the students wish to receive Alabama certification and teach in Alabama, they must present verification of eligibility for an appropriate prerequisite Alabama certificate before being recommended for Alabama certification.
Foreign Credentials
Coursework and/or a degree accepted from institutions outside the United States shall be substantiated by an evaluation of the foreign credentials from a state, federal, or private foreign credential evaluation service recognized by the Teacher Education and Certification Office. Contact the College's Office of Student Services and Certification for more information.
Changes in Certification Requirements
The programs listed in this catalog that lead to Alabama Class A and Class AA professional certificates for service in the public schools may be altered to meet certification standards adopted by the Alabama State Board of Education. Check with the appropriate department head for information.