Alabama Alternative Certification Programs

(found programs from 17 schools)

According to WTVY, a news station in Dothan, Alabama, the state has been dealing with teacher shortages since 2007. Subject areas experiencing teacher shortages include art, band, English, family and consumer science, foreign language, social studies, math, general music, all areas of science, and special education. Data compiled by the National Center for Alternative Education shows that over 2,500 newly hired teachers in Alabama enter the profession through alternate routes each year.

Alabama has three alternate routes to certification. These are the Alternative Baccalaureate-Level Approach, the Alternative Fifth-Year Program, and the Preliminary Certificate Approach. While each of these options has different requirements, all of them require candidates to already possess a bachelor's degree.

Two programs you may consider are the Alternative Class A Program at the University of West Alabama and the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) program. The Alternative Class A Program is specifically designed for individuals who want to change careers and who have earned a minimum GPA of 2.5 on in their bachelor's degree program. Each applicant will receive an individualized course of study and must enroll in at least 12 semester hours at the university. Successful candidates will receive a master's level certification and a Master of Education or Master of Arts in teaching degree in the fields of biology, general science, mathematics, English language arts, history, general social science, elementary education, special education, or physical education. Similarly, ABCTE is for aspiring teachers who have already earned a bachelor's degree in a field other than education. The program is self-paced and convenient.