Alternative Certification
If you have considered teaching, but do not have certification to teach from a state department of education, The University of Alabama College of Education has a program that may be appropriate for you -- the alternative certification program. Through the alternative certification program, certain individuals who do not have teacher certification may earn a Master of Arts degree in education and simultaneously complete requirements for an Alabama Class A (master's-level) teaching certificate.
If you decide that you do not want to pursue the graduate-level Alternative Certification Program, you may want to consider the College of Education's Irregular Post-Graduate (IPG) Program. Through this program, you may work toward teacher certification at the undergraduate level. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, however, you will not receive an additional undergraduate degree, but you will be eligible to be recommended for a Class B (baccalaureate-level) teaching certificate in your teaching field.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a Class A and Class B certificate?
There are three levels of certification in the State of Alabama, (Class B undergraduate), Class A (Master's), and Class AA (Specialist). Upon the completion of the Alternative Certification Program (ACP), a recommendation will be sent to the Alabama State Department of Education (SDE) for Class A certification. If you complete the requirements for the IPG Program, you will be recommended for the Class B teaching certificate.
In what teaching areas can I gain certification through your programs?
The University of Alabama has a wide array of certification options. In many cases, certification can be obtained through either the Alternative Certification Program (Class A), or the IPG (Class B) route. For the list of teaching fields, click here. Shading indicates unavailable programs.
What are the admission requirements for the two programs?
ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Because the alternative certification program requirements are carefully designed to meet The University of Alabama Graduate School requirements and Alabama certification requirements, students must complete two types of admission procedures -- admission to the Graduate School and admission to the alternative certification program in the College of Education.
Admission To The Graduate School
In order to be eligible for admission to the Graduate School, the student
must have:
1. a minimum GRE Score of 1000 (math and verbal) or a MAT Score of
the 50th percentile.
2. an overall grade-point average of 2.75, (3.0 for elementary) while
meeting Graduate School GPA requirements.
Some programs in the College of Education may allow a student who does not meet these requirements to apply for conditional admission to the Graduate School. Specific conditional admission policies may be obtained from the appropriate program chairperson or department head in whose program/department the alternative certification program in the College of Education is offered.
For specific Graduate School Information, call (205) 348-5921, or their internet address is http://graduate.ua.edu. For students who are not graduates of the University of Alabama, you will need three (3) copies of all your transcripts, two (2) for the graduate school and one (1) for our office (Student Services and Certification).
Admission To The Alternative Certification Program
In addition to being admitted to the Graduate School, students must
also be admitted to the alternative certification program in the College
of Education. The Request for Evaluation form to apply for admission
to the alternative certification program may be obtained fro the Office
of the Assistant Dean for Student Services and Certification, room 104
Carmichael. You can also download the Request for Evaluation form from
the College of Education’s website. Admission to the alternative
certification program requires the following:
1. An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or
university,
2. Completion of undergraduate deficiencies. These deficiencies may
include undergraduate general studies courses, courses in the student’s
proposed teaching-field/major, and undergraduate professional education
courses. (A student must obtain an assessment of deficiencies from the
Office of Student Services and Certification), and
3. Admission to the Graduate School.
IRREGULAR POST-GRADUATE (IPG)
In order to be eligible for admission as an irregular post graduate student in the College of Education, the student must have completed 1) an undergraduate degree; 2) an IPG application in Admissions, Student Services Building or call 348-5666 or 1-800-933-BAMA for forms; 3) an application for evaluation of all undergraduate transcripts to the Office of Student Services and Certification.
This program does not entitle the students who complete it an additional undergraduate degree, only to be recommended for Class B certification.
What do I have to do to discover what my deficiencies/prerequisites are for either program?
Specific course requirements vary for each person according to the teaching field chosen. Therefore, you will need to have an evaluation of your transcript(s) completed by personnel in the Office of Student Services and Certification. Evaluation of transcripts usually requires 2-4 weeks. You can call (205) 348-6073 to request an application or you can download it here (Alternative Certification Program-Request for Evaluation). To ensure that evaluations are completed in a timely manner, make certain that all official transcripts are sent to the College of Education Office of Student Services as soon as possible. The request for evaluation, payment (if required), and official transcripts reflecting all course work previously attempted must be received by our office no later than April 1 for Summer I admission, June 1 for Summer II admission, July 1 for Fall admission, and November 1 for Spring admission to ensure the evaluation of your record(s). Applications received after these dates may not be processed before the beginning of that semester. Once the evaluation is complete, you will receive a letter in the mail or by electronic mail informing you of the program requirements.
Is there a cost for an evaluation of my transcript(s)?
There is a $20 charge for the first evaluation and $10 for each additional evaluation requested if you are not currently enrolled at The University of Alabama. Cashier's check, money order, or personal checks are accepted.
What will the evaluation tell me?
The evaluation letter will reiterate the program admission requirements, inform you of your advisor/program chair, and outline any of your undergraduate deficiencies and program course requirements.
What do I do once I receive my evaluation letter?
You will need to set up an appointment with your assigned advisor or program chair whose name appears on the evaluation letter. This person will assist you in designing a program of study to match your background and needs.
How much time is required to complete the program?
On average, the ACP and the IPG certification programs require approximately two (2) years to complete. This includes all coursework, clinical experiences, and student teaching (internship). The specific time varies from person to person, and also from program to program and can only be accurately assessed through an evaluation.
What does student teaching (internship) entail, and where will it be?
One of the most crucial aspects of the College's teacher preparation programs is the SDE mandatory inclusion of student teaching (internship) for all students. This opportunity allows our faculty and staff to evaluate and choose the most qualified students who show a strong likelihood of success in their chosen field.
Each teacher certification program requires a full-time internship, which is at least ten weeks and 300 clock hours. All internships are in the greater Tuscaloosa area within a public school setting, except in those rare instances when such placement cannot be made. International internship experiences may be available. Interested students should contact the Director of the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST) in 105 Graves Hall.
Once I complete the requirements for either of the two programs, am I going to be guaranteed certification to teach?
We expect those we recommend to the Alabama State Department of Education to be granted certification, as all of our programs are approved by the SDE, and we recommend only those students who complete the approved programs. Each student has the responsibility to apply for certification through the SDE after completion of his or her program. The SDE evaluates each student's credentials based on its rules and regulations and also completes criminal background checks.
Will my certification be accepted in other states?
The University of Alabama's teacher education programs are fully accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Therefore, once you have completed your program and received certification, your certification will be accepted via reciprocity by a vast majority of states around the country. The College encourages students who plan to teach in states other than Alabama to seek advice from those state certification agencies to ensure compliance with specific state requirements.
If I complete either the IPG or ACP will I be recommended as highly qualified to the Alabama State Department of Education?
Yes, successful completion of our traditional or either of our alternative certification programs will result in the College of Education Certification Officer recommending you to the ALSDE as highly qualified.