How to get a Class A Professional Educator Certificate in Alabama

Alabama teacher licenses

Alabama issues 8 teacher credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Alabama teacher licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 8)

Requirements

Background check

Background check required²
Fingerprints required²
Fingerprint check through the Alabama Department of Public Safety (state and FBI); the State Superintendent issues a suitability determination before a certificate is issued.²

Residency or citizenship

Verification of citizenship or nationality status on the application form (Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer & Citizen Protection Act, Act No. 2011-535).²

How to apply

1. Get fingerprinted by ALSDE’s designated third-party contractor for the SBI/FBI background check and pay that fee.²
2. If ALSDE writes that items are missing, send them within 60 days; otherwise a new application and fee are needed.²

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: A superintendent or administrator can request a Military Veteran Temporary Teaching Certificate (MTV) for a veteran with 48 months of active-duty service (honorable discharge or medical separation), 60 college credits with at least a 2.5 GPA and a passing Praxis subject score; valid five scholastic years (rule effective October 1, 2026).²

2. Every license level except Apprentice Teacher License

How to apply

1. Submit the application (by you, your employing superintendent, or your college’s dean/designee) with the $38.00 nonrefundable fee by cashier’s check, money order or ALSDE online payment.²

3. Every license level except Apprentice Teacher License, Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) and Emergency Certificate

Renewal

How often

Every 5 years²

4. Class A Professional Educator Certificate, Class AA Professional Educator Certificate, Class B Professional Educator Certificate and Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF)

How to apply

1. Complete the route you are using (state-approved program, out-of-state certificate, or a district-requested certificate) and pass the required Praxis/edTPA/Foundations of Reading tests; scores must be sent electronically by the testing service.²

5. Class A Professional Educator Certificate, Class AA Professional Educator Certificate and Class B Professional Educator Certificate

What it covers

Teaching in Alabama P-12 public schools in the teaching field(s) and grade levels on the certificate; proper certification is checked against the ALSDE Courses Catalog.²

Requirements

Exam

Praxis Subject Assessment(s) (content knowledge) for each teaching field²
Given by: Educational Testing Service (ETS)²
Time limit: Test verification must reach the Educator Certification Section within 6 months of the eligibility letter, or a new application and fee are needed.²

Exam

Pedagogy: edTPA where a handbook exists for the field; otherwise Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT)²
Given by: Pearson (edTPA); ETS (PLT)²

Exam

Foundations of Reading (Early Childhood, Elementary and Collaborative K-6 only)²
Given by: Pearson²

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

Renewal

When it expires

Valid from issue through the rest of that scholastic year plus the next five scholastic years; continuation application accepted January 1 - June 30 of the expiration year.²

Continuing education

40 clock hours each renewal period²

Required topics

10 clock hours Educator Ethics (all categories)²
Category 2 (Early Childhood P-3, Elementary, Collaborative/Special Education): 20 clock hours Science of Reading and 20 clock hours Numeracy²
Category 5 (other teaching fields): 40 clock hours in the area of the certificate held²
Content-specific learning may instead be met with 3 semester hours of allowable college credit (grade B or above)²

Approved courses

Clock hours must be approved and completed through ALSDE-approved providers published by the Professional Learning Section.²

Exemptions

Retired educators with at least 25 years of service may continue the certificate for a $200.00 fee with a lifetime valid period.²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $38² (reinstatement of an expired certificate (in the expiration year or later), on top of the $38.00 application fee)

If it expires

Reinstatement in the expiration year: show the continuation requirements and pay the $38 application fee plus a $38 late fee.²
After the expiration year: continuation requirements must have been met within the period the rule states as "2 years (48 months)" immediately before the new application (the two figures in the rule disagree), plus the $38 application and $38 late fees; a new background check is needed if no other valid certificate is held.²

6. Apprentice Teacher License and Emergency Certificate

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years²

Who needs a Class A Professional Educator Certificate

Exemptions and dollar thresholds:

• Out-of-field assignment costs the employing board a penalty of at least $500 per teacher per year.²

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Private tutors must also hold a valid Alabama certificate.²

Requirements for a Class A Professional Educator Certificate

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

Master’s degree from a regionally accredited senior institution through a Class A (or Alternative Class A) State-approved program.²

Experience

No teaching-experience requirement for the Class A teaching-field certificate through a state-approved program; supervised internship is part of the program.²

Renewal and continuing education

Apprentice Teacher License

Teaching for the requesting school system while enrolled in an Alabama State-approved program through the Teacher Apprenticeship Program.²

Requirements

Education or training

Admission to an Alabama State-approved program through the Teacher Apprenticeship Program; application submitted by the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship.²

How to apply

1. Be admitted to an Alabama State-approved program through the Teacher Apprenticeship Program; the employing superintendent requests the Apprentice Teacher License.²
2. The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship submits the application verifying all requirements; each application carries the $38.00 nonrefundable fee (cashier's check, money order or ALSDE online payment).²

Temporary or provisional license

Apprentice Teacher License (2 years, plus one more year possible).²

Renewal

When it expires

Two scholastic years; a second license may be issued for one more scholastic year.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.

Military Veteran Temporary Teaching Certificate (MTV)

Teaching in fields listed on the MTV application for the requesting employer; time on an MTV does not count toward continuing service status.²

Requirements

Education or training

At least 60 credit hours²
60 college credits with at least a 2.5 GPA.²

Experience

At least 48 months²
48 months of active-duty military service with honorable discharge or medical separation.²
Supervision: Assigned mentor for two years (or Alabama Teacher Mentor Program)²

Exam

Praxis subject area assessment(s) prescribed for the field²
Given by: Educational Testing Service (ETS)²

Also required

Rule effective October 1, 2026.²

How to apply

1. The employing superintendent or administrator requests the MTV; you need 48 months of active-duty service, 60 college credits (GPA 2.5+) and a passing Praxis subject score sent electronically by ETS.²

Renewal

When it expires

Five scholastic years; cannot be continued, renewed, reinstated or reissued.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Class AA Professional Educator Certificate

Requirements

Education or training

Education specialist or higher degree through a Class AA State-approved program.²

Experience

No teaching-experience requirement for the Class AA teaching-field certificate through a state-approved program; supervised internship is part of the program.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.

Class B Professional Educator Certificate

Requirements

Education or training

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited senior institution plus completion of a Class B State-approved educator preparation program, with recommendation by the institution’s certification officer; apply within 60 months of program completion.²
Who may teach it: Alabama State-approved program; candidates are fingerprinted before admission.²
Alternative: Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) through an Alternative Teacher Preparation Organization leads to Class B.²
Alternative: Teacher Apprenticeship Program leads to a Professional Educator Certificate.²

Experience

No teaching-experience requirement for the Class B teaching-field certificate through a state-approved program; supervised internship is part of the program.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.

Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF)

Full-time teaching in one teaching field for the requesting school system while completing an Alternative Teacher Preparation Organization (ATPO) program toward Class B.²

Requirements

Education or training

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited senior institution with at least a 2.5 GPA (or a master’s with 3.0); 2.0-2.49 GPA allowed with the Increased Praxis Score Option or 6 semester hours (grade B) in the field; ATPO eligibility letter.²

Experience

At least 1 year²
Full-time teaching while on the CCTF: at least one and no more than three full years within four scholastic years.²
Supervision: Assigned mentor²

Exam

Praxis Subject Assessment(s) for the teaching field (where adopted)²
Given by: Educational Testing Service (ETS)²
When you can take it: Before October 1 of the scholastic year of the first CCTF²

How to apply

1. The employing superintendent submits the recommendation by October 1 of the scholastic year (later submissions do not count as a full year of experience).²

Temporary or provisional license

The CCTF itself is the temporary credential (one scholastic year at a time, cap of three within four years).²

Renewal

How often

Every year²

When it expires

Valid one scholastic year; a second and third CCTF need an ATPO Letter of Continuation; then apply for Class B.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.

Emergency Certificate

Requested by a superintendent or administrator when no certified person is available; not an alternative certificate; at most two teaching fields; not for special education, driver education, school psychometry/psychology or speech-language pathology.²

Requirements

Education or training

Bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited senior institution.²

How to apply

1. When no holder of a valid Alabama certificate is available, the employing superintendent or administrator requests the Emergency Certificate; you need a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited senior institution (no Praxis requirement in rule 290-3-2-.16).²

Temporary or provisional license

Emergency Certificate, up to two scholastic years, reissuable once.²

Renewal

When it expires

Up to two consecutive scholastic years; may be reissued once for two more.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.

Substitute Teacher License

Substitute teaching in any Alabama public or nonpublic school; cannot be used for regular full-time teaching.²

Requirements

Education or training

High school diploma or state-issued high school equivalency diploma (kept on file by the requesting superintendent/administrator).²

How to apply

1. The employing superintendent or administrator requests the Substitute Teacher License and keeps your high school diploma or state-issued equivalency diploma on file (no Praxis requirement in rule 290-3-2-.23).²

Renewal

When it expires

Valid for the rest of the scholastic year plus five more; reissued by the same procedure as the initial license.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Ala. Code § 16-23-1
• Ala. Code § 16-23-2
• Ala. Code § 16-23-4
• Ala. Code § 16-22A-6 (Alabama Child Protection Act)
• Ala. Admin. Code ch. 290-3-2 (eff. August 14, 2026)

Rule changes since January 2024

• August 14, 2026: Chapter 290-3-2 was repealed and replaced (published June 30, 2026, effective August 14, 2026): $38 application fee, new renewal professional-learning categories (10 h ethics + content hours).²

Common questions

Teacher licenses in other states

• Alaska