Alternative and Emergency Certification
The Tuscaloosa City Schools employs non-certified applicants in critical needs areas when there are no other certified applicants available. Applicants must be recommended by a principal in order to be hired. Human Resources then checks to see if the applicant qualifies for an alternative approach. Current employees may submit a Transfer Application.
Emergency Certificate
An individual cannot request an Emergency Certificate. The Emergency Certificate may ONLY be requested by an employing Alabama county/city superintendent or eligible nonpublic/private school administrator for an individual who has earned at least a bachelor’s degree from a senior institution that was regionally accredited at the time the degree was earned. This is a two-year certificate that can be requested for an additional two years if necessary. This certificate does not lead to Alabama professional certification.
Effective with the 2018-19 School Term, the Emergency Certificate in Special Education is NO LONGER available.
Additional information may be found here: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/2022/06/emergency/
Alternative Certificate Options
To be considered for an alternative certification, an applicant MUST have a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and have a minimum grade point average of 2.50 on a bachelor's degree and 3.0 on a master's degree. Applicants must also pass required Praxis exams in their content area. For persons with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.49, an Increased Praxis Score is required.
All tuition expenses must be borne by the teacher. An individual may not be employed for more than three years while holding an alternative certificate.
Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) Approach
The Provisional route of certification is a series of one-year certificates over a three-year period of time. The teacher must meet the requirements at the end of each year in order to be rehired and to file for the next certificate. Four designated college courses from an Alabama College or University must be taken in the first two years on the Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) path. Two are required the first year and two the second year. A list of Alabama colleges and universities that offer the PCTF approach is available on the Alabama State Department of Education website at Teacher Certification - Alabama Department of Education (alabamaachieves.org). Look for Provisional Certification in a Teaching Field. Course times and availability vary from college to college and also vary from year to year. A grade of "C" or higher is required.
This approach is NOT available in the areas of Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education or Instructional Support.
Additional information regarding the Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) Approach may be found here:
https://www.alabamaachieves.org/2022/08/provisional-certificate-in-a-teaching-field/
Interim Employment Certificate (IEC) Approach
The Interim route of certification is a series of one-year certificates over a three-year period of time completed at an Alabama college/university. Unconditional admission into an Alternative Class A Master's Program or unconditional admission into a Traditional Class A Master's program is required to begin this approach. If interested in pursuing this approach, you should contact the Alabama college/university of your choosing for additional information.
Additional information regarding the Interim Employment Certificate (IEC) may be found here:
https://ww.alabamaachieves.org/2022/08/interim-employment-certificate/
This approach IS available in the areas of Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education and Instructional Support.
Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) Approach
The Conditional route of certification is a series of one-year certificates over a three-year period of time. A Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) is available to individuals who are completing programs through an Alabama-approved Alternative Teacher Preparation Organization (ATPO). Information regarding eligibility, components of the program, and directions on how to complete the program will come from staff with the ATPO. Approved ATPOs at this time are iteach, #T.E.A.C.H, and American Board. You must provide a Letter of Eligibility from an Alabama ATPO to begin this approach.
Additional information regarding the Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field may be found here :
This approach IS available in the areas of Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education.
Interested in becoming a Special Education Teacher?
There are THREE routes or approaches that can be taken to become a Special Education Teacher when the person already has a bachelor’s degree in another subject.
Pathway #1 – IN STATE College or University – INTERIM EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE (IEC) APPROACH (K-6 or 6-12 Collaborative)
Pathway #2 – ATPO – CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATE IN A TEACHING FIELD (CCTF) APPROACH (K-6 or 6-12 Collaborative)
Pathway #3 – Designated Alabama College or University – TEMPORARY SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE (TSEC) APPROACH (Grades 6-12 ONLY):
REQUIRMENTS for admission into a TSEC program:
1. Overall GPA of 2.50 or higher on accredited Bachelor’s degree or 3.0 for Master’s degree.
To begin the TSEC approach, an individual must be enrolled in TSEC courses in an approved Alabama college/university and must register for state-approved professional learning activities.
Up to three, one-year certificates may be issued for a person making progress toward completing this approach by passing five courses from one institution over the three-year period.
An individual can be issued the Class B certificate endorsed for Collaborative Special Education (grades 6-12) upon completion of the program and all requirements:
- Passing the Special Education Praxis
- Completion of one full year of teaching full-time Special Education in Grades 6-12 while holding the Temporary Special Education Certificate.
- Completion of all professional learning activities and practical field experiences
The colleges and universities offering these courses may be found here: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/TEA_AC_2022510_Approved-Coursework-Temporary-Special-Education_V1.0.pdf
REQUIREMENTS:
Upon completion of the degree the teacher must gain teacher certification from the state where the university is located. Once that state’s certificate is received, the teacher must apply for an Alabama Certificate by what is known as reciprocity. The forms and procedures for doing this are on the Alabama Department of Education Website: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/teacher-center/teacher-certification/out-of-state-certificate/ . Please confirm any necessary testing requirements with the ALSDE before taking an exam.
Do you hold an Alabama professional educator certificate and wish to add an endorsement? The Certification Based on Test Approach may be the option for you!
Please follow the link here to see what teaching areas are available. Please confirm any necessary testing requirements with the ALSDE before taking an exam.
Interested in Career and Technical Education Certificates?
Please follow the link here to explore the requirements based on your area of proficiency or interest.