How To Become a Teacher in Alabama 2025

To become a teacher, you will need to meet a handful of specific requirements. The requirements to become a teacher in Alabama include educational components, in-person practicum hours, knowledge assessments, and obtaining relevant certification. Continue reading to learn how you can become a teacher in Alabama.

Steps To Become a Teacher in Alabama

There are several steps to consider for your teaching career. Traditional routes to becoming a teacher include completing a teacher education program and acquiring licensure, but you can qualify for licensure through other routes as well. If you already have a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree, the fastest way to become a teacher would be through an alternative, accelerated education program.

Step 1: Decide What Subject and Grade Level You Want To Teach

Before beginning your journey to becoming a teacher, you need to decide what grades and/or subjects you are interested in teaching. The educational components and knowledge assessments vary by field and subject area, so it is best if you have already decided prior to beginning your program.

Determine if you are more drawn to early childhood education or a more subject-specific teaching career with high school students. It is worth noting that you do not have to be limited to a single subject field or grade group, as some certifications enable you to teach more broadly.

Becoming an Elementary School Teacher

Elementary school teachers typically teach a range of subjects and may instruct students across multiple elementary school grades. Whether you want to become a kindergarten teacher or work with third graders, you will typically need to complete related coursework and student teaching.

After you have completed educational requirements, you need to earn a qualifying score on the certification exams that pertain to elementary grades and pass a background check. Once all of these requirements are met, you can obtain your teaching certification for elementary education.

Becoming a Middle School Teacher

As with elementary grades, middle school teacher educational requirements include relevant coursework, fieldwork and assessments. However, you will also need to meet those requirements for each subject area that you want to teach. If you want to teach middle school social studies, you would need to pass both the middle school teacher exam as well as the relevant social studies subject assessment.

Becoming a High School Teacher

High school teacher educational requirements are structured like those for middle school teachers, with specific criteria for both high school teaching in general, as well as for subjects taught. Depending on the subjects that you want to teach, you may be able to teach both high school and middle school grades. Currently offered teaching certifications are listed by Alabama's Department of Education (DoE).

Step 2: Choose Your Major

Is there one specific subject area, or several, that you are especially interested in teaching? Are you more drawn to working with a certain age range or a single group of students? Deciding on your major is the next step, and will lay the foundation for your education.

If you are planning to complete a traditional teacher preparation program, you can look at Alabama's DoE website for a list of approved programs. While you can complete your requirements through programs that are not on the officially approved list, those which are featured can give you an idea of what to expect within your program.

Whether you have already earned a degree or not, you will need to complete coursework relating to teaching methods and best practices. You will also study various subjects more in depth, whether you're focusing on science for middle school or exploring a range of foundational subjects for younger students.

Step 3: Earn Your Bachelor's Degree

All certified teachers in Alabama are required to hold a bachelor's degree. If you do not already have one, your best option for pursuing a career in teaching is a bachelor's degree in education. Choosing one that is specific to the field or grades that you want to teach should provide you with the necessary coursework. Review the requirements for your desired certificate to determine if your chosen program covers everything that you need.

If you already have a bachelor's degree in another field, you may not need another degree. Alabama does offer alternative routes to licensure based on various criteria, such as work experience in career and technical roles. You can also complete an accelerated, self-paced program through the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE). The program was recently approved through the Alabama legislature for perspective teachers who have a prior bachelor's degree.

Step 4: Consider a Master's Degree

While a master's degree is not a requirement for teaching in Alabama, it can be a tool for both improved teaching as well as advancement. Alabama's teaching certificates are offered at three different levels:

• class B (for those with a bachelor's degree)
• class A (for those with a master's degree)
• class AA (for teachers who have completed an education specialist program)

A master's degree could be an especially great choice for aspiring teachers who have a non-teaching bachelor's degree. There are many programs designed for people with other undergraduate degrees, and these are typically designed to include all necessary coursework and fieldwork required for becoming certified.

Step 5: Pass Alabama Teaching Exams and Gain Licensure

Once you have completed your educational and practicum requirements, you will need to take and pass teacher assessments for your specific certification(s). For example, one multi-subject test is required for elementary education certification, and a subject-specific test is required for middle and high school certifications for each subject area.

While most have single, comprehensive assessments, some certification areas require multiple tests. If you are pursuing the ''Collaborative Teacher, K-6'' special education certification, for example, you will need to take a foundational special education assessment as well as an elementary education test. You can review specific teaching exam requirements for your desired certification on Alabama's DoE website.

Step 6: Apply for Teaching Jobs

Teaching jobs are posted in different locations, many of which you can find through Alabama's Teach in Alabama website. You can filter teaching jobs by grade and subject level, as well as by location, school district and school system. The site allows you to save your information and apply more quickly to subsequent job openings once you have completed your first application.

You can also find teaching positions through other websites and avenues, especially if you are looking for a position in a private or other non-traditional school setting. The federal Department of Education can also be a helpful resource in searching for teaching jobs both in and outside of Alabama. It may be worth mentioning that background checks are required for new teachers entering the field.

How To Choose the Right Teaching Degree Program

Your teacher certification process requires specific coursework and student teaching requirements, so it is important to choose a program that gives you the right preparation. Teacher education programs typically have different specialization options, which contain relevant coursework within the key subject areas. For example, an elementary education program usually contains key subject courses (such as English and mathematics) along with fundamentals of teaching.

Other important considerations in choosing a program are its costs and how well it fits your needs. Choosing a program with a lower tuition rate means your total costs will be lower, and you have a better chance of covering those costs with financial aid. In addition, some programs are set on a specific schedule while others allow students to study at their own pace, whether full-time or part-time. Make a list of what is most important to you in a program, and review several programs to find what is right for you.

FAQs About Becoming a Teacher in Alabama

As you begin your search for potential teaching programs and eventual certification, there are a few things that you might want to know. Some of the top FAQs about teaching in the state of Alabama are addressed below.

What Degree Do You Need To Be a Teacher in Alabama?

You need to at least have a bachelor's degree to teach in Alabama � and earning a bachelor's that is specific to your teaching certification area is the most common option. However, some teachers with non-education degrees obtain a teaching master's degree or gain alternative licensure (without an education degree).

Do Requirements Differ at Private Schools and Public Schools?

Yes, requirements are different for private and public schools. Public schools require teachers to have valid state certifications. Private schools don't always require teachers to be certified, but some will show preference to licensed educators or require actual certification.

How Long Does My Teacher Certification Last in Alabama?

Initial teaching certifications last five years, although provisional licenses only last for one year per issue. Teaching certifications can be renewed online with the completion of a few specific requirements. To renew your certificate, you will need to have taught for a specific number of years over the five-year period and have completed professional development or continuing education requirements.

How Fast Can You Become a Teacher in Alabama?

The simple answer is one to four years, depending on your academic and professional background. If you do not have prior college coursework (or qualifying work experience), you should expect your program to take three to four years of full-time study to complete. If you already have a bachelor's degree and/or relevant work experience, you can complete an accelerated or master's program in one to two years.

Explore Online Education Programs

Review more of our pages on Learn.org to discover some of the best teacher preparation programs, including the most affordable options and those that are offered online. Contact the schools that offer programs in your field of focus to get started on your career path.