Pre-K Teacher Requirements in Alabama

<p>The requirements of the traditional path for becoming a pre-k teacher in Alabama involve completing an Alabama educator preparation program as well as passing the required exams in the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP). A background check must then be completed. Once these requirements are met, prospective pre-k teachers will be issued a Class B certificate. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or child development; completion of the AECAP</td></tr> <tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> Praxis Teaching Reading (5204); Praxis Early Childhood Education (5025); edTPA</td></tr> <tr><td> Certificate Renewal Requirements </td><td> Various combinations of teaching experience, semester hours of allowable credit, and/or clock hours of professional development, or receiving an initial issuance of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification</td></tr> <tr><td> Mean Salary (2018) </td><td> $24,800*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026, nationwide) </td><td> 10%*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) </i></p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>Alabama offers the First Class program, a voluntary pre-k that is part of the Office of School Readiness (OSR) within the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (DECE). It is a state-funded program that is administered in various settings, including both public and private schools. The role of a pre-k teacher is to prepare four-year-olds to be ''school ready.'' This includes providing children with solid foundations in basic subjects, such as reading and math. In Alabama's First Class pre-kindergartens, there are two different teacher roles, lead teacher and auxiliary teacher, both of which require different levels of education and training. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationRequired">Education Required</h3> <p>Lead teachers in Alabama's First Class pre-k program are required to have at least a bachelor's degree in one of three areas. The first option is a degree in human environmental science with a focus on early childhood development or child development. An alternative path is a degree in early childhood education or a degree that ends in a P-3 certification in early childhood education, with at least 18 credit hours of coursework in early childhood or child development. The final option is a degree in special education in early childhood or a degree that leads to certification in early childhood special education, both of which must include at least 18 credit hours of coursework in early childhood or child development. These programs must be approved by Alabama's Board of Education. Lead teachers must also be aged 21 or over. </p> <p>Auxiliary teachers need to have a high school diploma or GED and a Child Development Associate credential or at least nine hours of college coursework focused on child development or early childhood education. This must be from an institution that is accredited in the relevant region. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>After completing the relevant educator program, prospective pre-k teachers must complete the applicable exams. The AECAP deals with all the requirements for becoming a certified teacher. There are three key areas: </p> <ul><li>Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators </li><li>Praxis Subject Assessments (content knowledge) </li><li>edTPA Educator Teacher Performance Assessment (pedagogical knowledge) </li></ul><p>To receive certification in Alabama, prospective teachers must complete all the tests as they apply to them. For pre-k teachers, this includes completing the section on Early Childhood Education (5025) and Teaching Reading (5204). </p> <h3 id="section---BackgroundCheck">Background Check</h3> <p>Before applicants can teach in Alabama schools, a background check is required. This comprises a criminal background check, a child abuse and neglect background check, and fingerprinting. </p> <h3 id="section---CertificationRequirements">Certification Requirements</h3> <p>Class B is the standard certificate issued to prospective teachers who have obtained at least a bachelor's degree and have met the above-mentioned requirements. To renew the certificate, the following requirements must be fulfilled while the certificate is still valid and by June 30th of the certificate's expiration year: </p> <ul><li>Complete a minimum of three years full-time teaching and a minimum of three semester hours of allowable credit or a minimum of 50 clock hours of professional development </li><li>Complete a minimum of 50 clock hours of professional development and a minimum of three semester credit hours </li><li>Complete six semester hours of allowable credit </li><li>Receive an initial issuance of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification </li><li>Complete 100 clock hours of acceptable professional development</li></ul>