Become a Teacher
in Alabama
Certification Roadmap
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Alabama Prerequisite Coursework
Alabama Teacher Preparation
Alabama Certification Reciprocity
Alabama Teacher Salary
Alabama Required Tests
Teacher Certification Information & Links
Alabama Highlights
$47840
Avg. Elementary Teacher Salary
$48390
Avg. Secondary Teacher Salary
131%
Teacher Salary vs. State Average
15
Vacation Weeks Per Year:
To become a certified teacher in Alabama, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Alabama Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Here are Alabama's undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas:
- Elementary Education: The elementary education curriculum requires a teaching field of at least 32 semester hours with at least 19 semester hours of upper-division credit.
- Secondary English/Language Arts: The English program requires an academic major of at least 32 semester hours of credit with at least 19 semester hours of upper-division credit.
- Secondary Mathematics: The mathematics program requires an academic major of at least 32 semester hours of credit with at least 19 semester hours of upper-division credit.
- Secondary History/Social Science: The history program requires an academic major of at least 32 semester hours of credit with at least 19 semester hours of upper-division credit.
- Secondary Science: The science program requires an academic major of at least 32 semester hours of credit with at least 19 semester hours of upper-division credit.
This page is sponsored by MAT@USC, an innovative Master of Arts in Teaching program delivered online from the University of Southern California. Click here to learn more and become a teacher in Alabama.
Alabama Teacher Preparation
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork involved in an accredited teacher preparation program. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching and an internship.
Alabama Certification Reciprocity
Alabama will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Alabama Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
| Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado |
| Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia |
| Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana |
| Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine |
| Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota |
| Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
| Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico |
| New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island |
| South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas |
| Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington |
| West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
Alabama Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Alabama provides no support for teachers teaching in high-needs schools or in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Alabama has strong induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Alabama makes $48,390
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Alabama makes $43,610
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Alabama makes 131% of the salary of the average worker in Alabama
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Alabama receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
Alabama Required Tests
In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skill Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction.
Basic Skills Test
- Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program (APTTP): The APTTP consists of basic skills assessments from the ACT WorkKeys System and subject assessments from the ETS Praxis II: Subject Tests.
