Alternative Teacher
Certification Alabama
Apply today and begin your journey
to Alabama teacher certification.
The Road to Alabama Teacher Certification is Simple
Alternative teacher certification is a process for becoming a teacher in Alabama without a traditional education degree. If you have a bachelor’s degree and want to start a teaching career, iteach can help. Start teaching with full pay in as little as 8 weeks through our accredited program’s in-depth training and certification requirements. See why iteach is the most trusted teacher certification in Alabama.
- Apply and Enroll
- Train and Prepare
- Teach with Full Pay
- Get Licensed
Apply and Enroll
1-2 Weeks on Average
It’s time to be the teacher
you’ve always wanted to be.
Train and Prepare
8-12 Weeks on Average
Once you enroll, complete the following requirements to start teaching in the classroom.
Teach with Full Pay
1 year
You will complete a one-year (two-semester) paid residency where you will be employed full-time as a teacher while holding a Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF). In this position, you receive the salary and benefits of a first-year teacher.
Get Licensed
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE YOUR RESIDENCY
- Submit official university transcripts that include your graduating GPA
- Complete the Alabama Introductory Course
- Pay your $99 enrollment fee
- Acknowledge your Letter of Agreement
Online and Self-Paced Pre-Hire Instructional Coursework
Complete the following pre-hire courses:
- TCAL 5000 – An Overview of Teaching
- TCAL 5100 – Learning Environments
Pass your Content Exam(s)
Before you can be hired, you will need to take and pass the appropriate Praxis Subject Test. You can find detailed information about the Praxis test requirements for each area of certification on the ETS website (select Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) Approach).
We know testing can be stressful, but we have been there and are here to help you with free test preparation resources from Passage Preparation.
Set up your Payment Plan
Once everything is complete, you can access your Intent to Hire and Letter of Eligibility.
Prepare for Your Residency
- You must secure your own teaching position with an Alabama city/county school system or eligible nonpublic school through an application and interview process.
- You must be hired and your district must submit your application for the CCTF by October 1 of the scholastic year.
Supervision and Mentoring During Residency
During the residency, you will be assigned a highly experienced supervisor who will observe your classroom periodically, offer guidance and support, and work closely with the campus administration to ensure you are successful.
Instructional Coaching During Residency
iteach will provide you with 1:1 content-specific instructional coaching to hone your teaching techniques.
Complete Coursework:
- TCAL 5200 – Learner Development
- TCAL 5300 – Planning for Instruction and Assessment
- TCAL 5400 – Literacy, 21st Century Instruction, and Pedagogical Content Knowledge
- TCAL 5500 – Learner Differences and Adaptations for Students with Disabilities
- TCAL 5600 – Diverse Populations, English Language Learners and Bilingual Students
- TCAL 5700 – Residency-specific course and edTPA support
PASS THE edTPA
Learn more and see which edTPA Handbook is required for your certification field at edTPA for Alabama.
PASS THE FOUNDATIONS OF READING EXAM
Early Childhood Education P-3, Elementary Education K-6, and Collaborative Special Education K-6 candidates must pass the Foundations of Reading exam for the Professional Educator Certificate. Find detailed information here.
PAY YOUR ITEACH PROGRAM FEE IN FULL
Alabama Program
Admission Requirements
Take the first step to acceptance into our training program. Here are our admission requirements:
Bachelor's Degree
You must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
Minimum 2.5 GPA
You must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Submit official university transcripts that include your graduating GPA.
Content Areas
For most teaching fields, you will demonstrate content knowledge through passing the Praxis Subject Test before you start teaching. See the FAQs for more details.
Alabama Alternative Teacher Certification Pricing
Our Alabama teacher certification pricing was created with you in mind. $0 to apply. $99 to enroll. And $99 a month to pay toward your total price of $4,949.
$0to Apply
Complete an online application in just a few minutes and take the first step toward your new teaching career.
$99to Enroll
Once accepted, you pay your $99 enrollment fee and you can immediately begin taking your first course.
$4,949 Total Cost
Pay $99 / month until you start your two-semester residency. Pay your remaining balance in interest-free installments during your residency, for which you will receive full pay.
What You Get:
- Robust CAEP-accredited online program
- 1:1 supervision throughout your teaching residency
- Content-specific instructional coaching and edTPA support
- Opportunity to earn up to 12 graduate credits toward a master’s degree
- Subscription to Teaching Channel’s 1,600 video library showcasing instructional practices
- Enrollment in Passage Preparation test preparation courses to help you pass your state-required exams
Additional Fees:
As you budget, bear in mind there are some additional state-required fees that you will pay to outside agencies or companies.
- Background Check Fee – $46.20
- Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) (initial and renewals) – $38
- Professional Educator Certificate – $38
- Praxis Subject Test – $130 – $170
- Foundations of Reading (ECE P-3, Elementary K-6, and SPED K-6 only) – $139
- edTPA – $300 OR PLT – $156
Download the Alabama
Alternative Certification Guide
Need more information about alternative certification in Alabama?
Complete the form below, and we will send you all the information you
need about our program.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may apply at any time; iteach enrolls students on a continual basis.
No. No matter what bachelor’s degree you have, it’s your subject matter expertise, combined with your successful completion of our program, that makes you eligible to teach. We’ll teach you what you need to know and do in order to be a successful teacher yourself.
You will need to pass the Praxis Subject Test for the subject you want to teach before you can get hired and apply for the Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF). Please refer to the ETS Praxis test overview for Alabama here and select Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCFT) from the dropdown menu to identify the Praxis Subject Test that you will be required to take and pass for the subject that you want to teach. Candidates for teaching fields without a Praxis Subject Test can demonstrate content knowledge through a major or 30 credit hours with 18 upper division hours in the content area.
No, iteach is not an institution of higher education and therefore is not able to accept federal financial aid.
You can complete all program-required instructional coursework within a couple of months. The entire iteach program, including your teaching residency, is designed to be completed within one school year. However, you have two full school years to find a teaching position as long as you are enrolled in the iteach program. Depending on the number of prior alternative certificates you have held in the past, you may have up to three years on a CCTF to complete all remaining program requirements.
Most candidates will be required to take and pass the edTPA to be eligible for a Professional Educator Certificate. Candidates who teach on a CCTF for three years may take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) in lieu of the edTPA. Candidates for teaching fields that do not have an edTPA handbook will take the PLT.
What People Are Saying
Libby, a high school teacher from Texas, talks with ABC News about how iteach allowed her to transition from a career in performing arts to achieving her dream of teaching dance.
“If I had decided to go back to a college for education, it would have taken me years to finish with multiple student loans and thousands of dollars. Iteach was an affordable way to get into the classroom. I love being a teacher. If anyone had ever considered being a teacher, this is a great opportunity for them.” – Libby Claycomb
What iTeach Program Graduates Have to Say
Start Your Journey to
Becoming a Teacher
Join the 20,000+ teachers who have earned their
certification through iteach. Begin making a change in your
life and students’ lives today.