RESOURCES

For most positions in Alabama schools, prospective teachers must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and a 2.75 minimum GPA. And, there are multiple pathways that lead to Alabama certification.

• If you completed a State-approved program at an Alabama college or university, you will be recommended for certification.
• If you intend to qualify through an alternative approach, information is available at Teacher Certification – Alabama Department of Education (alabamaachieves.org) and Alternative Teacher Certification Alabama – iteach . These are great resources that guide you down the pathway to help you obtain your certification while earning paychecks and experience along the way.

There are 24 public and private colleges in Alabama that offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in various fields of education. Our list of Educator Preparation Providers can help you find the best colleges for teaching degrees here in our state.

Aside from the standard school-specific scholarships available based on academic merit, there are outside scholarships designed for teachers in training. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Alabama scholarship provides assistance for early childhood educators and childcare workers, and the Leadership in Child Care Scholarship is designed for educators who want to teach and work with young children.

In order to teach in Alabama, candidates must complete the necessary requirements and assessments of their pathway for a Class B certificate (bachelor’s degree), a Class A certificate (master’s degree), or a Class AA certificate (Ed.S. degree).

Yes. Alabama participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which means that teachers who are certified in other states can be granted full reciprocity as long as their original certificate is in the same grade level and degree level as Alabama’s comparable certification. No additional coursework or exemption is required, but additional ancillary requirements (background clearance, citizenship, experience) and assessments may be required based on qualifications and previous certification.

It will depend on the pathway used to obtain a certificate, but many people find they can complete the requirements in one year or less. Information is available at Teacher Certification – Alabama Department of Education (alabamaachieves.org) and Alternative Teacher Certification Alabama – iteach .

Prospective educators often wonder how much teachers can make, especially starting out. It will depend on the degree(s) and certification(s) you’ve obtained, but teachers make more than you might think. The minimum starting salary for an Alabama teacher with a bachelor’s degree is more than $41,690, and additional benefits typically raise that minimum to more than $45,000. Your salary can also increase when you obtain an advanced degree or take a position in a district with strong local tax support.

Alabama teachers qualify for an attractive retirement package, but the specific benefits will be determined by years of experience and the positions you held during your career. The Teachers Retirement System (TRS) provides a retirement calculator to determine what sort of plan you can count on based on the sort of career you envision for yourself.

To qualify as a potential TEAMS candidate you must teach a STEM subject in grades 6-11 and possess the required credentials to qualify. More information on TEAMS qualifications can be found on our TEAMS information page.