RESOURCES
Cost-Effective Online Resources for Alabama Teachers in Training
For many of Alabama’s bright young minds, a career in education is the perfect calling to put your skill sets to work and inspire future generations.
But acquiring a teaching job isn’t as simple as filling out an application and going in for an interview. Degrees, licenses, and certifications are all part of the process to ensure that our state’s classrooms are being led by the most qualified candidates.
Knowing where to begin and taking the first step are often the hardest parts of the journey—especially with tuition costs steadily on the rise. That’s why the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) wants to give you a boost.
Here are a few cost-effective online resources to help you get started on the path to your career.
A bachelor’s, master’s, or Ed.S. degree might be the necessary route to the position you have in mind. Our list of education preperation providers can guide you to an approved teaching program near you. Don’t forget that there are scholarships available as well as opportunities for federal aid.
The Education Testing Service (ETS) provides Praxis® tests to assess your qualifications as an educator as part of the licensing and certification process. The Praxis® tests include assessments of core academic skills like reading, writing, and mathematics; subject-specific skills; and specialized content knowledge for elementary school teachers.
The Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP) is a federal loan repayment program for qualifying math or science public high school teachers. If you graduated in 2018 or later, or if you teach in a geographic area with acute shortages in math or science educators, you may qualify for up to $5,000 per year towards federal loan repayment.
National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. Board certified teachers are seen as experts and often sought after for leadership positions. To make this certificate accessible and affordable the National Board has developed a payment plan option to pay for certification fees so you can get started today.
The National Informational STEM Education Network is an easy-to-access hub for STEM teachers. Here you can find educational resources, professional learning resources, learn about events, and interact with the national STEM community. These resources are entirely free to promote learning and bring people together to build a better world for everyone.
Here you can find a list of certificates applicable to most categories and subjects within the Alabama school system. Simply click on your relevant subject and the link will take you directly to the aforementioned certificate.