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Auburn's College of Education offers a variety of programs leading to educator certification in specific teaching fields and areas of instructional support. All programs leading to a professional educator certificate are approved by the Alabama State Department of Education and accredited through The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Since the college’s programs hold these designations, our graduates are eligible to apply and be recommended for certification to the Alabama State Department of Education and Out-of-State Licensure agencies. Graduates seeking certification outside of Alabama are required to contact the state agencies and request any forms that will be required to gain certification in that state.
Teacher Certification
Current Students
The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) offers three levels of certification:
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Class B – awarded to those who have completed all requirements of an undergraduate-level state-approved Educator Preparation Program
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Class A – awarded to those who have completed all requirements of a master’s level state-approved Educator Preparation Program. Class A certificates are issued to those who (1) completed an alternative master’s program that included clinical residency or (2) hold a valid Class B certificate in Alabama.
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Class AA – awarded to those who have completed all requirements of an education specialist level state-approved Educator Preparation Program.
The programs listed in the Auburn University Bulletin that lead to Alabama professional educator certification are subject to change to meet certification standards adopted by the Alabama State Board of Education (ALSBE).
All students must complete the proper application form for Alabama certification. All information related to applications will be emailed from the Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs after mid-term each semester.
Out-of-state students can check the requirements of their respective states at the Teacher Certification Reciprocity Guide. All applicants are encouraged to apply for Alabama certification before seeking reciprocity.
Teacher Certification FAQs
Review your Alabama background check at ALSDE Certification Search.
The Office of Student Services will process the certification applications AFTER the following items have been received:
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Completed ALSDE application packet
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Final AU transcript indicating “Degree Awarded”
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Passing edTPA® score from Pearson (for initial teacher certification only).
Once the application is processed by the Office of Student Services, it typically takes 6-8 weeks to receive your teaching certificate from the State of Alabama.
A student who does not apply for professional licensure within 60 months after completing the state-approved program will be required to meet the current program. Individuals must meet requirements in effect on the date the certification application and fee are received by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE).
Request an Auburn University transcript via the Transcript Ordering Center.
For information on the required testing for certification and the deadlines for taking them, please visit College of Education Testing.
The Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) consists of 3-4 tasks (depending on your program): planning 3-5 lessons, video recording yourself teaching these 3-5 lessons, and collecting student work from these 3-5 lessons. You must earn a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education.
Request Praxis scores directly from ETS Praxis Scores. A fee may be required.
To renew your ALSDE teacher certification, please visit Certificate Renewal.
Please be aware that the Alabama State Department of Education oversees K-12 public schools and, in most cases, does not have information on colleges, universities, or private/independent schools.
Please search AskED for answers to your questions. You can email AskED at comm@alsde.com with any additional questions you have.
Please contact our office via email for information on the steps to take. In your email please include your name, when you were enrolled at Auburn University, and if possible, your student number or AU email address.
