Alabama Teacher Certification Renewal
Alabama teacher certification renewal means documenting a combination of full-time experience, professional development clock hours, or semester credit hours, or holding National Board certification, before the Professional Educator Certificate expires. Reinstating an expired certificate relies on credit hours, additional clock hours, or a qualifying Praxis assessment. The Alabama Department of Education’s Teacher Education and Certification Office processes both applications.
Alabama teachers renew their Professional Educator Certificate through the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) before the five-year certificate expires. What you need to do next depends on whether your certificate is still valid, has already lapsed, or you’re already certified in another state and need a different path to an Alabama certificate. This guide covers Alabama teacher certification renewal requirements, reinstatement requirements for an expired certificate, and how to reach the ALSDE with questions specific to your certificate. For the full Alabama certification process, including options for new teachers, see our complete guide.
Teaching Certification Renewal
To renew a Professional Educator Certificate (valid for 5 years), all requirements must be completed, and your application must be received by the Teacher Education and Certification Office of the Alabama Department of Education no later than June 30th of the certificate’s expiration year.
Requirements
Renewal will be granted with verification of one of the following options:
- Three years of full-time educational experience and 50 clock hours of acceptable professional development.
- Three years of full-time educational experience and 3 semester hours of acceptable credit.
- 50 clock hours of acceptable professional development and 3 semester hours of acceptable credit.
- 6 semester hours of acceptable credit.
- Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) earned during the valid period of the Professional Educator Certificate that you currently hold.
- 100 clock hours of approved professional development from approved providers.
Contact the Alabama Department of Education at (334) 353-8567 to learn more about your options and/or download the certification renewal application from the Alabama Department of Education website.
Reinstatement of Certification
To reinstate an expired Professional Educator Certificate with a valid period beginning July 1st, you will need to meet requirements and have your application received by the Teacher Education and Certification Office of the Alabama Department of Education no later than June 30th of the certificate’s expiration year.
Requirements
A Professional Educator Certificate may be reinstated with verification of one of the following options:
- 9 semester hours of acceptable credits earned within the last 5 years.
- 6 semester hours of acceptable credits and 50 clock hours of acceptable professional development earned within the last 5 years.
- 150 clock hours of approved professional development.
- Passing the current Alabama-approved Praxis subject assessment(s), where applicable.
Contact the Alabama Department of Education at (334) 353-8567 to learn more about your options and to request application materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an Alabama Professional Educator Certificate valid?
A Professional Educator Certificate in Alabama is valid for five years and expires on June 30th of its expiration year. Renewal requirements and the completed application are both due by that same June 30th deadline, so it’s best not to wait until the final weeks to start.
What happens if I miss the Alabama certificate renewal deadline?
A certificate that isn’t renewed on time expires, and getting back into good standing requires reinstatement rather than renewal. Alabama’s reinstatement options include semester credit hours, additional clock hours of professional development, and, where applicable, passing the current Alabama-approved Praxis subject assessment. It’s worth submitting the renewal application before the certificate lapses to avoid the added requirements.
Can National Board Certification renew an Alabama teaching certificate?
Yes. Earning certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards during the valid period of your current Professional Educator Certificate satisfies Alabama’s renewal requirement on its own, without needing to separately document clock hours or semester credit.
What’s the difference between renewing and reinstating an Alabama teaching certificate?
Renewal applies to a certificate that hasn’t yet expired and offers several ways to qualify, including experience combined with clock or credit hours, clock or credit hours alone, or National Board certification. Reinstatement applies to a certificate that has already expired and relies on credit hours, additional clock hours, or a qualifying Praxis assessment, since the experience-based options aren’t available once a certificate lapses.
- Certificates last five years — an Alabama Professional Educator Certificate expires June 30th of its fifth year, and both renewal requirements and the application are due by that same June 30th deadline.
- Renewal has multiple pathways — options include experience combined with clock hours or credit hours, clock hours or credit hours alone, National Board certification, or 100 clock hours of approved professional development.
- Reinstatement has its own set of options — an expired certificate can be reinstated through semester credit hours, additional clock hours of professional development, or, where applicable, a qualifying Praxis subject assessment, since the experience-based renewal options aren’t available once a certificate lapses.
- ALSDE handles both processes — the Teacher Education and Certification Office at the Alabama Department of Education verifies renewal and reinstatement applications and can answer certificate-specific questions.
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