TITLE

Preliminary Certificate Approach

HISTORY

Approved by the Alabama State Board of Education in 1997; implemented in 1997.

MOTIVATION

To increase the pool of applicants from which LEA superintendents and headmasters may select persons who appear qualified to fill vacancies.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED:

Speech and language impaired and any teaching field requested by a local superintendent.           

WHO OPERATES:

LEA.

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER PROGRAM:

A local superintendent may apply for a Preliminary Certificate in speech and language impaired and other teaching fields.  A headmaster of a nonpublic school may apply for a Preliminary Certificate in speech and language impaired only (the nonpublic school must be accredited, state-approved and/or state-registered).

The individual must have at least an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The holder of a Preliminary Certificate must teach a majority of the time in the teaching field endorsed on the certificate.

The holder is eligible for the professional educator certificate upon completion of two years of successful teaching while holding the Preliminary Certificate.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE:

None.

LENGTH OF TIME:

The Preliminary Certificate is valid for two years and may be reissued one time with a one-year valid period.