Alabama could soon be allowing military veterans to teach without the usual certifications, following other states by offering former service members a unique opportunity while combating an ongoing teacher shortage that plagues not only the state but the nation.
Companion legislation introduced in the Alabama House and Senate in January calls for creating a temporary teaching certificate, which would last military veterans five years and not require a bachelor’s degree. Senate Bill 149 and House Bill 306 were introduced by Sen. Matt Woods and Rep. Rick Rehm, both Republicans, respectively, and the Alabama House passed Bill 306 on Tuesday by a 103-1. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, also a Republican, has to sign the legislation into law.
“This bill not only strengthens our teacher recruitment efforts, but also creates a clear, meaningful pathway for Alabama’s veterans to continue serving by bringing their leadership, discipline and real-world experience into our classrooms,” Woods said in a statement in January. “Our students, our veterans and communities across the state of Alabama will all benefit from this important partnership.”
While not requiring a bachelor’s degree, other requirements must be met to fulfill the obligations of the teaching certificate. They include the following:
Veterans qualify if they've served four years on active duty and have at least 60 hours of college credit with a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
They must pass a criminal background check.
They must be recommended for certification by a local superintendent or private school administrator and have other credentials.
They must achieve a passing score on the relevant Praxis content test, which is part of the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP).
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