TEacher Certification checklist
Pre-Kindergarten: Birth To Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate
To qualify for the Pre-Kindergarten: Birth to Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate issued by the Alabama State Department of Education, teacher candidates must complete the following:
The PRAXIS CORE: Core Academic Skills for Educators was rescinded as a state requirement in the summer of 2020. Effective June 11, 2020, and thereafter, a student enrolled in HD 321: Conceptual and Creative Experiences for Young Children I/Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education I seeking an Early Childhood Development Certificate is not required to complete PRAXIS Core testing. However, prior to June 11, 2020, a student enrolled in HD 321: Conceptual and Creative Experiences for Young Children I/Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education I seeking an Early Childhood Development Certificate is required to earn passing scores on each component of Praxis Core. Additional information about this test is provided in the event in may be helpful to teacher candidates.
The PRAXIS: Pre-Kindergarten Education Content Knowledge Test
Cost of exam: The fee is $120.00.
A free study companion is available online:
The Praxis Study Companion: Pre-Kindergarten Education
Students are given 2 hours to complete the exam.
HDFS ECE recommends that teacher candidates download and retain several copies of ALL test scores while they are available online. Scores are only available for 45 days after scores are posted. In order to get a copy of your scores after the 45 days, you will have to request them directly from ETS and pay additional fees. HDFS ECE will not release PRAXIS score information to anyone.
ABI/FBI CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CLEARANCE
The ABI/FBI Criminal History Background Clearance will be registered through the Alabama State Department of Education. Complete this the semester before the student teaching internship.
How to register: Register Select application type: Admission to a Teacher Education Program. This will automatically enter you in the Alabama Department of Education Applicant Processing Services. Enter all information carefully and correctly. Errors can only be corrected through the Alabama Department of Education. Cost: $48.15 which is paid online to Gemalto Cogent.
FINGERPRINTING (TWO OPTIONS—UA CAMPUS OR PAK MAIL)
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
214 Child Development Research Center
651 Peter Bryce Blvd
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Box 870160
TEACHER PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
To qualify for the Pre-Kindergarten: Birth to Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate issued by the Alabama State Department of Education, teacher candidates must complete the following:
- Have an Overall GPA of 2.50 by graduation. It is best to have this GPA at the start of the student teaching internship.
- Have started coursework in HDFS ECE after July 2017 (i.e., HD 202, HD 205, HD 321, and HD 322 were taken after July 2017).
The PRAXIS CORE: Core Academic Skills for Educators was rescinded as a state requirement in the summer of 2020. Effective June 11, 2020, and thereafter, a student enrolled in HD 321: Conceptual and Creative Experiences for Young Children I/Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education I seeking an Early Childhood Development Certificate is not required to complete PRAXIS Core testing. However, prior to June 11, 2020, a student enrolled in HD 321: Conceptual and Creative Experiences for Young Children I/Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education I seeking an Early Childhood Development Certificate is required to earn passing scores on each component of Praxis Core. Additional information about this test is provided in the event in may be helpful to teacher candidates.
The PRAXIS: Pre-Kindergarten Education Content Knowledge Test
- Teacher candidates must pass The PRAXIS: Pre-Kindergarten Education Content Knowledge Test for the Pre-Kindergarten: Birth to Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate.
- The test is administered through Educational Testing Services (ETS) at approved test sites, including The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa.
- How to register:
- Go to Praxis for information regarding registration and preparation.
- Students must create an account with ETS PRAXIS. Save your username and password. You will need it again if you register for other PRAXIS tests.
- When registering, students must give their 9 digit social security number. Score reports must be sent to UA HDFS/ECE (1935 HDFS-U of AL) and to the Alabama State Department of Education (Code 7020) directly from ETS.
Choose “Test Dates and Centers.” - Select the Pre-Kindergarten Education Praxis Test (Exam Code 5531). Test dates for the test are available. The test may have limited testing windows and may only be available during certain windows of time during the year.
- Teacher candidates who require testing accommodations should contact ETS. Test-takers should register for accommodations prior to registering for a test.
Cost of exam: The fee is $120.00.
A free study companion is available online:
The Praxis Study Companion: Pre-Kindergarten Education
Students are given 2 hours to complete the exam.
HDFS ECE recommends that teacher candidates download and retain several copies of ALL test scores while they are available online. Scores are only available for 45 days after scores are posted. In order to get a copy of your scores after the 45 days, you will have to request them directly from ETS and pay additional fees. HDFS ECE will not release PRAXIS score information to anyone.
ABI/FBI CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CLEARANCE
The ABI/FBI Criminal History Background Clearance will be registered through the Alabama State Department of Education. Complete this the semester before the student teaching internship.
How to register: Register Select application type: Admission to a Teacher Education Program. This will automatically enter you in the Alabama Department of Education Applicant Processing Services. Enter all information carefully and correctly. Errors can only be corrected through the Alabama Department of Education. Cost: $48.15 which is paid online to Gemalto Cogent.
FINGERPRINTING (TWO OPTIONS—UA CAMPUS OR PAK MAIL)
- UA-Campus Mail Facility 325 Kirkbride Lane Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 (located on the Bryce Campus of UA which is off Helen Keller Blvd., front entrance) Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. No appointments are needed. UA Campus Fingerprinting
- Pak Mail 1655 N. McFarland Blvd. Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Saturdays 10:00a.m.-12:00 p.m. No appointments are needed. Do not call Pak Mail. For alternative locations in Alabama,please check the Gemalto Cogent website. What to bring: Gemalto Cogent requires current, valid andunexpired picture identification documents. As a primary form of picture identification, a State issued driver’s license may be presented by an applicant when being fingerprinted.
- When your ABI/FBI Criminal History Background Clearance is complete, you will receive a Suitability Letter from the Alabama State Department of Education. You must provide a copy of this letter to 214 Child Development Research Center (CDRC) and keep the original letter for your records. You may mail a copy of the Suitability Letter to:
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
214 Child Development Research Center
651 Peter Bryce Blvd
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Box 870160
TEACHER PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
- Passing Score for the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA Electronic Teaching Portfolio). This will be completed during the student teaching internship. Additional information about creating teaching portfolios according to edTPA requirements will be shared at the mandatory Internship Orientation meeting, which occurs during the internship planning semester. Review Alabama State Department of Education forms. These will be completed at the Internship Orientation meeting. The edTPA Electronic Teaching Portfolio requires registration with Pearson. The cost is $300.00. The registration overview can be found here.