SB16 Alabama 2021 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Andrew JonesSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2021
Title: Teachers, St. Board of Education, authorized to issue alternative teaching certificates to qualified former members of Armed Forces, Sec. 16-23-3 am'd.
Summary: SB16 creates an expanded alternative teaching certificate pathway for qualified former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including veterans, allowing them to teach in Alabama (grades 6-12, and some K-8 in certain subjects) without needing a traditional approved teacher education program.
What This Bill Does
It authorizes the State Board of Education to establish an alternative teaching certificate that the State Superintendent can issue to individuals who meet specific criteria, including having a degree, submitting fingerprints, obtaining a recommendation from a local school official, being assigned a mentor, and meeting testing requirements. For veterans with a master’s degree and at least 10 years of military service, it allows an alternative certificate even if they do not pass the Praxis II test. The certificate is valid for up to four years and may lead to a standard teaching certificate after satisfying certain conditions, including a limit on required education coursework. The act also allows emergency certificates during staffing shortages with shorter validity and sets subject-area limits for where the alternative certificates can be used.

Who It Affects
Qualified former members of the United States Armed Forces who are retirees in good standing or honorably discharged with at least 10 years of service and who have a master’s or higher degree would be eligible for an alternative teaching certificate (Praxis II not required).
Individuals with a bachelor’s or higher degree who did not graduate from an approved teacher education program can pursue an alternative certificate if they meet specified academic and testing criteria and obtain the required recommendations and mentorship.
Local school superintendents or private school administrators, who must recommend applicants and help place and mentor them as part of the certification process.

Key Provisions
Authorizes the State Board to establish an alternative certificate to be issued by the State Superintendent of Education for individuals regardless of whether they graduated from an approved teacher education program, with specified degree, fingerprint, recommendation, mentoring, and testing requirements.
For the general track, requires (a) a bachelor’s or higher degree; (b) fingerprints and fees; (c) employer recommendation; (d) assignment of a mentor; (e) compliance with the Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program; and (f) meeting one of: (i) 30 semester hours in the field (18 upper division), (ii) a bachelor’s or higher degree with a non-education major in the certification area, or (iii) a passing Praxis II content test.
For veterans or military-affiliated applicants, requires a master’s or higher degree, at least 10 years of military service, and satisfaction of other requirements related to the master’s path but without the Praxis II requirement.
An alternative certificate is valid for up to four years from the initial July 1 start date, as determined by board policy.
After three years of employment under an alternative certificate with up to two school boards, a recipient may be granted a standard teaching certificate if approved and if they complete no more than 12 semester hours of education coursework to qualify.
Time served under an alternative certificate counts toward continuing service status under the applicable statute.
In emergencies, the State Superintendent may issue emergency certificates if qualified teachers are unavailable, with a maximum validity of four years and renewal limits, but such time shall not count toward continuing service status.
Alternative certificates are limited to grades 6-12, but may be issued for teaching grades K-8 if the subject areas are fine arts or foreign languages (or both).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Education