Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-2-.25

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 290-3-2-.25 - Foreign Credentials Approach

(1)Overview. An individual who earned a bachelor's or higher degree and completed an educator preparation program at a university or college in another country may seek a Professional Educator Certificate in a teaching field.

(2)Limitations on Issuance.

(a) An individual may be eligible for Alabama certification if the individual's major program area or specific teaching field completed in another country is in a teaching field, at a grade level, and at a degree level in which Alabama offers comparable certification.

(b) Alabama certification in areas of instructional support are not available based on a program completed in another country.

(c) Certification will not be considered if Alabama no longer offers certification at the degree level of the program completed in another country. An individual may be eligible for Alabama certification in a teaching field in which Alabama does not currently offer, but has previously offered, certification.

(d) Alabama does not offer certification at the doctoral level.

(3)Degree Requirements.

(a) Degrees applied to meet certification requirements must be from a university or college that is equivalent to a regionally accredited senior institution in the United States.

(b) The individual must have earned a degree that is equivalent to at least an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited senior institution in the United States.

(4)Application. The applicant is required to submit to the Educator Certification Section the current application for this approach and documentation of having met all requirements as prescribed in Rule 290-3-2-.25 and on the application.

(5)Requirements. All requirements must be successfully completed prior to the date the application is received in the Educator Certification Section.

(a) Successful completion of the Alabama Special Requirements in Rule 290-3-2-.02(4).

(b) Successful completion of the degree requirements in Rule 290-3-2-.25(3).

(c) Evaluation of the applicant's foreign credentials.

1. The evaluation must be from a Department-approved foreign credential evaluation agency. A list of approved agencies may be found on the current application for this approach.

2. The original complete evaluation must be submitted and must include all of the following:

(i) An accurate course-by-course and credit hour-by-credit hour translation of the coursework completed.

(ii) A statement that the applicant has earned at least a bachelor's degree which is equivalent to a bachelor's degree granted by a regionally accredited senior institution in the United States.

(iii) A statement that the applicant has completed an educator preparation program that is equivalent to at least a bachelor's degree level state-approved program in the United States. The statement must include the major program area or specific teaching field.

(iv) If applicable, a statement that the applicant has earned a master's degree which is equivalent to a master's degree granted by a regionally accredited senior institution in the United States.

(v) If applicable, a statement that the applicant has completed an educator preparation program that is equivalent to a master's degree level state-approved program in the United States. The statement must include the major program area or specific teaching field.

(vi) If applicable, a statement that the applicant has completed a sixth-year program, earned an education specialist degree, or earned a doctoral degree which is equivalent to a sixth-year program, an education specialist degree, or a doctoral degree granted by a regionally accredited senior institution in the United States.

(vii) If applicable, a statement that the applicant has completed an educator preparation program that is equivalent to a sixth-year, an education specialist, or a doctoral degree level state-approved program in the United States. The statement must include the major program area or specific teaching field.

(6)Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP). The applicant must meet the requirements of the AECAP for this approach.

(7)Degree Level. The Professional Educator Certificate in a teaching field issued through this approach shall be issued at the Class B (bachelor's), Class A (master's), or Class AA (sixth-year/education specialist but not doctoral) level based upon statements in the applicant's foreign credentials evaluation from a Department-approved evaluation agency as follows:

(a) Class B level. The applicant must have earned at least a bachelor's degree which is equivalent to a bachelor's degree granted by a regionally accredited senior institution in the United States and completed an educator preparation program equivalent to at least a bachelor's degree level state-approved program in the United States in the area of the certificate to be issued.

(b) Class A. The applicant must have earned a master's degree which is equivalent to a master's degree granted by a regionally accredited senior institution in the United States and completed an educator preparation program equivalent to a master's degree level state-approved program in the United States in the area of the certificate to be issued.

(c) Class AA. The applicant must have completed a sixth-year program, earned an education specialist degree, or earned a doctoral degree which is equivalent to a sixth-year program, an education specialist, or doctoral degree granted by a regionally accredited senior institution in the United States and completed an educator preparation program equivalent to a sixth-year, an education specialist, or doctoral degree level state-approved program in the United States in the area of the certificate to be issued.

(8)Valid Period. The valid period of the certificate shall be from the date of issuance through the remainder of the same scholastic year, and thereafter, for the next five consecutive scholastic years.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-2-.25

New Rule: Filed August 4, 2008; effective September 8, 2008. Repealed and New Rule: Filed December 10, 2010; effective January 14, 2011. Repealed and New Rule: Filed June 15, 2012; effective July 20, 2012. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 17, 2014; effective February 21, 2014.

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 06, March 31, 2016, eff. 4/24/2016.

Rule was previously .13 and renumber to .25 as per certification file December 10, 2010.

Author: Dr. Thomas R. Bice

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, Ala. Const. Amend. 284, §§ 16-3-11, 16-23-1, 16-23-2.