Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) Approach

For Those Applying Based on the Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) Approach

General testing information for all applicants may be found in the Overview of Alabama Testing Requirements.

Visit the Educator Certification Section for information regarding these certification approaches.

Certification based on the PCTF Approach may ONLY be requested by an employing Alabama county/city superintendent or eligible non-public/private school administrator. An individual should contact the school system or eligible non-public/private school in which employment is desired for information concerning certificate eligibility. Individuals who choose to test without advisement from an employing Alabama county/city superintendent or eligible non-public/private school administrator according to current ALSDE testing policies do so at their own risk.

For the issuance of the first PCTF:

• Pass the required Praxis Subject Assessments (content tests), as indicated in the charts below, before October 1 of the scholastic year for which the first PCTF is to be issued.

For the issuance of the second PCTF or PCCT:
No tests are required

For the issuance of the third PCTF or PCCT:
No tests are required

For issuance of the Professional Educator Certificate:
Individuals who held the first PCTF or PCCT before the 2020–2021 scholastic year:

• Pass the required Praxis^® Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test, as indicated in the charts below, by October 1 of the calendar year the third PCTF or PCCT expires. The PLT is not required if the individual holds a valid Alabama Professional Educator Certificate or Professional Leadership Certificate.

For individuals issued the first PCTF during the 2020–2021 scholastic year or thereafter, the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA^® ) will be required, in lieu of the PLT.

• Pass the required Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) by October 1 of the scholastic year for which the third PCTF expires. General information pertaining to the edTPA can be found on the ALSDE website and specific Alabama required handbooks and scores can be found in the Educator Assessment Policies.

Please Note:

Find the certification area below to determine which test(s) is/are required. To learn more about a specific test, click the test title. Visit these links to find out how to register for Praxis tests or to read the Praxis test retake policy.

In general, unless it is specifically stated that a calculator is permitted or required for a particular test, calculators may not be used on Praxis tests (see Calculator Use).

Praxis Subject Area Test(s) Required for Issuance of the First PCTF

Tests Required for Issuance of the Professional Educator Certificate

The PLT test is required for individuals whose first PCTF or PCCT was held before the 2020–2021 scholastic year.

For individuals who hold a first PCTF during the 2020–2021 scholastic year and thereafter, the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) is required in lieu of the PLT. General information pertaining to the edTPA can be found on the ALSDE website and specific Alabama required handbooks and scores can be found in the Educator Assessment Policies.

A passing score on the PLT will continue to be required for the teaching field of Computer Science as an edTPA Handbook is not available.

praxis testing for Alabama

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
All 6–12 Teaching Fields	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	*
All 4–8 Teaching Fields (Choose one)	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	*
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	*
All P–12 Teaching Fields (Choose one)	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	*
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	*

This page is a supplement to The Praxis^® Tests Information Bulletin.