Provisional Certificate in Library Media and School Counseling (PCLS) and the Business and Industry to Educational Administrator (BIEA) Approaches

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

Visit the Alabama Alternative Certificates page on the Alabama State Department of Education website for information regarding these certification approaches.

TEST CHANGES and SCORE INCREASES are effective for tests taken and applications received in the Educator Certification Section of the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) on or after September 1, 2023. The score earned on the date a test was taken MAY or MAY NOT be deemed as "passing" when the test taker's application is received in the Educator Certification Section of the ALSDE. Additional information regarding testing may be found in the Educator Assessment Policies Manual A and Manual B on the Alabama Teacher Certification page at the Alabama State Department of Education website.

Find your certification area below to determine which test(s) you need to take. For test prep materials, click the test title. Once you know which tests you should take, schedule your test.

Unless it’s specifically stated that a calculator is permitted or required for a particular test, you can’t use a calculator on any Praxis tests (see Calculator Use).

Certification based on the PCLS Approach may ONLY be requested by an employing Alabama county/city superintendent or eligible nonpublic/private school administrator. An individual should contact the school system or eligible nonpublic/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 nonpublic/private school administrator according to current ALSDE testing policies do so at their own risk. The Praxis Subject Assessments (content tests) required for issuance of the PCLS are based on the certification area for which the PCLS is requested.

PCLS in Library Media or School Counseling

First PCLS

Applicants for the issuance of the first PCLS must successfully complete the current Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP) Praxis Subject Assessments (content tests) before October 1 of the scholastic year for which the first PCLS is to be issued.

Requirements for PCLS Approaches

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Library/Media Specialist (P–12)	School Librarian	5312	154
School Counseling (P–12)	School Counselor	5422	159

Certification based on the BIEA Approach may ONLY be requested by an employing Alabama county/city superintendent. An individual should contact the school system in which employment is desired for information concerning certificate eligibility.

A request for the BIEA may only be considered for an individual who is not eligible for certification in the requested area through any other alternative, reciprocal, or traditional approach. An individual should contact the school system in which employment is desired for information concerning certificate eligibility.

Individuals who choose to test without advisement from an employing Alabama county/city superintendent according to current ALSDE testing policies do so at their own risk.

BIEA in Educational Administration

First BIEA

Applicants for the issuance of the first BIEA must successfully complete the current Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP) Praxis Subject Assessments (content tests) before October 1 of the scholastic year for which the first BIEA is to be issued.

Tests required for the BIEA

Educational Administration

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
For Educational Administration eligibility and testing advisement, contact the employing Alabama county/city superintendent or the Educator Certification Section of the ALSDE.

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