If you are checking on the status of your recommendation for certification, please follow the steps below: 

  1. Login to UWA’s Self Service portal — www.selfservice.uwa.edu. 
  1. On the left-hand side, choose the Graduation Cap (Academics). 
  1. In the dropdown menu, select Test Summary. 
  1. Under “Other Tests,” look for the following codes: “Applied for ‘A’ Cert” (Master’s Degree) or “Applied for ‘AA’ Cert” (EDS Degree). There will be a date under the Date Taken column; this is the date your application was mailed to the ALSDE. Please note that the typical turnaround time is 6-8 weeks.  

UWA’s Commitment to Educator Effectiveness 

UWA’s College of Education will provide remediation at no cost to education graduates whose performance indicates the need for additional support within the first two years after the beginning valid date of the Professional Educator Certificate, which was issued based on recommendation by UWA.  Additional assistance may be requested by the new employee, the employee’s principal, or the employing superintendent.   

Alternative Certification Approaches 

Alternative approaches to earning a Professional Educator Certificate or a Professional Leadership Certificate are available. More information can be found here.        

Application for Certification 

For your convenience, please note the following information regarding certification. Application for certification is not subject to graduation deadlines. 

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY AND IS MADE THROUGH THE CERTIFICATION OFFICE. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN 60 CALENDAR MONTHS OF PROGRAM COMPLETION. 

Upon satisfactory completion of requirements for the master’s or education specialist degree (including the State approved professional education requirements and experience) students who initially held or met requirements for an Alabama Class B or A Professional Certificate will qualify for the appropriate Alabama Class A or AA Professional Certificate.

Apply for Certification

If you would like to be notified upon receipt of your application, please send a self-addressed post card or envelope with your application. Due to the large number of phone calls our office receives, if you do not include this, we will not be able to tell you the status of your application. 

Application for the Educator Preparation Program 

Undergraduate EdPP Application (Fillable PDF) 

Undergraduate EdPP Interview Form Instructions 

Information for Students in ED 300: Introduction to Teaching and Learning 

Out-of-State Students 

Out-of-state students should check carefully the requirements of their respective states. The appropriate forms may be sent to the Certification Officer by mail or you may send a scanned copy of the form by e-mail to certification@uwa.edu. All mailed forms must be sent to the following address:  

The University of West Alabama 

Attn: Certification Office 

1 College Drive, Station #8 
Livingston, AL 35470 
 

Verification of Higher Degree 

The Verification of Higher Degree form is only for individuals who already hold a valid Alabama Educator Certificate and have earned an advanced degree.  This form is not for those who have completed an initial certification degree program (undergraduate- Class B and Alternative Class A). 

This form is not for individuals who are seeking certification in another state. 

The applicant must complete this form and it must be signed by the LEA Superintendent.  The form is to be mailed to the Alabama State Department of Education upon completion.  This form does not need to be mailed to UWA’s Teacher Education and Certification Office.  

You are still required to submit an application for certification (see above) for your endorsement to be listed on your teaching certificate.  This step must be completed.  Failure to do so may result in additional testing and/or classes if not done in a timely manner. 

Questions regarding advance pay should be sent to payforadvanceddegrees@alsde.edu. 

Certification Office Forms 

Click here to access the instructions for submitting the Undergraduate Area of Specialization Form. 

Click here to access the Declaration of Citizenship or National Status of Applicant for Educator Certification Form. 

Click here to access the Verification of Experience form. 

Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program

IMPORTANT: Teacher Shortage: Expansion of Current Teacher Testing Requirement Options.

ALSDE Educator Assessment Policies

ALSDE Educator Assessment Policies Manual B

Praxis II (Content Knowledge Test)

To register online, access preparation materials and more, visit the Praxis website.

Questions: 1.800.772.9476 or 1.609.771.7395 or 1.866.387.8602 (for disability services)

The Praxis II® tests of the AECTP measure general and subject-specific knowledge and teaching skills.

To determine the required Praxis II test(s) and score(s) for your major, choose the appropriate link:

Must indicate UWA as the score recipient. UWA Code: 1737.
Must indicate ALSDE as the score recipient. ALSDE Code: 7020

It is the student’s responsibility to verify that the official Praxis score report has been received by the Certification Office.

Foundational Reading Assessment: Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education and Special Education K-6

Foundations of Reading 190. Be sure to make UWA a score recipient to this test.

Alabama Foundations of Reading Voucher Order Form.

edTPA

Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) is a portfolio assessment developed by the Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning and Equity (SCALE) featuring three tasks: planning, instruction and assessment. It is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used by teacher preparation programs throughout the United States to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need from day one in the classroom.

An edTPA passing score is required for all initial certification programs (undergraduate and Alternate A programs). All University of West Alabama (UWA) student interns must complete and pass edTPA during their internship course (ED 409/ED 509) for student teaching requirements and Alabama educator certification. A passing score on the edTPA is a UWA degree requirement.

Upon edTPA registration, teacher candidates have 18 months to prepare and submit a finalized portfolio for both initial portfolio submissions and retake submissions.

All UWA interns will receive support and guidance throughout the completion of edTPA.

For additional information on edTPA, refer to the following website: edTPA for Alabama.