|
The following information summarizes the requirements currently necessary to begin work in the public school system as an:
Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist
The information below has been collected by researching individual state department of education regulations and policy documents, state administrative code provisions and by contacting each state department of education. Please be advised that regulations and policy may change at any time, so always check with your state department of education for the most up-to-date information.
Audiologist
Audiologists in the public schools are contract employees and do not fall under specific teacher requirements of the State Department of Education. State licensure is typically required for practice in the schools.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Professional Educator Certificate Endorsed in Speech and Language Impaired
- Professional Educator Certificate in Speech and Language Impaired
- An individual who completes a state-approved teacher education program in Alabama in speech and language impaired (master's level) and a recommendation from the issuing institution;
or
- Holds a master's degree or higher in speech and language impaired and a valid speech-language pathology license issued by any state's board of examiners in speech-language pathology and audiology;
or
- An individual who completes a master's level teacher education program in speech and language impaired at an institution of higher education accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE);
or
- An individual who completes a state-approved program in speech and language impaired (master's level) outside of Alabama;
or
- An individual who holds valid professional certification in another state in speech and language impaired. Three years of teaching experience in speech language impaired within the seven years prior to applying to Alabama must be verified.
and
- Completion of the Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program through passage of basic skills assessments in applied mathematics, reading, and writing. A subject assessment is not required at this time.
Preliminary Certificate Approach
An individual who holds at least a master's degree in speech-language pathology but has not completed all requirements for professional certification may be eligible for preliminary certification. This may only be issued at the request of an employing superintendent or headmaster in Alabama; at the highest degree level in which a speech and language impaired major was completed; and, is valid for two years. Individuals must also complete the Prospective Teacher Testing Program (as described in above paragraph). Professional educator certificates resulting from the Preliminary Certificate approach may be issued upon the completion of all certification requirements, including two years of full-time satisfactory teaching experience with speech-language impaired students while holding the preliminary certificate.
Special Alternative Certificate Approach
This option is available for individuals whom a superintendent or headmaster wishes to employ as a speech-language pathologist and who are enrolled in an Alternative Class A (master's degree level) State-approved program in speech-language pathology in Alabama. The Special Alternative Certificate is valid for one year and may be reissued two times for a total of three years of validity. It shall be issued only at the request of the employing superintendent or headmaster and requires completion of the Prospective Teacher Testing Program. Upon completion of the Alternative Class A program, the Alabama institution recommends issuance of the Professional Educator Certificate.
Continuing Education Requirement
- Continuation of the Professional Educator Certificate requires during the five year validity period;
- Three full years of full-time satisfactory educational experience and 50 clock hours of professional development;
or
- Three full years of full-time satisfactory educational experience and 3 semester hours of allowable college credit;
or
- Six semester hours of allowable college credit;
or
- Three semester hours of allowable college credit and 50 clock hours of professional development;
or
- Initial issuance of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification.
Emergency Certification
Emergency certification may be issued for individuals with a bachelor's degree at the request of the employing superintendent or headmaster in cases of emergency when an individual with Alabama certification is not available.
Support Personnel
SLP Assistant Certificates are issued only at the request of the employing superintendent. An SLP who holds at least a valid Class A (master's degree level) Professional Educator Certificate in speech language pathology or a special education coordinator/supervisor who holds a valid Alabama Professional Educator Certificate in an area of special education must supervise the SLP Assistant. SLP Assistant Certificates are issued at Levels I and II.
Level I: Bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders with 2.5 (on a 4-point scale) overall GPA and passing scores on the basic skills assessments of the Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program. The certificate is valid for three years and is not renewable.
Level II: Have held a Level I Certificate; if a valid Alabama Class A (master's degree level) Professional Educator Certificate in an area of special education is not held, 12 semester hours of graduate credit from:
- An Alabama State-approved Alternative Class A (master's degree level) special education program;
- An ASHA-accredited SLP master's program;
or
- A combination of courses from 1 and 2, and at least two years (18 months) of supervised, satisfactory full-time employment as an SLP Assistant in one or more Alabama public school systems under Level I certification.
A Level II SLP Assistant Certificate is valid for five years and may be renewed for additional five year periods. The requirements will be available at a later date.
|