Alabama State Department of Education Temporary Special Education Certificate

Public Schools in Alabama are struggling to fill classrooms with certified teachers, especially in the field of Special Education. The Alabama State Department of Education has developed an abbreviated pathway to certification in Special Education/Collaborative Teacher for grades 6-12. The Temporary Special Education Certificate (TSEC) pathway is available to candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree in any area with a GPA of at least 2.5. The pathway consists of 5 courses offered online through Jacksonville State University, as well as field experiences, online modules, and professional development requirements through the Alabama State Department of Education.

To apply for this program:

• You must have a Bachelor’s degree and a GPA of at least 2.5 to be eligible for this program.
• You will apply for admission at the following page as a transient/non-degree seeking student: Non-Degree Seeking and Transient Student Information - Future Students
• There are 5 courses that will be taken as part of the program. You will contact the advisor for the program by email at cfcalhoun@jsu.edu to be advised on the courses that are needed. The courses are offered online and must all be from the same institution. Any completion credit awarded for SPE 300 must have been awarded within the past 10 years at the institution where you are taking courses toward this pathway. The five courses needed are:

  • SPE 300 Survey of Exceptional Children and Youth
  • SPE 330 Assessment in Teaching and Learning
  • SPE 332 Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues
  • SPE 348 Collaboration in Elementary and Secondary
  • SPE 427 Behavior Classroom Management, Transition
• Once you are enrolled in coursework, you may apply for a Temporary Special Education Certificate (TSEC) and begin teaching in a 6-12 SPE classroom.
• You must teach for at least 1 year prior to applying for certification through the ALSDE.
• You must also pass the Special Education Praxis and complete modules through the ALSDE prior to applying for certification.
• You can finish the coursework at JSU in approximately 1 year, but you must have it completed within 3 years to apply for professional certification.
• Because this is a 15-hour credential, with certification being offered through the ALSDE, financial aid is not available.
• If you have certification in other areas and have hosted JSU teacher candidates before, you may have scholarship hours available to you. You may contact Courtney Christopher at clchristopher@jsu.edu to find out.
• The ALSDE forms page can be found at:
  Temporary Special Education Certificate (TSEC) - Alabama State Department of Education

We look forward to serving you in this certification program. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Christie Calhoun at cfcalhoun@jsu.edu.