Pre-Kindergarten: Birth to Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate
OVERVIEW
Eligible students may apply for the Pre-Kindergarten: Birth To Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate through The Early Childhood Development (Birth through Age 4) Certificate Approach. The certification is an alternative pathway to certification in Alabama. There are no grade levels associated with this certificate and it focuses on birth to age four (pre-K).
The Early Childhood Development Approach is for an individual who has completed a bachelor’s level National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – accredited program in child development for birth through age 4. Learn more about this approach to certification in Alabama by visiting The Alabama State Department of Education website.
Out-of-State Students
To ensure that completion of this program will lead to an equivalent certification or licensure in your home state, contact your home state’s department of education (office of certification or licensure) for verification.
Certification requirements include grade point average (GPA) requirements, PRAXIS testing, and Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).
GPA REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for the Pre-Kindergarten: Birth to Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate issued by the Alabama State Department of Education, teacher Candidates must earn an Overall GPA of 2.50 by graduation. It is best to have this GPA at the start of the student teaching internship.
COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS
Students must have completed coursework in HDFS ECE after July 2017 (i.e., HD 202, HD 205, HD 321, and HD 322 were taken after July 2017).
TEACHER TESTING
The PRAXIS CORE: Core Academic Skills for Educators
The PRAXIS CORE: Core Academic Skills for Educators was rescinded as a state requirement in the summer of 2020. Effective June 11, 2020, and thereafter, a student enrolled in HD 321: Conceptual and Creative Experiences for Young Children I/Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education I seeking an Early Childhood Development Certificate is not required to complete PRAXIS Core testing. However, prior to June 11, 2020, a student enrolled in HD 321: Conceptual and Creative Experiences for Young Children I/Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education I seeking an Early Childhood Development Certificate is required to earn passing scores on each component of Praxis Core. Additional information about this test is provided in the event in may be helpful to teacher Candidates.
The PRAXIS: Pre-Kindergarten Education Content Knowledge Test Teacher Candidates must pass The PRAXIS: Pre-Kindergarten Education Content Knowledge Test for the Pre-Kindergarten: Birth to Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate. The test is administered through Educational Testing Services (ETS) at approved test sites, including The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa.
- Registering for a Praxis Test
- Go to Praxis for information regarding registration and preparation.
- Sign into your Praxis account or create an account.
- Check your State Requirements or Find Tests & Prep to find the test(s) you need to take. Select the Pre-Kindergarten Education Praxis Test (Exam Code 5531).
- Add up to four tests to your cart and checkout.
- Select your options for testing At Home testing (if available) or at a Test Center.
- When you schedule your test, you will receive a free Interactive Practice Test with your registration.
- Note: You will be able to select your free score recipient after you schedule your test.
- Score reports must be sent to UA HDFS/ECE (1935 HDFS-U of AL) and to the Alabama State Department of Education (Code 7020) directly from ETS.
Choose “Test Dates and Centers.”
If you’re retaking a test, you’ll need to wait at least 28 days after your previous test date. Teacher Candidates who require testing accommodations should contact ETS. Test-takers should register for accommodations prior to registering for a test.
A variety of test-prep materials are available online.
HDFS ECE recommends that teacher Candidates download and retain several copies of ALL test scores while they are available online. Scores are only available for 45 days after scores are posted. In order to get a copy of your scores after the 45 days, you will have to request them directly from ETS and pay additional fees. HDFS ECE will not release PRAXIS score information to anyone.
ABI/FBI CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CLEARANCE
Students are required to complete an ABI/FBI Background Check. The ABI/FBI Criminal History Background Clearance will be registered through the Alabama State Department of Education.
SUITABILITY LETTER
When your ABI/FBI Criminal History Background Clearance is complete, you will receive a Suitability Letter from the Alabama State Department of Education. Please keep the letter for your records as you will be asked to provide it for classes and when submitting your certification application materials.
TEACHER PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
Teacher Candidates must complete and receive a passing score for the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA Electronic Teaching Portfolio). This will be completed during the student teaching internship. Students completing edTPA are encouraged to take HD 400. The edTPA Electronic Teaching Portfolio requires registration with Pearson. The cost is $300.00. The registration overview can be found here.
QUESTIONS
Inquiries regarding certification can be directed to Dr. Kimberly Blitch at kablitch@ches.ua.edu.