1. 1. Rationale of Class AA Programs for Teaching Fields. The purpose of a Class AA program shall be to prepare educators on the education specialist level. Persons who complete Class AA programs shall have acquired knowledge and skill above the level required for completion of a Class A program. Class AA programs must meet Advanced CAEP standards.
2. 2. Institutional and Program Requirements. The provision of Class AA programs shall be limited to institutions that meet the standards for accreditation at the education specialist’s degree or higher level by an accredited institution.
3. 3. Completion of a Class AA program for a teaching field requires at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit not used for prior-level certification in any teaching field or area of instructional support.

4. 4. Unconditional Admission to a Class AA Program for Teaching Fields. Each institution shall establish and enforce a policy that specifies when the candidate must meet criteria for unconditional admission to the program. Admission to the graduate school is not equivalent to unconditional admission to an approved program. Requirements for unconditional admission shall include:

   1. a. A criminal history background check. See Rule 290-3-3-.03 (College and University Requirements).

   2. b. A valid master’s-level professional educator certificate is required. If an individual has a Class B in a content area but does not have a Class A in the same content area, he/she can be admitted to the Class AA program. Teacher leader Class AA program must follow Rule 290-3-3-.41 (Teacher Leader (Grades P-12)).

      1. i. A teacher with a valid master’s level professional educator certificate in any teaching field may be unconditionally admitted to a Class AA program in special education or English for Speakers of Other Languages.
      2. ii. If an individual is unconditionally admitted to an Alabama Class AA program based on a valid master’s-level professional educator certificate from another state, completes a Class AA program, and subsequently applies for Alabama certification at the Class AA level, then the individual must hold at least a valid Class A Professional Educator Certificate before applying for Class AA certification.

5. 5. Curriculum of Class AA Programs for Teaching Fields. The curriculum shall be approved by the graduate school or division of the institution as meeting its standards of quality for study at the education specialist level.

   1. a. For the Class AA program:

      1. i. At least one-third of the program shall consist of teaching field courses.
      2. ii. English language arts, general science, and general social studies programs shall require at least one course in two areas within the broader field.
   2. b. Institutions must have and enforce policies that preclude a candidate who took a course for credit in a Class A program from taking the same course for credit in a Class AA program.

6. 6. Requirements for Class AA Certification in a Teaching Field.

   1. a. The valid certificate used as the basis for unconditional admission.
   2. b. An official transcript from an accredited institution documenting an earned education specialist degree. The institution must have been approved at the time of degree conferral.
   3. c. A Survey of Special Education course is required if not previously completed. The course may not be older than 10 years unless the candidate has teaching experience within the last 5 years, or he/she used the course for prior level certification.
   4. d. Satisfactory completion of an educator preparation program approved by the Alabama State Board of Education, with a minimum GPA of 3.25 on all courses in the program as verified on an official transcript.
7. 7. Testing for Class AA Certification for a Teaching Field.  Applicants for initial Class AA certification in a teaching field must meet the requirements of the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment program (AECAP) as a precondition for certification.
8. 8. Interim Employment Certificate. An Interim Employment Certificate (IEC) allows a superintendent or administrator to employ an applicant who is completing requirements for initial Class AA certification in some teaching fields through a State-approved Class AA program at an Alabama institution. Additional information, including requirements and restrictions, is provided in the current Educator Certification Chapter (290-3-2) of the Alabama Administrative Code.

9. 9.  Faculty.

10. The faculty must include at least two full-time persons who meet faculty qualifications for Class A programs in Rule 290-3-3-.03 (College and University Requirements).The faculty who teaches professional education courses or supervise field experiences, practica, or internships in the teaching field shall have recent experiences in the subject matter and at the grade level of the certification.

Author: Dr. Eric G. Mackey

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§16-3-16, 16-23-14, and 16-39-5.

Editor’s Note: Previous Rule .31.02 was renumbered .40 per certification published August 31, 2021; effective October 15, 2021.

History: New Rule: Filed August 3, 2009; effective September 7, 2009; operative October 1, 2009. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 13, 2015; effective September 17, 2015. Amended: Filed September 13, 2018; effective October 28, 2018; operative June 1, 2019. Repealed and New Rule: Published August 31, 2021; effective October 15, 2021. Repealed and New Rule: Published March 31, 2025; effective May 15, 2025.