Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$36,144–$41,546
$36,144–$41,546
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$300–$600
$300–$600
Housing Costs (shared)
$200–$400
$200–$400
Health Insurance
$53
$53
Utilities
$60–$80
$60–$80
Daycare
$384 / month
$384 / month
Monthly Transit Pass
N/A
N/A
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$100
$100
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$200–$400
$200–$400
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Out of Pocket
Out of Pocket
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$2,000 - $4,000
$2,000 - $4,000
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
No
No
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Two year – through university
Two year – through university
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes
Yes
Is a master's degree required?
Yes (Elementary), No (Secondary)
Yes (Elementary), No (Secondary)
Partner Universities
No current partner universities - corps members earn masters degrees at University of Alabama, Samford University, and University of West Alabama
No current partner universities - corps members earn masters degrees at University of Alabama, Samford University, and University of West Alabama
Teacher Certification Information
Teach For America -Alabama corps members receive exceptional academic support throughout their certification journey. In order to work towards their Alternate Baccalaureate Certification, all corps members are required to:
- Pass a Praxis II content area exam
- Pass the Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program: Basic Skills Assessment
- Complete ongoing university course work beginning in their first teaching semester
Notes and Clarifications
- Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
- Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
- Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
- Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
- Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
- Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
- AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
- Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
- Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
- Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
- Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.
Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.
Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.