Lifetime Professional Certificate 

Alabama educators who have retired with 25 or more years of service in Alabama are eligible to apply for the Lifetime Certificate. To qualify, applicants must submit a completed application (available August 17, 2026), a nonrefundable $200 application fee, verification of at least 25 years of service from The Retirement Systems of Alabama, and, if the certificate has expired, documentation of current background clearance. Applications may be submitted only after the individual has retired and during the year in which the educator’s certificate expires.