This study investigated the effectiveness of alternative routes to teacher certification programs in three small rural school districts in South Carolina Public Schools. The need for teachers across the United States is anticipated to increase as a result of turnover. Specifically, this research analyzed the existing data in the three districts, regarding teacher preparation routes, teacher performance, teacher retention rates, and the effect the teacher preparation program have on student achievement. This study includes survey data from the administrators to evaluate the perceived preparation of alternative certified teachers based on teacher observation. In order to examine the administrators' perceptions of alternative certification routes, online surveys were conducted using nine administrators that observed teachers who went through an alternative certification route. Most administrators found alternatively certified teachers to be considered sufficiently prepared in the six areas of the survey. This study sought to answer the following research questions: (1) How do principals and assistant principals perceive teachers who have gone through alternative (emergency) certification?; and (2) "What are principals and assistant principal's perceptions of teacher alternative certification program?" The overall conclusion is that effective alternative certification programs for teacher recruitment and retention was identified to be effective in many school districts in South Carolina. Keywords: alternative certification routes, teacher preparation, teacher performance, teacher retention, alternative certification, alternative routes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]