Teacher certification issues are considered from the perspective of blacks in the profession. It is argued that teacher certification tests mandated by states threaten to reduce significantly the number of new minority teachers and seriously harm the historically black institutions of higher education that train teachers. The development of teacher training requirements, the history of blacks in the teaching profession, and the use of testing to prove accountability are considered. Recommendations are made on how teacher training and testing could be reorganized to be more effective and more sensitive to the concerns of minority teachers. Two federal court decisions on civil rights issues are appended. (JD)