Three (3) Year Nonrenewable Temporary Certificate

Requirements:  (You must meet these requirements to be eligible to be hired!)

1. Bachelor's or higher degree (acceptable by BEC in Tallahassee)
2. Specialization * (specific degree, subject courses or passing score on FTCE Subject Area Exam (if appropriate)
   (Just passing the exam is not sufficient for all coverages.Some exams must have been taken after 7/1/02.)
3. 2.5 GPA in specialization course work
4. $75.00 application fee for each subject requested/evaluated (Effective January 1, 2008)
5. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
6. Passing scores on General Knowledge Test ** (GK - $25) (unless CLAST was passed PRIOR to 7/1/02)
   (Most districts will allow ONE year to meet this requirement!)

* Applicants who hold a valid standard out-of-state certificate, NBPTS or ABCTE certificate, should contact their district or Bureau of Educator Certification in Tallahassee to see if their credentials meet this requirement.

** Applicants who hold a valid standard out-of-state certificate NBPTS, ABCTE certificate or who have two semesters full-time college teaching experience, should contact their district or BEC in Tallahassee to see if their credentials meet this requirement.

The Florida Department of Education will issue an Official Statement of Status of Eligibility  

This statement will be valid for three (3) years. This will allow the applicant time to obtain a teaching position and complete the remaining requirements.

Upon Employment*/Fingerprinting Clearance  

Complete paperwork work that is required by the school district.
The district will request your certificate from the Bureaus of Educator Certification.

*(Only graduates of Florida state-approved teacher preparation programs who have completed all testing, applicants holding a valid standard certificate from another US state or territory, and applicants with a valid standard certificate issued by NBPTS may be eligible to receive a certificate upon fingerprint clearance without being employed first.)

Five-Year Professional Certificate

Requirements: ***  (Must be completed before temporary certificate expires!)

1. Completion of professional preparation courses or district's alternative certification program AND practical teaching experience
2. Passing score on the Professional Education Test (PEd - $25)
3. Passing score on the Subject Area Test (SAE - $25) or verification of competencies if there is no SAE)
4. Completion of Professional Education Competence (PEC) Demonstration System
5. $75.00 application fee for each subject requested/evaluated (Effective January 1, 2008)
   
   

***  Applicants who have completed a FL state-approved teacher preparation program, out-of-state teacher education program, FL ACP program, those with a valid standard out-of-state certificate, NBPTS or ABCTE certificate, and those with two semesters full-time approved college teaching experience may have satisfied some of these requirements.  Refer to your Statement of Status of Eligibility, contact your district or the Bureau of Educator Certification at 1-800-445-6739 (in-state) or www.fldoe.org/edcert

Renewal of the Five-Year Professional Certificate

• Every five (5) years, the Professional Certificate must be renewed or it will expire.

• Six (6) semester hours of college credit/teaching (or equivalent) or 120 in-service points appropriate to the subject area(s) are required to renew this certificate, or a combination.

• Passing scores on the appropriate FTCE Subject Area Exam(s) can be counted as equivalent to three (3) hours per exam.

• $75.00 application fee for each subject requested/evaluated (Effective January 1, 2008)