Certification

Initial Certification Undergraduate

Teaching Certification Students who complete undergraduate teacher education programs in the College of Education and Human Services and who are eligible for certification endorsement meet academic, field experience, and professional testing requirements for a State of Florida teaching certificate in their specializations.

 

Alternative Teacher Preparation for Certification

 A teacher certification program is available for those with bachelors degrees in areas other than education seeking to become teachers, but not get a degree. The Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) provides an alternative route to professional teaching certification in Florida.

 

Initial Certification Graduate

These programs are for graduate students who do not hold professional teaching certificates but who wish to obtain a master’s degree suitable to preparing them for careers in education. Candidates wishing to be certified as teachers who currently have no teaching credentials or who hold provisional, temporary, or emergency certificates may pursue the degree program in Elementary Education - Initial Certification track. This degree program allows the student to earn a master’s degree while simultaneously completing a state-approved program for certification as a teacher. 

 

Alternately, graduate students who either are or are not currently certified as teachers and who wish to work in educational settings serving adult learners may pursue the degree program in Secondary Education - Adult Learning track. This program features studies in educational foundations and instructional methodology focused on the adult learner, along with 18 or more graduate credits in a specific content area, providing the graduate training consistent with teaching at the collegiate level.

 

Teacher Certification Only

Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field of study may pursue teacher certification through “Teacher-Certification-Only” (TCO) studies. All TCO coursework must be taken at the graduate level (i.e., 5000 or 6000 level courses) unless graduate-level courses are not offered. TCO does not lead to the awarding of a degree or certificate. Students interested in TCO should contact the College’s Office of  Academic Advising

 

Teacher Re-certification
Courses in the College of Education and Human Services can also be applied to recertification. FL DOE requires six (6) semester hours of college credit or equivalent must be earned during each renewal period to renew your certificate. See information below for retaining all subjects on your certificate.

The following topics are appropriate for renewing your Professional Certificate.

  • Content specific to the subject area(s)
  • Methods or education strategies specific to the subject area(s)
  • Methods of teaching reading and literacy skills acquisition
  • Computer literacy, computer applications, and computer education (Educational Technology)
  • Exceptional student education
  • ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
  • Drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, or student dropout prevention
  • Training related to the goals of the Florida K-20 System, such as:
    • Content - English, economics, mathematics, science, social sciences, foreign languages, humanities, global economy, technology, ecology, first aid, health, or safety
    • Classroom Strategies - Cooperative learning, problem-solving skills, critical-thinking skills, classroom management, child development, collaboration techniques for working with families, social services, child guidance and counseling, teaching reading, or educational assessments, etc.
    • School Administration Accountability - Instructional design, leadership skills, school and community relations, school finance, school facilities, school law, or school organization
    • Vocational and Adult Education Accountability - Adult learning, principles of adult or vocational education, vocational education for students with special needs, or vocational guidance

For more information on Florida Teacher Certification visit the FL DOE Educator Certification Page.

 

For online registration for the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) and the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) please go to www.fl.nesinc.com.