EPI Program Description

The University of North Florida (UNF), College of Education and Human Services (COEHS), has been approved by the Florida Department of Education to provide an Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) as part of the state’s efforts to address teacher shortages in critical areas. The EPI recruits high quality individuals for several areas of teacher certification. UNF’s existing capacity to meet local districts’ needs for highly qualified teachers will be permanently increased through the EPI. 

The EPI program offers a ten-month combination of connected instructional modules field experiences, and mentoring. The EPI program is learner-centered, competency based, and focused on developing expertise plus long-term teacher retention through a strong mentoring component. Programmatic components are integrated in ways that provide in-depth instruction and support to career changers as they prepare to become highly qualified, committed teachers. The EPI program addresses the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs), and the professional competency testing requirements. Mastery of competencies is demonstrated in K-12 classroom settings and documented using state-approved formative and summative instrumentation. Mentoring is provided for the duration of the program. EPI completers are awarded a credential from UNF’s College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) confirming completion of state EPI requirements for professional certification and eligibility to apply for a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate. 

Curriculum, Competencies, and the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPS)

The EPI curriculum addresses competencies on higher levels of complexity as the program proceeds. Six integrated instructional modules, plus Florida’s Reading Competency 2 course, address the statewide EPI curriculum and the FEAPs, and provide instruction in professional knowledge, reading strategies, and exceptional student education (ESE). 

The EPI is delivered using a blend of site-based and web-based methods. A central element of the competency-based curriculum provides you with practical information, blended with essential theory and real-life practice, to provide the knowledge and skills that you will need to be a successful classroom teacher. 

EPI Instructional Modules

EPI 001 Instructional Design and Lesson Planning 

EPI 002 The Learning Environment 

EPI 003 Instructional Delivery and Facilitation 

EPI 004 Assessment 

EPI 005 Continuous Improvement, Professional Responsibility, and Ethics 

EPI 006 Field Experience 

EPI 007 Reading Competency 2 

Field Experiences 

The University of North Florida (UNF) has a well-established partnership with regional school districts. EPI participants fulfill field experience requirements within the context of their classrooms. School-based support teams mentor them and principals confirm mastery of field-based competencies in seamless collaboration with the EPI. This design feature provides efficient and effective linkages between EPI instructional modules and classroom experience.  

EPI participants who are NOT employed as teachers are referred to as Resident Teacher Candidates (RTC). RTC’s are required to complete 60 classroom-based hours as well as 10 hours tutoring and 10 hours of student interaction and/or classroom experience to satisfy their field component.  The EPI Director will arrange placement for RTCs in an EPI Alliance School. These hours are designed to be attainable for even those who have full time jobs outside of the EPI. The 60 hours must be spread out over the months of October – May. In addition, the schedule of these hours is set between the RTC and his/her Mentor Teacher to adjust to the most instructionally beneficial times to visit the classroom and the participant’s work schedule. Of course, in the case where a participant does have more time to spend in their field experience school, 60 hours is a minimum and the RTC can spend as many hours as possible with his/her Mentor Teacher. Some RTCs spend over 200 hours in their field classrooms – the more time spent, the better prepared you are! The EPI Director will arrange placement for RTC’s in an EPI Partnership School. 

Student Assessment Methodologies  

Mastery of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPS) and related competencies will be evaluated by the instructional team and a school administrator or designee. Both formative and summative assessments will be used. Authentic assessment tasks will be imbedded in both instructional modules and field experiences. EPI participants will organize their performance artifacts and evaluation rubrics in individual EPI portfolios as evidence of mastery of the FEAP’s for the Florida Department of Education.  

 EPI Completion and Beyond 

EPI completers will receive a credential of EPI completion. This credential confirms completion of the state’s Professional Education Competencies requirements for professional certification and eligibility to apply to the FLDOE for a Florida Professional teaching Certificate. 

 Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) 

EPI Participants must take the three subtests (General Knowledge, Subject Area, and Professional Education) of the FTCE prior to or during the EPI program. The EPI will provide preparation for the Professional Test.  Testing information and registration can be found at www.fl.nesinc.com. 

Questions about Florida Teacher Certification? 

www.fldoe.org/edcert and www.teachinflorida/com  

 Required EPI Program Hours  

The program involves a total of 280 hours. These hours are accomplished through the following activities: 

Want More Information? 

Contact Betty Bennett, EPI Director 

University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224 

Telephone (904) 620-1823 

Fax (904) 620-1619 

Email bbennett@unf.edu