Florida Teacher Certification Requirements
STEP 1: Eligibility for Certification
- Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college.
- Meet subject content specialization by having:
- Undergraduate degree major in subject area or
- Specified number of college credit hours in subject area or
- A passing score on the Florida teacher certification subject area exam
*Note that some school districts require a Statement of Eligibility from the state Department of Education that reflects completion of subject specialization requirements before obtaining employment in a Florida school system.
STEP 2: Requirements for a Three Year Nonrenewable Temporary Certificate
- Obtain employment in a Florida public, state-supported, or nonpublic school that has an approved Professional Education Competency Program.
- Complete a fingerprinting report for employer to submit to the State Department.
STEP 3: Requirements for a Five Year Professional Certificate
- Satisfy requirements of Steps 1 and 2
- Satisfy the educational training requirements of Professional Preparation through a Florida school district Alternative Certification Program (ACP) or completion of fifteen (15) hours in education courses.
- Satisfy Florida's testing requirements by presenting a passing score on each of the following tests:
- General Knowledge Test (Note: Pass by the end of the first year)
- Subject Area Exam (SAE) (Note: Can be completed in Step 1)
- Professional Education Test (Ped)
- Successfully complete an approved Florida Professional Education Competency (PEC) Program by the end of the first year. This is satisfied through the School Board upon being hired.
- Satisfy Practical Experience in Teaching - one year of full-time teaching experience in an elementary or secondary school.
**Note: Be sure to submit your application, $75.00 application fee and transcripts to the DOE.
Bureau of Educator Certification Website
For additional information contact: University of North Florida / Office of Academic Advising: (904) 620-3934.
Professional Preparation
Fifteen (15) semester hours with credit in the following professional education areas (Note: 15 hours total applies to all subjects; however, more than 15 hours may be needed to complete all of the specific course requirements):
- Classroom management including safe learning environments.
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- EDG 6407 Managing Effective Learning Environments
- EDG 4410 Classroom Management
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- Human development and learning
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- EDF 3151 Educational Psychology
- EDF 6211 Advanced Educational Psychology
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- Educational assessment to include the content measured by state achievement tests and the interpretation and utilization of data to improve student achievement.
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- EDF 4444 Assessment of Learning and Behavior
- EDF 6442 Assessment in the Curriculum
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- Effective instructional strategies including the needs of diverse learners.
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- EDG 3323 The Learning Process
- EDG 6250 Instructional Strategies
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- Curriculum and special methods of teaching the subject.
- UNF recommends one of the following based on area of study:
- English LAE 6339 Secondary or LAE 4335 (will satisfy middle grades)
- Social Science SSE 6385 Secondary or SSE 4383 (will satisfy middle grades)
- Math MAE 6336 Secondary or MAE 4330 (will satisfy middle grades)
- Science SCE 6337 Secondary or SCE 4330 (will satisfy middle grades)
- Foreign Language FLE 6665 Foreign Language K-12 or FLE 4333
- Note: You are not required to take a Special Methods course if looking to be certified in ESE or Elementary Education K-6. There are multiple special methods courses required in the degree programs.
- UNF recommends one of the following based on area of study:
- Foundations of research-based practices in teaching reading. (NOTE: Requirement applies to middle grades 5-9 and secondary 6-12 subjects ONLY. This requirement can only be waived if one of teaching reading or elementary)
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- RED 6000 Language & Cognitive Foundations for Reading
- RED 6656 Advanced Foundations of Reading
- UNF recommends one of the following:
- Elective credit. Elementary Education and ESE teachers need to take an elective course to meet state requirements
- UNF Recommends:
- EDF 6480 Foundations of Educational Research
- EDF 6607 Education in America
- EDE 6225 Elementary School Curriculum
- EEX 6025 Issues & Trends for Special Education
- (**Or choose any course with an Education prefix**)
- UNF Recommends:
Note: One year of teaching experience may be applied in lieu of three (3) semester hours of college credit toward missing requirements in a Professional Preparation category.