Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE)
About the FTCE
The purpose of the Florida Teacher Certification examinations (FTCE) is to ensure that all teacher candidates demonstrate the necessary content and pedagogical knowledge necessary to effectively instruct students in Florida. The purpose of the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) is to ensure that all school administrator candidates demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively lead in Florida’s schools. The Department of Education recognizes that children are our most important resource, and we would not be doing our due diligence if we did not do everything in our power to ensure that their teachers and school leaders meet rigorous professional standards at an appropriate level for a Beginning Effective Teacher Candidate (BETC) or a Beginning Effective School Administrator Candidate (BESAC). The FTCE and FELE are administered in accordance with State Board of Education Rule 6A-4.0021, F.A.C., and Rule 6A.400821, F.A.C.
Requirements for Teacher Certification
For information on what is required to be certified to teach in Florida, go to the Florida Department of Education's Bureau of Educator Certification website. You may also call the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Certification, at 1-800-445-6739.
Test Information Guides
Test Information Guides are available for free online. For a full list of electronic test information guides that are available now, go to the FTCE/FELE contractor's website.
Effective January 2019, the written-performance sections of select Test Information Guides (General Knowledge Test, English 6–12, Middle Grades English 5–9, and the Florida Educational Leadership Examination) have been updated to include an additional writing sample item with a sample passing response and a sample not-passing response. Each sample response includes rationale that cross-reference the scoring criteria and may also include annotations that reference performance characteristics used in evaluating written responses. Additionally, effective March 2019, select Test Information Guides (Professional Education Test and General Knowledge Test—English Language Skills and Mathematics subtests) have been updated to include additional sample multiple-choice questions.
Effective March 2019, select Test Information Guides (Professional Education Test and General Knowledge Test—English Language Skills and Mathematics subtests) have been updated to include additional sample multiple-choice questions.
Competencies and Skills
Revised competencies and skills for the General Knowledge Test: Essay Subtest, English Language Skills (ELS) Subtest, and Reading Subtest; Elementary Education K–6 Subtest 1: Language Arts and Reading; English 6–12; English for Speakers of Other Languages K–12; Exceptional Student Education K–12; Middle Grades English 5–9; Prekindergarten/Primary PK–3 Subtest 2: Language Arts and Reading; and Reading K–12 were approved by the State Board of Education in March 2022. Revised competencies and skills for the General Knowledge Test: Mathematics Subtest; Elementary Education K–6 Subtest 4: Mathematics; Mathematics 6–12; Middle Grades Mathematics 5–9; and Prekindergarten/Primary PK–3 Subtest 3: Mathematics were approved by the State Board of Education in October 2022. The revised competencies and skills are included in the Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Seventh Edition (PDF).
Additional information and previous competencies and skills are available on the FTCE Test Content Information page.
Test Development Opportunities!
The Department of Education has issued the following communications regarding Florida Teacher Certification Examinations Test Development.
- Florida Teacher Certification Examinations Test Development Committee Information (PDF)
- Paperless Memo: 2018 Florida Teacher Certification Examinations Test Development (PDF)
For information about participating in test development activities, go to the Department's FTCE/FELE testing contractor's website.
We Want to Hear From You!
Testing services, including Test Administrations, for the FTCE are provided by Evaluation Systems group of Pearson.
Please take a few minutes to fill out our online survey regarding services you have received. The information you provide will be analyzed by Program Managers at the Florida Department of Education and used for improving the FTCE testing system.
FTCE Questions?
To register or to obtain specific information, visit www.fl.nesinc.com or call FTCE/FELE Customer Service at 866-613-3281 (toll free, US and Canada only) 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Mon.– Fri., excluding holidays. (The Automated Information System is available by phone 24 hours daily.)