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Certification

Academic Certificates

Anyone seeking academic certification must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited or approved institution. The Florida Department of Education issues two types of teaching certificates for academic subjects: a nonrenewable Temporary Certificate, valid for three years, and a renewable Professional Certificate, valid for five years. Those who qualify for a Temporary Certificate may seek and obtain employment prior to completing all of the requirements for the Professional Certificate.

Florida offers a variety of options for prospective teachers to complete their certification requirements. Some of these will allow you to complete your certification outside the state of Florida, or while you are on active duty abroad, or in your current employment. Before selecting a specific route to certification, you should compare the cost and the time required to complete the requirements and then select the option that best fits your needs. The Florida Troops to Teachers office can assist you in understanding the requirements for each option and making the most appropriate choice.

Vocational Certificates

Vocational certificates are of two types. The first is issued by the state and requires a college degree from an accredited or approved institution, as well as other requirements similar to those listed for an Academic Certificate (see Options for Certification, below). The second type of vocational certificate (non-degreed) is issued by each school district based upon work experience in an occupational field rather than college degree(s) or credits. The districts determine what, if any, additional courses in education are necessary to satisfy their requirements for this type of certification coverage.

Certification Testing

In most cases, individuals seeking Florida certification must take three certification examinations: General Knowledge (GK) test, Subject Area Exam (SAE), and Professional Education (PEd) Test. The tests are offered in a pencil/paper format five times a year as well as in a computer based format, which can be taken more often. Online registration is available for individuals living in Florida. For individuals living outside of Florida, the Florida Department of Education has approved the administration of the Florida certification exams at DANTES testing centers on bases outside of Florida. Exams administered at a DANTES testing center are offered only in pencil/paper format. Individuals interested in taking the exams at a DANTES testing center must check with the local Test Control Office (TCO) to determine if the TCO is able to facilitate test administration on the required testing date. In addition, examinees must obtain the test registration form and follow the specific registration process for testing on military bases. The required forms and instructions may be obtained from the Florida Troops to Teachers office.

Options for Certification

The following are abbreviated summaries of the options for qualifying for the nonrenewable Temporary Certificate and Professional Certificate. These summaries are provided to inform participants of the various potential routes to certification and do not list all requirements for each option.

Temporary Certificate

Option # 1: The applicant has a degree major in a subject area for which there is a corresponding certification.
Option # 2: The applicant has completed the specified minimum number of courses in the content area.
Option # 3: The applicant has passed the subject area examination for a certification area that requires only a bachelor’s degree.
Option # 4: The applicant has completed the Passport to Teaching Program offered by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE).
Option # 5: This option applies to foreign languages only (Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish). Applicants must complete either the basic or advanced course at the Defense Language Institute for a foreign language in which Florida offers certification, or earn passing scores above the intermediate level on both the oral and written proficiency tests administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in a language in which Florida offers certification.

Professional Certificate

Option # 1: The applicant has qualified for a Temporary Certificate and has satisfied the education courses, testing, experience and the district’s Professional Educator Competency Demonstration program requirements.
Option # 2: The applicant has qualified for a Temporary Certificate and has completed testing and the district’s alternative certification program.
Option # 3: The applicant has completed both the ABCTE’s Passport to Teaching Program and the district’s Professional Educator Competency Demonstration program.
Option # 4: The applicant has provided verification of at least two semesters of full-time college teaching experience and has passed the appropriate Subject Area Exam.
Option # 5: The applicant has completed testing requirements and a teacher preparation program offered by an Educator Preparation Institute.
Option # 6: The applicant holds a valid standard teaching certificate awarded by another state in a subject area for which Florida offers certification.
Option # 7: The applicant has completed a state-approved teacher preparation program that culminates in a professional teaching degree.
Option # 8: The applicant has completed a Professional Training Option (PTO), testing requirements and the district’s Professional Competency Demonstration program. These programs are for content (non-education) majors attending the institution or baccalaureate degree holders seeking to complete professional preparation courses.

Applying for Certification

To apply for certification, you must submit to the Bureau of Educator Certification: an application for a Florida Educator Certification (Form CG-10), official college transcripts, and a $75 fee for each certification subject you are requesting. You may apply for certification online. After your application has been processed, you will receive a Statement of Status of Eligibility that indicates whether or not you are eligible for the certification subject for which you applied. Once you have obtained a Statement of Status of Eligibility indicating that you are eligible for certification, you may seek employment. The Statement of Status of Eligibility is valid for three years, which allows you time to complete any necessary requirements for a certificate and obtain employment.