Reinstatement of a Professional Certificate
Reinstatement of an Expired Professional Certificate
Requirements for Reinstatement Applications Received On or After July 1, 2014
Requirements for Reinstatement Applications Received On or After July 1, 2014
General Information
- You may apply for reinstatement if you held a Florida Professional Certificate that required at least a bachelor's degree, and the certificate is now expired.
- However, if you currently hold a valid, standard, renewable certificate from another U.S. state or territory or the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), it may be to your advantage to apply for an Initial Professional Certificate under our reciprocity provision instead of applying for reinstatement.
- If you apply for reinstatement and wish to teach while you are completing your reinstatement requirements, you must also apply for a Temporary Certificate.
Reinstatement Requirements for Applications Received On or After July 1, 2014
- Submit the online reinstatement application and appropriate processing fee.
- The application and fee are valid for one year from the day the application is received in the Bureau of Educator Certification (BEC).
- All requirements must be completed prior to the expiration of the application.
- Following receipt of the application, the BEC will prepare an official letter outlining any remaining reinstatement requirements.
- Earn six (6) semester hours of college credit to include at least one (1) semester hour in teaching students with disabilities (SWD).
- The credit/points must be earned within the five-year period immediately preceding the date your application is received in the BEC and prior to the expiration of the application.
- Credit completed for issuance of the expired professional certificate may not be used to reinstate the certificate.
- See information below on Appropriate Topics for Reinstatement Credit.
- Sixty (60) inservice points in an approved Florida master inservice program are equivalent to three (3) semester hours of college credit.
- Twenty (20) inservice points in an approved Florida master inservice program are equivalent to one (1) semester hour of college credit.
- College level credits must be awarded by an accredited or approved institution (Word), or the American Council on Education (ACE), and must be reflected on an official transcript.
- College level credit awarded for CLEP, DANTES Subject Standardized Test, Excelsior, other examination, life experience, or other method must be reflected on an official transcript from an accredited or approved institution (Word), or the American Council on Education (ACE).
- College remedial credit is not acceptable.
- Teaching an appropriate college level course at an accredited or approved institution (Word) may be accepted the same as credit earned for taking the course. The registrar or dean of the college must submit a letter on institutional letterhead. The letter must verify the title, prefix, number, and semester-hour credits of the course taught and the dates when the course was taught.
- Earn a passing score on the Florida Subject Area Examination for each subject from the expired certificate that will be shown on the reinstated certificate.
- The passing score/s must be earned within the five-year period immediately preceding the date your application is received in the BEC and prior to the expiration of the application.
- Subject area examinations completed for issuance of the expired professional certificate may not be used to reinstate the certificate.
- You do not have to reinstate all subjects from the expired certificate.
- A subject identified as an "endorsement" on the expired certificate will automatically be reinstated, if the endorsement is still authorized by the Florida State Board of Education, and if an appropriate base coverage is reinstated.
- Subjects no longer authorized by the Florida State Board of Education may not be reinstated. See the Florida Subject Area Examination chart for currently authorized subjects/examinations corresponding with subjects that may no longer be authorized. The reinstated certificate will include the currently authorized subject for which the corresponding subject area examination has been passed.
- See Postsecondary Assessment for test registration information.
- Submit fingerprints for processing by both the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- See fingerprint processing instructions.
- If the legal disclosure section of your application or your fingerprint reports reflect a criminal offense record, the record must be reviewed by Professional Practices Services. Issuance of the certificate is contingent upon the results of that review.
Appropriate Topics for Reinstatement Credit for Applications Received On or After July 1, 2014
- Teaching students with disabilities (SWD)
- Exceptional student education
- 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, or computer 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
- Career and Adult Education Accountability - Adult learning, principles of adult or career and technical education, career and technical education for students with special needs, or career and technical guidance