Florida Teacher Certification
How to Become a Teacher in Florida
Teaching in Florida can be an extremely fulfilling experience. As a teacher, you get the opportunity to welcome young, hopeful students into your classroom each year and shape them into smart, productive adults ready to enter life after schooling.
Teachers in Florida enjoy other benefits, too, like a retirement plan with state contributions, as well as job security with thousands of viable schools to choose from in the nation’s fifth-largest school system. Some Florida school districts help teachers with student loan forgiveness; they also offer paid sick leave and tuition reimbursement, while all Florida teachers can take advantage of Just For Teachers Discounts.
Contents
- Florida Department of Education
- How to become a certified teacher in Florida
- Requirements for teacher certification in Florida
- Florida teacher certification steps
- Types of Florida teacher certificates
- Florida teacher testing requirements
- Florida teacher education requirements
- Florida licensing application process
Florida Department of Education Teacher Certification
As an aspiring teacher in Florida, the Florida Department of. Education (FLDOE) is a great asset in helping you navigate teacher certification in the Sunshine State. The FLDOE provides resources on the steps to becoming a teacher, exam requirements, and more. The department also stores education data and tracks student performance for Florida’s students and educators.
The Florida Department of Education is the governing body of the Bureau of Educator Certification (BEC), responsible for granting teacher certification. Teacher candidates must submit their teacher certification applications to BEC.
However, the FLDOE website is where candidates can find a wealth of information on how to become a certified educator in Florida, including routes to teacher certification and how to apply. And, if you’re pursuing an alternative pathway to teacher certification in Florida, you can also find information on state-approved educator preparation institute programs like Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW.
Most notably, the Florida Department of Education offers the latest insights on Florida teacher job vacancies and where the highest demand for teachers exist. Their Critical Teacher Shortage Area Reports are released yearly and provide detailed information on subject areas for which teachers are most highly sought after.
How to become a certified teacher in Florida
In general, there are two pathways to earn your Florida educator certification and join the classroom.
The Direct Pathway
The direct pathway to teacher certification in Florida involves obtaining a bachelor’s degree in education from a state-approved initial teacher preparation program (ITP); this makes you eligible for teacher certification. This is the typical route for someone who knows they want to teach in Florida before earning a degree. This is also the fastest way to earn your teacher certification.
As of 2021, 95 teacher preparation program providers exist in Florida, including 58 public and private institutions of higher education (IHE). In 2020-2021, the average net price for a bachelor’s in education degree from a four-year Florida university was $15,128.
The Alternative Pathway
The alternative route to teacher certification in Florida is for aspiring teachers who have already received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university in the United States, or the international equivalent, for a career outside of education.
These career changers don’t have to earn a bachelor’s degree in education to become a teacher. They can complete a state-approved educator preparation institute program (EPI) like Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW in as little as nine months or earn a master’s in education in 12 months to become eligible for teacher certification.
Moreland University’s “Guide to Teacher Certification in Florida” offers a streamlined overview of what it takes to become a certified teacher in Florida.
Access the downloadable guide at no cost here.
Requirements for teacher certification in Florida
Teacher certification requirements in Florida are designed to ensure educators are prepared to teach with proficient subject-matter and teaching pedagogy knowledge. They are also intended to support Florida’s Early Learning-20 Education Code, which seeks to create one efficient system to increase student proficiency.
Requirements for educator certification can be found on the Florida Department of Education website. After completing your educator certification application, the eligibility requirements for a Florida teacher certification are specified in your valid Statement of Status of Eligibility (SOE).
Most teaching candidates will need to meet the following requirements:
A valid, official Statement of Status of Eligibility
Passing scores on required teacher certification exams
Completed fingerprinting
and background screening
Steps to get a teaching degree in Florida
Before starting your journey to get certified as a Florida teacher, first, consider the grade and subject areas you’d prefer to teach. Plus, keep in mind areas where there is an expected teacher shortage. The teacher certification you eventually earn will be specific to the subject area you plan to teach.
Start by thinking about the classes you enjoyed in high school and college, or perhaps what your favorite educators taught growing up. If you’re a natural with young children, consider teaching in pre-K or elementary.
At the end of the day, your own passions and interests should align with the kind of teacher you’d like to be so you enjoy coming to class and have fun educating your students.
Next up? We recommend following these steps:
- Decide which grade/subject areas you’d like to teach.
- Determine your pathway to teacher certification.
- Determine which Florida teacher certificate to apply for.
- Submit your Florida educator certification application.
- Complete all requirements for teacher certification.
- Complete an educator preparation institute program (EPI).
- Complete required fingerprinting and background screening.
- Earn your teacher certification.
Types of Florida teacher certifications
In the state of Florida, aspiring teachers can choose from two educator certificates; both enable you to start teaching in a classroom as a full-time educator.
Florida Professional Certificate
The Florida professional teaching certificate is the highest level of educator certification the Bureau of Educator Certification provides. This certificate is valid for five school years and requires a bachelor’s degree and mastery of subject area knowledge, general knowledge, and professional preparation and education competence (see Florida teacher testing requirements).
Eligible applicants are issued a Florida professional certificate after clearing a fingerprint screening and background check. To avoid a second screening, completing a fingerprint screening after being employed in a Florida school is recommended.
Florida Temporary Certificate
Using a temporary certificate, teaching candidates can often join the classroom in a full-time capacity while completing an EPI program (or any other outstanding requirements for the professional certificate).
For issuance of a temporary certificate, a candidate must complete the application process, be employed by a Florida school, and clear the fingerprint screening and background check. The candidate must also demonstrate subject area
knowledge or meet subject specialization with at least a 2.5 GPA.
Unlike the professional certificate, a Florida temporary certificate is only valid for three years and cannot be renewed. This certificate helps aspiring teachers join the classroom while they work toward completing all requirements for the professional certificate.
Subscribe to our newsletter
No-cost teacher resources.
Event information.
Global teacher community.
"*" indicates required fields
Testing requirements for teacher certification in Florida
The Bureau of Postsecondary Assessment in Florida oversees Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE). On the FTCE, expect a General Knowledge Test, a Professional Education Test, and Subject Area Examinations.
Some exemptions exist on select tests, so Florida teacher candidates may not need to pass each FTCE. Your official, valid Statement of Status of Eligibility provides the exact exams needed to pass, as well as any exemptions based on your Florida educator certification application.
Moreland University’s “Guide to Teacher Certification in Florida” provides a detailed overview of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations. Download your no-cost guide here.
Florida teacher education requirements
Florida educators are required to have earned at least a bachelor’s degree equal to an accredited four-year college or university in the United States. A credential evaluation report from an approved credential evaluation agency — like the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) — is required for bachelor’s degrees earned outside of the U.S.
Teachers who hold bachelor’s degrees in education from an approved initial preparation program can move through the direct pathway to teacher certification. This pathway is
shorter than the alternative pathway to teacher certification, which is required for those with a bachelor’s degree earned outside of an initial preparation program.
If you have a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a U.S. four-year college/university that’s not in education, you may have to complete an accepted educator preparation institute program (EPI). This can take as little as nine months. Another option? Complete a master’s in education program from an EPI that can lead to a graduate’s degree.
Speak with an admissions representative about Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Educator Preparation Institute program*
*Before applying to TEACH-NOW, you must have an official, valid Statement of Status of Eligibility deeming you eligible for teacher certification.
Florida licensing application process
Submitting your application for educator certification in Florida is relatively easy and takes less than an hour to complete. Be sure to have all documents handy before completing the application because it won’t be reviewed until it’s complete.
After the Bureau of Educator Certification reviews your completed application, you’ll receive a valid, official Statement of Status of Eligibility (SOE) deeming you eligible or ineligible for teacher certification.
With an eligible SOE, candidates can complete a state-approved EPI program, if necessary, or proceed to fingerprinting and a background check before earning your teacher certification.
If you receive a valid, official SOE that deems you ineligible for teacher certification, this may mean additional requirements should be met.
Payment is required to complete your application, so have a credit or debit card ready. You can also submit payment via a check or money order. The processing fee is dependent on the subject area or endorsement for which you’re applying.
You can submit your application online with the Bureau of Educator Certification or you can mail a copy to the Bureau of Educator Certification — Room 201, Turlington Building, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
Get answers to your teacher certification questions.
i States with the most public schools, 2020-21 | American School & University (asumag.com)
ii Report Title (fldoe.org)
iii ** Net Price is average net price for 2020-2021, generated for full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. For public institutions, only students paying the in-state or in-district rate are included. For institutions that charge students by program, net price is generated for the institution’s largest program. Source: College Navigator – Search Results (ed.gov)