Florida's Teacher Requirements: Legal Overview

Florida has a high demand for teachers, with over 7,000 teaching jobs remaining unfilled when the 2023-24 school year began. To become a teacher in Florida, you must obtain an educator's certificate from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). The state offers two types of certificates: temporary and professional. Each certificate has its own unique requirements, but there are some general steps to follow. Firstly, you must have a bachelor's degree and complete an educator preparation program. Secondly, you must gain student-teaching experience. Thirdly, you must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE). After that, you can obtain your status of eligibility and apply for a teaching certificate. Finally, you can start applying for teaching jobs in Florida.

Bachelor's degree requirements

To become a teacher in Florida, you must have a bachelor's degree. This demonstrates to employers and the state that you have the skills necessary to teach effectively. The degree must be in the subject area you wish to teach or a related field. Florida does not stipulate the type of bachelor's degree required for teaching candidates, but a degree in a specific subject can be helpful for teaching that subject. For example, a degree in math would be useful for teaching math.

The state of Florida recognizes degrees from both in-state and out-of-state institutions as long as they are accredited. If your degree is not directly related to education, you can still become a teacher as long as you complete an approved teacher preparation program and pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) Subject Area Exam.

Florida offers two types of teaching certificates: temporary and professional. The requirements for these are as follows:

Temporary Certificate

• Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university or from a non-accredited but approved institution.
• Demonstrate mastery of the subject area or meet subject specialization with a 2.5 GPA in the area you wish to teach.
• Submit to a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance conducted by the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
• Gain employment in a Florida school.

Professional Certificate

• Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university or from a non-accredited, approved institution.
• Pass a subject-area examination in the area you wish to teach.
• Clear fingerprint-based screening and criminal background check by the FBI and FLDE.
• Pass a General Knowledge Test that tests your knowledge in English language skills, mathematics, essay writing, and reading.
• Demonstrate mastery of professional preparation and education competence.

Certification exams

To become a teacher in Florida, you must pass the required certification exams. These tests are designed to assess the knowledge and skills required of all prospective teachers in Florida. The Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) are a series of standardised tests administered by the Florida Department of Education. The exact tests you take depend on your background and the subject area you wish to teach. The Bureau of Educator Certification determines what courses you need to take after you submit your application.

The FTCE consists of three different exams:

• General Knowledge Test (GKT): This test measures the essential knowledge and abilities required of all teachers in Florida. It covers reading, writing, and math skills. The GKT includes an essay, English language, reading, and math sections. The passing score varies for each section but is generally between 71-75%.
• Subject Area Exam (SAE): This exam measures knowledge in a specific subject area. For example, if you want to teach mathematics, you would need to take the Mathematics Subject Area Exam.
• Professional Education Test (Ped): This test assesses your knowledge of pedagogy and professional practices, including curriculum development, assessment, and classroom management.

The FTCE is typically graded as a pass or fail. The tests cost $97 for the first three subtests on the first attempt and $130 for all four subsets. Military personnel and their families may be eligible for exam fee waivers.

After passing the required certification exams, you must then submit your application package, including fingerprints and a background check. The school district where you seek employment will usually assist with submitting these requirements.

Criminal background checks

To teach in Florida, you must pass a criminal background check. This is a mandatory step in the process of obtaining a teaching license. The background check is conducted by the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The process involves submitting fingerprints for clearance. Criminal convictions that disqualify someone from becoming a teacher in Florida include sexual misconduct, arson, and robbery.

If you are planning to teach in a private school, the process may vary slightly. However, the requirement for a criminal background check remains consistent across all teaching positions in the state.

The criminal background check is a crucial component of ensuring the safety and well-being of students in Florida's educational institutions. It helps to screen out individuals who may pose a potential risk to students and maintains the integrity of the teaching profession.

It is important to note that the background check is just one aspect of the teacher certification process in Florida. Other requirements include obtaining a bachelor's degree, completing a teacher preparation program, gaining student-teaching experience, and passing the necessary certification exams.

Overall, the criminal background check is a necessary step to ensure the safety and well-being of Florida's students and to maintain the integrity of the teaching profession in the state. By conducting these checks, Florida ensures that only qualified and suitable individuals are granted the responsibility of educating the next generation.

Temporary vs. professional certificates

Florida offers two types of certificates to its teachers: temporary and professional. Each certificate has its own unique requirements.

Temporary Certificate

The temporary certificate is a non-renewable educator's certification that is valid for three years. Teachers with this certificate can teach full-time while completing the requirements for professional certification.

To obtain a temporary certificate, you must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or from a non-accredited but approved institution.
• Demonstrate mastery of the subject area or meet subject specialization with a 2.5 GPA in the area you wish to teach.
• Submit to a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance conducted by the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
• Gain employment in a Florida school.

Professional Certificate

The professional certificate is the highest teacher certification level available in Florida. It is renewable and valid for up to five years.

To obtain this certificate, you must:

• Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or from a non-accredited, approved institution.
• Pass a subject-area examination in the area you wish to teach.
• Clear a fingerprint-based screening and criminal background check by the FBI and FLDE.
• Pass a General Knowledge Test that assesses your knowledge in English language skills, mathematics, essay writing, and reading.
• Demonstrate mastery of professional preparation and education competence.

Certification Application Fee

To be a licensed teacher in Florida, you need to pay fees for the certifications. The cost of certification applications varies depending on the type of certification and whether it is a first-time or renewal application. For example, the initial Florida certification and renewal of a valid Professional Educator Certificate both cost $75.

Renewal requirements

• Renewing credentials every five years.
• Completing a minimum of six semester hours (or the equivalent) of college coursework in education or a related subject area.
• Obtaining a valid NBPTS certificate in the subject, which automatically renews your Florida certificate in that subject.
• Paying a $75 processing fee.
• Earning at least one credit in teaching students with disabilities.

Florida teachers can renew their credentials through unions, educator associations, and the state department of education.

Frequently asked questions