Human Resources: Certification

TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE: For issuance of a three-year nonrenewable Temporary Certificate covering ENGLISH (GRADES 6-12), the following requirements must be completed, and official documentation must be submitted to the Bureau of Educator Certification:

2 verification of employment and request for issuance of certificate on the appropriate certification form from a Florida public, state supported, or nonpublic school which has an approved Professional Education Competence Program
3 results of your fingerprint processing from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI. Your employer will assist you in completing the fingerprint process. If your application or fingerprint report reflects a criminal offense or suspension/revocation record, your file will be referred to Professional Practices Services for further review. Issuance of your certificate will be contingent upon the results of this review.

4 PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE: For issuance of a Professional Educator’s Certificate valid for five years covering ENGLISH (GRADES 6-12), the above requirements for a Temporary Certificate must be completed, and a CG-10 Application Form, appropriate non-refundable application fee, and official documentation of the following requirements must be submitted to the Bureau of Educator Certification:

5 a passing score on the Florida General Knowledge Test. Current Florida law requires that an individual satisfy this requirement within one year from the date of employment in a Florida public school to continue employment in any Florida public school under the Temporary Certificate. Contact your employer for important information concerning this deadline.

6 a passing score on the Professional Education Test

7 a pa ssing score on the ENGLISH (GRADES 6-1 2) subject area examination

8 completion of a Florida approved Professional Education Competence Program administered and documented by your employer

9 a minimum of 15 semester hours in education courses with credit in each of the professional education areas listed below. Please note that it may require more than the minimum number of semester hours identified in this bullet to satisfy all of the following education course requirements
- Classroom management with a focus on creating safe learning environments for students
- Child and adolescent development including theories and principles of learning
- Educational assessment practices that include analysis and application of data to improve instruction and learning
- Effective instructional techniques, strategies, and materials to meet the needs of diverse learners, including students with disabilities
- Instructional strategies for teaching students of limited English proficiency including instruction in the English language
- 10 the Practical Teaching Experience requirement by completing one year of full-time teaching experience in an elementary or secondary school
Find Certification information online at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert
Contact our office at (US domestic calls) 800-445-6739 or (outside the US) 850-245-5049
S o wha t d oes it all mean?

T h e dates highlighted in yellow indicate the time period the SOE is considered valid. If the SOE expires and you have not fulfilled the requirements to be eligible for an educator certificate, you will have to reapply for evaluation (application and fee) to receive a valid SOE based on current laws in effect at the time the application was received by the Bureau of Educator Certification.

1 Indicates whether or not you are eligible for certification.

2 Obtain full-time employment with a school district in Florida that is accredited and approved to verify your competency as a teacher.

3 Once employed, the school district will submit your fingerprint record and an issuance request verifying your employment. Once issued, your temporary certificate is valid for a three-year period. Since the certificate is nonrenewable, you will need to work towards DOE requirements to obtain your initial professional, renewable certificate.

4 To become eligible for a professional certificate, you must complete the requirements as outlined.

5 The General Knowledge requirement must be satisfied within the first 12 months of employment. If not satisfied within the prescribed time frame, your employment will terminate. It is important to understand your deadline to avoid termination.
You may demonstrate mastery of General Knowledge by any one of the following:
- Achievement of a passing score on all four areas of the Florida General Knowledge Test earned no more than ten (10) years prior to the date of application
- A valid standard teaching certificate issued by a US state or territory
- A valid certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence
- Completion of two (2) semesters of full-time college teaching experience or the equivalent in part-time college teaching experience
- Effective for tests administered on or after July 1, 2015, achievement of passing scores, as identified in Rule 6A-4.0021(12), F.A.C. , on test sections of the GRE® revised General Test
  - GRE Analytical Writing combined score of 4 out of 6 acceptable for GK Essay
  - GRE Quantitative Reasoning scaled score of 147 acceptable for GK Mathematics
  - GRE Verbal Reasoning scaled score of 151 acceptable for both GK English Language Skills and GK Reading
  6 You must take and pass the Professional Education Test (PEd). This test assesses knowledge of pedagogy and professional practices in the field of education. The PEd is available through a computer-based format. Please visit the Florida Teacher Certification Examination website at www.fl.nesinc.com for more information and to register.
  
  7 You must take and pass the Subject Area Examination (SAE) for each subject area listed on your temporary certificate. SAEs measure content area knowledge specific to the subject area. SAEs are available via computer-based format. To obtain more information and register, please visit www.fl.nesinc.com .
  
  8 Professional Education Competence must be demonstrated either through written verification from your principal (for non-education majors) or by graduation from a state- approved education program. Non-education majors participate in the New Teacher Orientation program (NTOP). Upon completion of the NTOP, principals verify whether or not you have completed the program.
  
  9 Non-education majors are required to establish professional preparation competence. The requirement includes a minimum of 15 semester hours in education courses with credit in each of the professional education areas listed below. The purpose is to prepare you for the classroom. The following are examples of the required coursework:
  - classroom management with a focus on creating safe learning environments for students
  - child and adolescent development including theories and principles of learning
  - educational assessment practices that inlude analysis and application of data to improve instruction and learning
  - effective instructional techniques, strategies, and materials to meet the needs of diverse learners, including students with disabilities
  - applications of research-based instructional practices in reading
  - instructional strateiges for teaching students of limited English proficiency including instruction in the English language
  *One year of teaching experience in the subject area may be applied in lieu of three (3) semester hours of undergraduate college credit to satisfy one (1) specific course requirement in a course-by-course evaluation for any certification subject coverage or endorsement, with the exception of ESOL.
  
  1 0 The Practical Teaching Experience requirement means you must complete one year of full-time teaching (or service in the instance of positions not involving classroom teaching) in an elementary or secondary school within the validity period of your temporary certificate.
  
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