Certification Information Session Obtaining a Florida Educator s Certificate
Session Goal To provide information on how to become a certified teacher in Florida.
First Think about the subject you would like to teach and the grade level you would like to teach.
Florida Certification Coverage Agriculture Arabic Art Biology Business Education Chemistry Chinese Computer Science Dance Drama Earth-Space Science Educational Leadership Educational Media Specialist Frequently Acceptable Degree Major(s) Agriculture, General Agriculture, Vocational Agriculture Arabic Art, Art Education, Fine Arts Major, Architecture, Interior Design, Commercial Art, One Area of Art (Painting, Sculpture, etc.) Bacteriology, Biology, Biological Sciences, Biomechanics, Botany, Dentistry, Doctor of Medicine, Exercise Physiology, Genetics, Kinesiology, Life Science, Marine Biology, Physiology, Zoology Business Education, Business Administration Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Doctor of Pharmacy Chinese Computer Information Sciences, Computer Science, Computer Programming, Computer Technology, Computer Engineering Dance, Dance Education Acting, Drama, Dramatic Arts, Theatre, Theatre Arts, One are of Drama (Directing, etc.) Astronomy, Climatology, Earth Science, Geology, Metallurgy, Meteorology, Oceanography, Paleontology, Physical Geography, Space Science Educational Administration, Administration and Supervision, Educational Leadership, Educational Management and Development, School Principal (master s level) Educational Media, Educational Media Technology, Instructional Media, Library Science (not Technology Education)
Florida Certification Coverage Frequently Acceptable Degree Major(s) Elementary Education (K-6) Elementary 1-6, K-6, N/K-6, K-3, K-4, K-8, K-9, Upper Elementary 4-6 English English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Family and Consumer Science Farsi French German Greek Guidance and Counseling Haitian-Creole English, Literature (English), Creative Writing, Language Arts English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Special Ed., Mild & Moderate Needs, Teacher of Handicapped, Varying Exceptionalities, Behavioral Disorders, BD/LD, Emotionally Conflicted, Emotionally Disturbed, Emotionally Handicapped, Socially & Emotionally Maladjusted, Educable Mentally Retarded, Children with Retarded Mental Development (CRMD), Intellectual Disabilities, Mentally Handicapped, Mentally Impaired, Mental Retardation, Profoundly Mentally Retarded, Severely & Profoundly Mentally Retarded, Trainable Mentally Retarded, Learning Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities, Motor Disabilities, Orthopedically Handicapped, Physically Handicapped, Physically Impaired Home Economics, Vocational Home Economics, Family & Consumer Science Farsi French German Greek School Guidance & Counseling, School Counseling, School Guidance (master s degree) Haitian-Creole
Florida Certification Coverage Health Hearing Impaired Hebrew Hindi Humanities Italian Japanese Journalism Latin Marketing Mathematics Middle Grades English Middle Grades General Science Frequently Acceptable Degree Major(s) Allied Health, Health, Health Education, Health Services, Nursing (BS), Public Health, Doctor of Medicine Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Deaf Education, Hearing Disabilities, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Science, Education of Deaf-Blind Hebrew Hindi Humanities, Classical Studies Italian Japanese Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Television Journalism Latin Distributive Education, Marketing, Marketing Education Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Aeronautical/Aerospace, or Nuclear), Statistics Middle Grades English, Middle Grades Language Arts, Middle School English Education, Junior High School English, English, Literature (English), Creative Writing, Language Arts Literature (English) Middle Grades Science, Teaching Middle School Science, Junior High Science, Middle School Science Education, General Science
Florida Certification Coverage Middle Grades Mathematics Middle Grades Social Science Music Physical Education (K-12) Physics Portuguese Preschool Education Prekindergarten/Primary Education Reading Russian Frequently Acceptable Degree Major(s) Middle Grades Math, Teaching Middle School Math, Junior High Math, Middle School Math Education, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical. Mechanical, Aeronautical/Aerospace, or Nuclear) Middle Grades Social Science, Teaching Middle School Social Science, Junior High Social Science, Middle School Social Science Education, Social Science, Social Studies, American History, History, Western Civilization, World History, Geography, Economic Geography, (other specialized areas of Geography) Economics, Civics, Government, International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Educational Psychology (other specialized areas of Psychology) Applied Music, Instrumental Music, Music, Music Education, Piano or other major instrument, Vocal Music, Voice, Composition (music), Percussion Physical Education any grade level with student teaching Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Physics, Physics, Thermodynamics, Nuclear Engineering Portuguese Nursery School Education, Preschool Education, Birth Age 4, Birth- Age 6 Early Childhood Education if NK-3, NK-4, or Birth-Age 8; P-5, N-6, NK-6, Prekindergarten/Primary Education Reading (master s degree) Russian
Florida Certification Coverage School Psychologist School Social Worker Social Science Spanish Speech Speech-Language Impaired Technology Education Turkish Visually Impaired Frequently Acceptable Degree Major(s) School Psychology (specialist s degree) Social Work, Social Worker, Social Welfare Social Science, Social Studies, American History, History, Western Civilization, World History, Geography, Economic Geography (other specialized areas of Geography), Economics, Civics, Government, International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Educational Psychology (other specialized areas of Psychology) Spanish Speech, Speech Communication, Public Speaking Communication Disorders, Speech Correction, Speech & Hearing Science, Speech-Language Impaired, Speech Pathology, Speech Pathology & Audiology (master s degree) Industrial Arts, Industrial Technology Education, Industrial Education, Industrial Arts-Technology Education, Technology Education Turkish Blind & Partially Sighted, Visual Disabilities, Visually Handicapped, Visually Impaired
Pathways to Certification There are three pathways to certification: Degree Major Course by Course Evaluation Subject Area Exam
Degree Major Hold a Bachelor s Degree with a degree major in the subject area you wish to teach. www.fldoe.org/edcert
Course by Course Evaluation Request an evaluation of your official college transcripts by the Florida Department of Education. The specialization course requirements are available online at www.fldoe.org/edcert/subjlist.asp
Subject Area Exam (SAE) Hold a bachelor s degree and pass the subject area exam that correlates with the subject you wish to teach. This option cannot be used for certification in Reading, Speech-Language Impaired (SLP), School Psychologist, Educational Leadership, or Guidance and Counseling. www.fl.nesinc.com
Subject Area Exam For information and to register for a subject area exam go to www.fl.nesinc.com Study guides are available at the library or local book store, or on the following websites: www.xamonline.com www.cliffsnotes.com
Application Process Apply online for an Official Statement of Status of Eligibility (SOE). www.fldoe.org/edcert
Foreign Credentials Information regarding applying for a certificate with foreign credentials is located at the following website: www.fldoe.org/edcert/foreign.asp
Official Statement of Status of Eligibility This letter is extremely important! It states whether you are eligible or not eligible for a teaching certificate. It outlines requirements for a temporary and a professional teaching certificate. It is the springboard for applying for positions.
Temporary Certificate Temporary certificates are valid for three years. The validity period is always 7/1/_ - 6/30/_. If eligible for a temporary certificate, the Statement will reflect the following: Verification of employment and request for issuance of a certificate, and Results of fingerprint processing.
Professional Certificate Professional certificates are valid for five years. The validity period is always 7/1/_ - 6/30/_.
Employment Process Vacancies are advertised on the District website. www.palmbeachschools.org (click on Employment) Application instructions are available at www.palmbeachschools.org/jobs/employmentopportunities.asp. Apply as an external user. Current substitute teachers and non-instructional employees are considered internal users.
Highly Qualified Status Bachelor s or higher degree, and Valid teaching certificate in the subject area(s) for which you are assigned to teach, and Demonstration of subject area knowledge for the subjects for which you are assigned to teach. www.palmbeachschools.org/certification/highlyqualified
Professional Preparation Alternative Certification Programs
Certification Information FL Department of Education www.fldoe.org/edcert State Testing www.fl.nesinc.com School District www.palmbeachschools.org Certification Questions: certinfo@palmbeachschools.org