Obtaining Your Florida Teaching Certificate

Becoming a Certified Teacher in Florida

Obtaining Your Florida Teaching Certificate

Congratulations on approaching the completion of your teacher preparation program! Now is the time to start thinking about and being prepared for obtaining your Florida teaching certificate.

The following presentation is meant to help you understand the processes associated with applying for your initial teaching certificate in Florida. This presentation is designed for students who will graduate or have graduated from an initial teacher preparation program within the UCF College of Education and Human Performance.1Will you graduate from a teacher education program in Florida?The following UCF programs are considered teacher education programs:Art Education, B.S. & MATEarly Childhood Development & Education, Track One (B.S.)Elementary Education, B.S. & M.A.English Language Arts Education, B.S. & MATExceptional Student Education, B.S. & M.A.Mathematics Education, B.S. & M.A.Science Education, B.S. & M.A. (Chemistry, Physics, and Biology Tracks)Social Science Education, B.S. & M.A.World Language Education, B.S. (French and Spanish Tracks)

Before you apply for the Florida teaching certificate, you must first understand whether or not you will graduate from a teacher education program in Florida. The following programs offered by the UCF College of Education and Human Performance are considered teacher education programs. Other programs not listed on this slide, such as advanced certification areas like School Counseling or Educational Leadership, have different requirements. Therefore, you should consult with your school district, the Florida Department of Education, or your program area advisor for further clarification.2Make sure your transcript is COMPLETENOTE: Request multiple copies of your transcript through the MYUCF portal.Open a copy for your records to ensure it says everything it is supposed to say and keep the other copies sealed to give to employers and the FLDOEDate of degree conferral at the top of the transcriptStatement about national accreditation, state-program approval, ESOL Endorsement (if applicable to program), Reading Endorsement (if applicable to program) at the top of the transcript

You cannot apply for the initial teaching certificate until after you have graduated. Typically, 4-6 weeks after commencement, your UCF transcript will show important information that is used for hiring and for teacher certification. You can check on your MYUCF portal if your transcript is complete by viewing your unofficial transcript within the Student Center section. Once the 4-6 week window has passed, you should order your transcript through the MYUCF portal.

It is highly recommended that you order multiple copies of your transcript so you have them on hand. In the MYUCF portal, where you request an order of transcripts, be sure to select from the dropdown menu After my degree is awarded. Once you receive the multiple copies, open a copy for your records to ensure it says everything it is supposed to say. Keep the other copies sealed to give to employers and to the Florida Department of Education. On the copy you open, check to be sure that the date of your degree conferral appears at the top of your transcript. In addition, make sure there is a statement at the top of your transcript that says you completed a state-approved, nationally accredited teacher preparation program and that the appropriate endorsements are included in the statement associated with your program3AFTER you have graduated and your transcript is COMPLETEIf your transcript reads appropriately, you will apply for a Statement of Status of Eligibility through the Florida Department of EducationVisit http://fldoe.org/edcertIf your transcript is missing anything, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Affairs & Partnerships at 407-823-3723The next slides show the pages you will visit to apply for your Statement of Status of Eligibility

If your transcript reads appropriately, proceed to the FL DOE web site and being the application process. If your transcript is missing anything, or if you are uncertain about the elements on the document, contact the Office of Undergraduate Affairs & Partnerships at 407-823-3723. The next slides will describe how to apply for the certificate.

4If you have graduated from a teacher education program at UCF

Click on Graduate of a Teacher Education Programhttp://fldoe.org/edcert

Visit the following URLhttp://fldoe.org/edcert. Click on Graduate of a Teacher Education Program.5Then you will

Click on Florida graduates of approved programs

Next, click on Florida graduates of approved programs.6Below Florida Graduates of Approved Programs

Click on Begin the Steps to Certification

Then, you click on Begin the Steps to Certification.7The system will walk you through a 4 step process

Each step is important to read. Click on all 4 steps, read each carefully.

Each step on this screen is important to read thoroughly and carefully. Be sure to read everything several times to ensure you understand what is required of you to complete your application.8Once you have read all 4 steps

Click on Apply for Your Certificate at the bottom of the page.

Once you have read all 4 steps, click Apply for Your Certificate at the bottom of the Step 4 page.9Choose an optionit is easier to apply online

Click Apply Online

You can choose to apply by mail or online. It is much easier and advisable to apply online because you can track the status immediately and login frequently to view your application status.10Once you begin the application, you must have the following:Social Security NumberVisa or Mastercard to pay for the processing feeNote: The application fee is $75 PER SUBJECT AREAIf you have been offered a job and it requires more than one subject area, apply for each required subject areaIf your job only requires one subject area and it is in the program of your MAJOR (like Elementary Education K-6 or Mathematics Education 6-12), apply for that subject area to save money and apply for the additional subject areas laterFor the ESOL ENDORSEMENT and READING ENDORSEMENTYou will choose the Endorsement as the subject area, not the K-12 certification option. You will be eligible to teach K-12 in ESOL and/or Reading. Having an endorsement is more convenient anyway, because you typically do not have to take additional coursework during renewal to keep the endorsement.

READ THE BULLETS.11Once you begin the application, you must have the following:Official copies of your transcripts.Options for delivery to the FLDOE1. Request an official transcript be sent by UCF to the Florida DOE2. Request official transcript be sent to you and you will submit them to the Florida DOE.

Electronic copies of your transcript are not possible to send to the Florida DOE unless a contact person has requested them via e-mail.

READ THE BULLETS.12Once you have submitted the online applicationBe sure to send a copy of your transcript to the Florida DOE.An official, unopened, sealed copy of your UCF transcript is required.Remember to be sure that youve sent a complete transcript. You should know what is or is not recorded on your transcript.

REMEMBER TO KEEP COPIES OF EVERYTHING YOU SUBMIT FOR YOUR RECORDS

READ BULLETS13Once everything has been submitted and sentNow you will wait (typically 4-6 weekscould be shorter or longer)!Be patient!Use your login information from the online application to check on the status of your application review

You should receive a Statement of Status of Eligibility in the mail once the FLDOE has processed your applicationThe Statement of Status of Eligibility is not your certificate. It is a letter saying you are eligible for a certificate. This is confirmation to your employer that you will be certifiable once you become employed and complete the induction process applicable to the district. The district will submit the remaining documents on your behalf, typically after 90 days of employment. Then you will receive your Professional Educator Certificate, which is good for five years.

READ BULLETS14Frequent Asked QuestionsDo I have to apply for a certificate?To teach in Floridas public schools and many private or charter schools, you must hold a FL teaching certificate.

Do I need a certificate to look for a teaching job?No. In Florida, the teaching certificate is not issued until you are hired in an instructional position.

When can I apply for the certificate?You cannot complete the application until after your degree has been awarded.

The following FAQs may help you in troubleshooting or further understanding the certification process. READ EACH.15Frequent Asked QuestionsWhy do I have to choose ESOL Endorsement instead of the ESOL K-12 Certification?If the ESOL Endorsement was part of your program, you are only eligible for the endorsement, not the certification.

What is the different between the endorsement and the certification?An endorsement typically stays on your certificate as long as you have one. A certification only stays on your certificate when you complete the additional coursework required. Your employing district will help you with renewal processes.

What if I want to teach subject areas other than the program of my major?You must meet the eligibility of those subject areas. Sometimes, that requires coursework, and other times it requires passing an additional subject area exam. Visit http://fldoe.org/edcert/adding.asp to read more about how to add additional subjects.

Please note that 16Frequent Asked QuestionsMy Statement of Status of Eligibility says the only thing I have left to do is get fingerprinted. What does that mean?That typically means that once you are hired in a school or district, the district will submit the fingerprints on your behalf to the FLDOE you completed at the time of hiring.

What if I am moving to a different state?The state where you are moving will have its own certification requirements. Often times, a verification form is required to be completed by the university. Submit the out-of-state form directly to Undergraduate Affairs & Partnerships, Education Complex, Suite 110, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday. You may also e-mail the form to [email protected]. Processing takes 3-5 business days.

17RememberBeing a certified teacher in Florida is a privilege.

All teachers are held to the highest standards in the community.

A teaching certificate is your professional license to practice.

Congratulations on becoming a certified teacher. We wish you many years of success!18