STEPS TO OBTAINING EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION IN FLORIDA There are three steps in the process of being issued a Professional Certificate in Florida. These steps and the requirements necessary to complete each step are listed below. An individual may be able to complete Step 1 (Statement of Eligibility) and go directly to Step 3 (Professional Certificate) if certain criteria are met at the time the individual applies for a certificate. These are the Direct Routes to qualify for a Professional Certificate for experienced teachers and nationally certified teachers. Florida issues an Official Statement of Status of Eligibility to all applicants for Initial Certificates. Once employed and fingerprints are processed, the certificate for which an individual qualifies will be issued.

Step 1 Requirements for issuance of an Official Statement of Status of Eligibility Submit an application and $56.00 fee for each subject requested. Hold an acceptable bachelor's or higher degree. Applicants with Foreign Training Meet specialization (subject content) requirements in a subject in which Florida offers certification. If the Statement reflects deficiencies in the area of specialization, these requirements must be satisfied prior to issuance of the Temporary Certificate. Obtain a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the "initial certification" subject to be shown on a certificate.

Step 2 Requirements for issuance of a three-year nonrenewable Temporary Certificate Hold a valid Official Statement of Status of Eligibility which reflects no deficiencies in subject requirements. Obtain employment in an instructional or administrative position in a Florida public, state-supported, or nonpublic school which has an approved system for demonstration of Professional Education Competence. Go to www.TeachInFlorida.com for employment information. Submit fingerprints to employing district or school. Fingerprint report must be submitted by the employer to the Bureau of Educator Certification.

Step 3 Requirements for issuance of a five-year Professional Certificate Submit an application and $56.00 fee. Meet requirements for the three-year nonrenewable Temporary Certificate. Satisfy the professional preparation (education courses) requirement. See Rule 6A-4.006, FAC for more information. Satisfy Florida's testing requirements by presenting a passing score on each of the following tests or an approved alternative: Florida Professional Education Test College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) until June 30, 2002; Florida General Knowledge Test beginning July 1, 2002 Subject Test for each subject shown on the certificate Successfully complete an approved system for demonstration of Professional Education Competence.

DIRECT ROUTES TO THE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE Each individual who applies for a Professional Certificate by one of these direct routes must complete the application process as listed in Step 1 of the three-step process. All certificates in Florida are issued only after the applicant has been employed as a teacher in a Florida school which has an approved system for demonstration of professional education competence, and whose employer has submitted to the Bureau the results of the applicant's fingerprint report.

Route 1 Experienced Teacher from Another State To qualify for a Professional Certificate through this route, the applicant must: hold a valid standard certificate from another state have earned two years of appropriate continuous full-time teaching experience in another state within the five year period preceding the date of application for the Florida certificate apply for Florida certification in the subject(s) shown on the out-of-state certificate

Route 2 Nationally Certified Teacher To qualify for a Professional Certificate through this route, the applicant must: hold a valid standard certificate from another state hold a valid certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) apply for Florida certification in the subject(s) shown both on the out-of-state certificate and the NBPTS certificate