There are various pathways to earning a Florida Teaching Certificate and the Florida Department of Education is the entity that will process all applications for certification. Some of the more common routes include graduating from Teacher Education Degree Program, a Valid Standard Certificate Issued by another State or a Bachelor's Degree with a Passing Score on the Florida Subject Area Exam for the area you wish to teach. The link to the Florida Department of Education's Educator Certification site is below.
To initiate the process, you will submit the online application to the Florida Department of Education along with the $75 application fee (per subject area) and an official transcript to support all coursework, bachelor’s level and above. If you hold a valid standard certificate issued by another state, you will need to submit a copy of the front and back of that certificate.
Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE)
The purpose of the Florida Teacher Certification examinations (FTCE) is to ensure that all teacher candidates demonstrate the necessary content and pedagogical knowledge necessary to effectively instruct students in Florida. The links below will route you to the Florida Department of Education's site for certfification examination information or the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE). The latter link will provide you with the information regarding each specific test, online registration and resources to help you prepare for your exam.
Managing Your Certificate
The Florida Department of Education uses an Online Licensing Service called Versa. All changes including certificate renewals, additions of subject areas or endorsements, name changes or upgrades will be processed through the Versa Online Licensing Service. The first step is to onboard your educator account where you’ll match your account to existing Florida certification records.
FLDOE Technical Assistance
The Human Resources Department does not have the capability to troubleshoot technical difficulties experienced on the FLDOE's Versa site. If you have followed the instructions provided for Onboarding, Renewal or Additions to your certificate and watched the YouTube videos for Renewals or Additions, and are still not able to access your account or are experiencing other technical difficulties, you'll need to contact the FLDOE through the link below or via email to FLCertify@fldoe.org .
Requesting A Copy Of Your Certificate
Do you need a copy of your current Florida Teaching Certificate? Log into your online account and submit the "Request Copy of Certificate Application" to receive a FREE emailed PDF of your certificate from the Florida Department of Education.
Adding A Subject To Your Certificate
The Human Resources Department can process your application to add a subject if you hold a Professional Teaching Certificate. If you hold a Temporary Teaching Certificate you will need to apply for your addition directly through the Florida Department of Education.
If you are seeking to add any of the subjects below, the application and payment must be submitted online through the Florida Department of Education, no forms/payments are remitted to the Human Resources Department. However, you will want to alert the Certification Specialist in the HR Department once you have applied so that your new certificate may be printed once issued.
Below are the instructions provided by the Florida Department of Education to add a subject to your certificate. Please remember that if you are adding any subject other than the above list, please select the District Addition application. Once your online application has been submitted, please complete the Notice Form below and send that to the HR Department for processing, along with the completed Payroll Deduction Authorization Form (also below).
Adding An Endorsement To Your Certificate
The Human Resources Department can process your application to add an endorsement to your certificate. Below are the instructions provided by the Florida Department of Education to add an endorsement to your certificate. Please remember to select the District Addition application. Once your online application has been submitted, please complete the Notice Form below and send that to the HR Department for processing, along with the completed Payroll Deduction Authorization Form (also below).
Renewing Your Certificate
Professional Teaching Certificates are valid for five (5) school years and require renewals and the requirements are established by the Florida Department of Education.
The minimum renewal requirements are:
Please see section below for renewals due in June 2025.
Once you have submitted your online renewal in Versa, you’ll complete the Notice Form below and send that to the Human Resources Department, along with the $75 renewal fee.
Renewing Your Certificate (Renewals Due June 2025)
In support of Florida's Just Read, Florida! Initiative, starting with renewals due June 2025 and beyond, anyone holding the following coverages/endorsements listed below, regardless of your teaching assignment, will be required to earn at least two (2) college credits, forty (40) inservice points, or a combination thereof, in the use of explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies.
The renewal requirements will be based on the following schedule:
The Office of Professional & Staff Development is working to identify the specific courses through Beacon Educator and other educational outlets which will satisfy the requirements set forth by the Florida Department of Education. While these courses are being identified, please continue to work on your normal renewal requirements, including the 20 points covering teaching Students with Disabilities (SWD), and watch for updates to launch on the Professional & Staff Development’s webpage.
Credits earned within the current and prior validity period may be used for the requirement, ten (10) years total. Some coursework used to earn a certificate or endorsement may also be used to renew a certificate. The Reading K-12 certification exam does not satisfy this requirement.
Upgrading Your Certificate From Temporary to Professional
If you hold a Florida Temporary Teaching Certificate and you have completed all requirements outlined by the Florida Department of Education, the last item is to apply for your upgrade to the Professional Teaching Certificate.
You’ll apply online with the Florida Department of Education and remit the application fee online. Please be certain that you have passed all required examinations, completed any required coursework and submitted an official transcript to the Florida Department of Education.
Professional Education Competence Program (PEC)
If your Statement of Eligibility outlined the requirement for the Professional Education Competence program (PEC), the Human Resources Department will submit evidence of your successful completion of this program on your behalf.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Tests for the Mastery of General Knowledge
As of October 26, 2016, a passing score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) earned after July 1, 2015 is an acceptable alternative assessment to satisfy mastery of general knowledge.
Acceptable Passing Scores