FIU - Education , Florida International University

Teacher Certification Requirements for Non Education Majors

Alternative Teacher Certification Overview

Florida is in need of qualified, dedicated teachers who are interested in making an impact on the lives of students. Individuals who are interested in teaching who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in an area other than education are able to get into the profession through alternative teacher certification.
To start the alternative teacher certification process, complete the following steps:

  1. Decide what subject to teach (e.g. Elementary, Math, Science, English, etc.)
  2. Complete the CG-10 Application form provided by the Florida Department of Education. Access the application online at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/apply.asp.
  3. Upon completion of the CG-10 Application and evaluation of the application by the Florida Department of Education, an applicant will receive an official Statement of Eligibility outlining whether or not he/she meets the eligibility requirements for either a Temporary Certificate or Professional Certificate based on the subject area chosen and provides the applicant with a customized list of requirements that must be completed to be issued a full (professional) state certification in Florida;
  4. An individual must qualify for at least a Temporary Certificate to be employed as a teacher. If the Statement of Eligibility indicates that the applicant is not eligible for a Florida certificate, it will outline options the applicant may take to satisfy the requirements for certification.
  5. Once the requirements for certification have been met, proof must be submitted to the Bureau of Educator Certification. The original application package, along with the proof of certification requirements submitted will be re-evaluated and a revised Statement of Eligibility will be issued indicating that the applicant is “eligible” for a Florida certificate.
  6. Once an applicant receives an official Statement of Eligibility indicating that he or she is eligible for a Temporary Certificate, he or she may seek employment in a Florida elementary or secondary school.

There are two types of teacher certification available in Florida based upon specific requirements. The two types of certification are temporary and professional. Temporary certification is only good for three years and is not renewable. Professional certification is good for five years and is renewable.

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Acceptable Majors

Teaching Specialty Acceptable Majors
Agriculture Agriculture, General Agriculture, Vocational Agriculture
Art Art, Art Education, Fine Arts, Painting, Sculpture, etc.
Biology Bacteriology, Biology, Biological Sciences, Botany, Dentistry, Doctor of Medicine Genetics, Kinesiology, Life Science, Marine Biology, Zoology
Business Education Business Education, Business Administration
Chemistry Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering
Chinese Chinese
Computer Science

Computer Information Sciences, Computer Science, Computer Programming, Computer Technology, Computer Engineering

Dance Dance, Dance Education
Drama Acting, Drama, Dramatic Arts, Theatre, Theatre Arts, One Area of Drama (Directing, etc.)
Earth-Space Science Astronomy, Climatology, Earth Science, Geology, Metallurgy, Meteorology, Oceanography, Paleontology, Physical Geography, Space Science
Educational Leadership Educational Administration, Administration and Supervision, Educational Leadership, Educational Management and Development, School Principal (master’s level)
Educational Media Specialist Educational Media, Educational Media Technology, Instructional Media, Library Science (not Technology Education)
Elementary Education
(K-6) 		Elementary Education 1-6, K-6, N/K-6, K-3, K-4, K-8, K-9, Upper Elementary 4-6
English

English, Literature (English), Creative Writing, Language Arts

English to Speaker of Other Languages (ESOL)

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Exceptional Student Education Special Education, Mild and Moderate Needs, Teacher of the Handicapped, Varying Exceptionalities, Behavioral Disorders, BD/LD, Emotionally Conflicted, Emotionally Disturbed, Emotionally Handicapped, Socially and Emotionally Maladjusted; Educable Mentally Retarded, Children with Retarded Mental Development (CRMD), Intellectual Disabilities, Mentally Handicapped, Mentally Impaired, Mental Retardation, Profoundly Mentally Retarded, Severely and Profoundly Mentally Retarded, Trainable Mental Retarded; Learning Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities, Motor Disabilities, Orthopedic ally Handicapped, Physically Handicapped, Physically Impaired
Family and Consumer Science

Home Economics, Vocational Home Economics, Family and Consumer Science

French French, French Education
German German
Guidance and Counseling

School Guidance and Counseling, School Counseling, School Guidance (master’s degree level)

Health

Allied Health, Health, Health Education, Health Science, Health Services, Nursing (BS), Public Health, Doctor of Medicine

Hearing Impaired Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Deaf Education, Hearing Disabilities, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Science, Education of Dead-Blind
Hebrew Hebrew
Humanities Humanities, Classical Studies
Industrial Arts-Technology Ed.

Industrial Arts, Industrial Education, Industrial Arts-Technology Education

Italian Italian
Japan Japanese
Journalism

Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Television Journalism

Latin Latin
Marketing Distributive Education, Marketing, Marketing Education
Mathematics Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Statistics
Middle Grades English Middle Grades English, Middle Grades Language Arts, Middle School English Education, Junior High School English, English, Literature (English), Creative Writing
Middle Grades General Science Middle Grades Science, Teaching Middle School Science, Junior High Science, Middle School Science Education, General Science
Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum

Middle Grades Education, Middle School Education, Junior High School

Middle Grades Mathematics Middle Grades Mathematics, Teaching Middle School Mathematics, Junior High School Mathematics, Middle School Mathematics Education, Mathematics, Statistics, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering
Middle Grades Social Science Middle Grades Social Science, Teaching Middle School Social Science, Junior High School Social Science, Middle School Social Science Education, Social Science, Social Studies
Music Percussion Applied Music, Instrumental Music, Music, Music Education, Piano or other major instrument, Vocal Music, Voice, Composition (music),
Physical Education (K-12) Physical Education any grade level with student teaching
Physics Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Physics, Physics, Thermodynamics, Nuclear Engineering
Portuguese Portuguese
Preschool Education

Nursery Education, Preschool Education, Birth-Age 4, Birth-Age 8

Prekindergarten/Primary Education

Early Childhood Education if NK-3, NK-4 or Birth-Age 8; P-5, N-6, NK-6, Prekindergarten/Primary Education

Reading

Reading (master’s level)

School Psychologist

School Psychologist (specialist degree)

School Social Worker Social Work, Social Worker, Social Welfare
Social Science

Social Science, Social Studies, American History, History, Western Civilization, World History, Geography, Economic Geography, (and other specialized areas of geography) Economics, Civics, Government, International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Educational Psychology (and other areas specialized areas of Psychology)

Spanish Spanish, Spanish Education

Speech

Speech, Speech Communication, Public Speaking

Speech Language Impaired Communication Disorders, Speech Correction, Speech and Hearing Science, Speech-Language Impaired, Speech Pathology, Speech Pathology and Audio logy
Visually Impaired Blind and Partially Sighted, Visual Disabilities, Visually Handicapped, Visually Impaired


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Temporary Certification Requirements

Temporary Certificate (3 yr. non-renewable)

To obtain a 3-year temporary teacher certificate candidates must have an offer of employment and meet one of the following criteria:

Option 1: Have a bachelor’s degree in the intended area of specialization.

Option 2: Have a master’s degree in the intended area of specialization.

Option 3: Have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and the minimum number of college credits in the intended area of specialization.

Option 4: Have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and pass the Subject Area Exam (SAE) in the intended area of specialization.

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Professional Certificate

Professional Certificate (5 yr. renewable)

Option 1: B.S. in education with a specialization.

Option 2: Master’s degree in education with a specialization.

Option 3: Have a college degree and meet minimum requirements as outlined by the Department of Education to include:

  1. 15-20 credits of education courses.
  2. Passing all three parts of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam. (FTCE)
    • SAE (Subject Area Exam)
    • PEd (Professional Education Test)
    • GK (General Knowledge Test) note: the CLAST exam maybe used in place of the GK if taken prior to July 1, 2002
  3.   PEC (Professional Educator Competencies)*
  4.  2 yrs. of fulltime teaching*

*3 & 4 to be completed while teaching.

Note:

Candidates for teacher certification may begin teaching with a Temporary Certificate while completing the remaining requirements for a Professional Certificate.

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Teacher Certification Contact Information

Advising Center / College of Education
Florida International University, ZEB 221
Office: 305-348-2768
Fax:     305-348-3227

Department of Education
Bureau of Educator Certification
Suite 201, Turlington Building
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
U.S. Domestic Toll-Free Number: 800-445-6739
Outside U.S.: 850-245-5049

Online Application for Teacher Certification
http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/apply.asp

FTCE, Florida Department of Education
TESTING INFORMATION
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 414
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
(850) 245-0513
http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce/

FTCE Study Guides can be purchased at any major bookstores (Barnes and Noble; Borders, etc)

FTCE/FELE Program Web Site
Computer-based Testing
FTCE/FELE Customer Service at (413) 256-2893 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Mon.– Fri., excluding holidays. (The Automated Information System is available by phone 24 hours daily.)
http://www.fl.nesinc.com/

Certification Exam Review (for Dade Teachers only)
(305) 887-2002

CoE Master's Degree Programs

Foreign Credentials Evaluation
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
Office: (305) 273-1616
Fax: (305) 273-1338
Email: info@jsilny.com
Web Site: www.jsilny.com

 

Education Courses for Teacher Certification

A. Classroom Management: (choose one)

EDF 3251/EDF 5255 – Classroom Management (3)
ESE 4322C/ESE 5344C – Secondary Classroom Management (3)

 
B. Human Growth and Learning: (choose one)

EDP 3004 – Educational Psychology (3)
EDP 5053 – Educational Psychology: Principles and Applications (3)
EDF 6211 – Psychological Foundations of Education (3)

C. Educational Assessment: (3 credits needed, choose one

EDF 3430/EDF 5443 – Measurement and Evaluation in the Classroom (3)

D. Effective Instructional Strategies: (choose one)

EDG 3321 – General Instructional Decision Making (3)
EDG 5414 – Instructional Strategies for the Classroom Teacher (3)        

E.  Special Methods of Teaching:

  • Options A & D MUST be completed before Option E
  • Choose from the options listed on page 4
  • Selection(s) should be based on eligibility requirements 
  • Many of these courses are specific to grade levels
  • Special Methods are typically offered during the fall semesters only.

F. Foundations of Practices in Teaching Reading: (choose one)

RED 4325       Subject Area Reading (3)
RED 5147       Developmental Reading (3)
RED 5339       Subject Related Reading (3)

Important

This information is provided only to assist students seeking state certification with the selection of classes.  This is NOT an official statement and does not represent any evaluation or acceptance of prior college work.  Students will need to submit the CG-10 application, check or money order, and an official transcript to the Department of Education.  The Department of Education will respond with the Statement of Eligibility (SOE) outlining the requirements to be completed for a Temporary or Professional certificate.

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College of Education Special Methods Courses

Art
ARE 4316      Special Teaching Lab: Art in Grades K-6 (3)
ARE 4341      Special Teaching Lab: Art in Grades 7-12 (3)

Biology, Chemistry, Physics
SCE 6635       Teaching Science in the Secondary School (3)
SCE 4310       Teaching Elementary Science (3)
SCE 4330       Special Teaching Laboratory: Science (3)

Dance
DAE 4362      Methods of Teaching Elementary and Middle School Dance (3)

English
LAE 6339       Teaching English in the Secondary School (3)
LAE 5336C    Special Teaching Lab (3)
LAE 4335       Special Teaching Laboratory English (3)

French, Spanish
FLE 6336       Methods of Teaching Modern Language (3)
FLE 4314       Methods of Teaching Foreign Language / Elementary School (3)
FLE 4375       Methods of Teaching Modern Foreign Language / Secondary Level (3)

Mathematics
MAE 6336      Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School (3)
MAE 4310      Teaching Elementary Mathematics (3)
MAE 4330      Special Teaching Laboratory: Mathematics (4)

Music
MUE 3340      Elementary School Teaching Methods (3)
MUE 4341      Middle and Secondary School Vocal and Instrumental (4)

Social Science
SSE 6633        Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary School (3)
SSE 4312        Teaching Elementary Social Studies (3)
SSE 4384        Special Teaching Laboratory: Social Studies (3)

Theatre
THE 4760       Methods of Teaching Theatre in the Schools (3)