Certificate Types and Requirements

Valid for five school years

Valid for five school years

Renewable

Nonrenewable

Florida's highest Educator Certificate

Provides time to complete all requirements for a Professional Certificate while teaching full-time

Complete all application process requirements

Complete all application process requirements

Hold at least a bachelor's degree

Hold at least a bachelor's degree

Demonstrate Mastery of Subject Area Knowledge for a requested subject

Demonstrate Mastery of Subject Area Knowledge or meet Subject Specialization with a 2.5 GPA for a requested subject

Demonstrate Mastery of General Knowledge

The Florida Temporary Certificate is issued after the individual is employed in a Florida school and his/her fingerprints have been cleared.

Demonstrate Mastery of Professional Preparation and Education Competence

The Florida Professional Certificate is issued after the individual's results of his/her fingerprint-based background screening have been cleared. The individual seeking employment in Florida will be assisted in completing the fingerprint process by his/her employer. A U.S. citizen who is not seeking employment in Florida or has an immediate need for issuance of the Professional Certificate should review Step 4: Submitting Fingerprints for Certification and the available fingerprint processing instructions or may contact the Bureau of Educator Certification for assistance.

Please note: If a U.S. citizen chooses to have his/her fingerprints processed prior to Florida employment for issuance of the Professional Certificate, it may be necessary to have the fingerprints reprocessed, and the individual may have to pay a second processing fee as a condition of employment in a Florida public school.

Click on the links above for a list of options to complete these requirements