Military Veterans Certification Pathway
Attention Veterans!
The Florida Department of Education is offering an opportunity for our talented veterans to obtain a 5-year temporary teaching certificate for qualified candidates who have not yet earned their bachelor’s degree. Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Department of Education is proud to support Florida’s extensive veteran community and is committed to maintaining high-quality teaching standards.
In addition to meeting certification criteria for a temporary certificate, except for holding a bachelor’s degree, applicants must meet the following standards:
- Minimum of 48 months of military service with an honorable/medical discharge;
- Minimum of 60 college credits with a 2.5 grade point average;
- Passing score on a Florida subject area examination;
- Employment in a Florida school district, including charter schools; and
- Cleared background screening.
Interested? Click here to get started with an application!
Veterans who successfully obtain their 5-year temporary teaching certificate will be assigned a mentor teacher for a minimum of two years to support their classroom teaching endeavors. They must also earn their bachelor’s degree during the 5-year period to be eligible for a full professional certificate; the temporary certificate cannot be renewed once it expires. Veterans utilizing this temporary certificate may not teach subject areas that require a Master’s Degree.
Teaching is a highly rewarding profession. This new pathway helps veterans begin a career in Florida’s top-ranked education system while bringing unique value to school districts hungry for talent.
Military spouses and families are not eligible for this program.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to complete an online Military Certification Fees Waiver prior to submitting an application. The fee waiver can be used for initial certification applications and initial teacher certification examinations.