Transcript Becoming a Certified Teacher in Florida

Obtaining Your
Florida Teaching
Certificate
Will you graduate from a teacher
education program in Florida?

The following UCF programs are considered teacher education
programs:

Art Education, B.S. & MAT

Early Childhood Development & Education, Track One (B.S.)

Elementary Education, B.S. & M.A.

English Language Arts Education, B.S. & MAT

Exceptional Student Education, B.S. & M.A.
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Mathematics Education, B.S. & M.A.

Science Education, B.S. & M.A. (Chemistry, Physics, and Biology Tracks)

Social Science Education, B.S. & M.A.

World Language Education, B.S. (French and Spanish Tracks)
Make sure your transcript is
COMPLETE

NOTE: Request multiple copies of
your transcript through the MYUCF
portal.

Open a copy for your records to
ensure it says everything it is
supposed to say and keep the
other copies sealed to give to
employers and the FLDOE

Date of degree conferral at the
top of the transcript

Statement about national
accreditation, state-program
approval, ESOL Endorsement (if
applicable to program), Reading
Endorsement (if applicable to
program) at the top of the
transcript
AFTER you have graduated and
your transcript is COMPLETE…


If your transcript reads appropriately, you will apply for a Statement
of Status of Eligibility through the Florida Department of Education

Visit http://fldoe.org/edcert

If your transcript is missing anything, please contact the Office of
Undergraduate Affairs & Partnerships at 407-823-3723
The next slides show the pages you will visit to apply for your
Statement of Status of Eligibility
If you have graduated from a teacher education
program at UCF…
http://fldoe.org/edcert
Click on “Graduate of a Teacher
Education Program”
Then you will…
Click on “Florida graduates of
approved programs”
Below “Florida Graduates of Approved Programs”…
Click on “Begin the Steps to
Certification”
The system will walk you through a 4 step process
Each step is important to read.
Click on all 4 steps, read each
carefully.
Once you have read all 4 steps…
Click on “Apply for Your Certificate” at the
bottom of the page.
Choose an option…it is easier to apply online…
Click “Apply Online”
Once you begin the application,
you must have the following:

Social Security Number

Visa or Mastercard to pay for the processing fee


Note: The application fee is $75 PER SUBJECT AREA

If you have been offered a job and it requires more than one subject area, apply
for each required subject area

If your job only requires one subject area and it is in the program of your MAJOR
(like Elementary Education K-6 or Mathematics Education 6-12), apply for that
subject area to save money and apply for the additional subject areas later
For the ESOL ENDORSEMENT and READING ENDORSEMENT

You will choose the “Endorsement” as the subject area, not the K-12
certification option. You will be eligible to teach K-12 in ESOL and/or
Reading. Having an endorsement is more convenient anyway, because
you typically do not have to take additional coursework during renewal to
keep the endorsement.
Once you begin the application,
you must have the following:

Official copies of your transcripts.


Options for delivery to the FLDOE

1. Request an official transcript be sent by UCF to the Florida DOE

2. Request official transcript be sent to you and you will submit them to the
Florida DOE.
Electronic copies of your transcript are not possible to send to the
Florida DOE unless a contact person has requested them via e-mail.
Once you have submitted the
online application…

Be sure to send a copy of your transcript to the Florida DOE.

An official, unopened, sealed copy of your UCF transcript is required.


Remember to be sure that you’ve sent a complete transcript. You should
know what is or is not recorded on your transcript.
REMEMBER TO KEEP COPIES OF EVERYTHING YOU SUBMIT FOR YOUR
RECORDS
Once everything has been
submitted and sent…


Now you will wait (typically 4-6 weeks…could be shorter or longer)!

Be patient!

Use your login information from the online application to check on the status
of your application review
You should receive a Statement of Status of Eligibility in the mail once
the FLDOE has processed your application

The Statement of Status of Eligibility is not your certificate. It is a letter saying
you are eligible for a certificate.

This is confirmation to your employer that you will be certifiable once you become
employed and complete the induction process applicable to the district.

The district will submit the remaining documents on your behalf, typically after 90
days of employment. Then you will receive your Professional Educator Certificate,
which is good for five years.
Frequent Asked Questions

Do I have to apply for a certificate?


Do I need a certificate to look for a teaching job?


To teach in Florida’s public schools and many private or charter schools,
you must hold a FL teaching certificate.
No. In Florida, the teaching certificate is not issued until you are hired in
an instructional position.
When can I apply for the certificate?

You cannot complete the application until after your degree has been
awarded.
Frequent Asked Questions

Why do I have to choose ESOL Endorsement instead of the ESOL K-12
Certification?


What is the different between the endorsement and the certification?


If the ESOL Endorsement was part of your program, you are only eligible for
the endorsement, not the certification.
An endorsement typically stays on your certificate as long as you have one.
A certification only stays on your certificate when you complete the
additional coursework required. Your employing district will help you with
renewal processes.
What if I want to teach subject areas other than the program of my
major?

You must meet the eligibility of those subject areas. Sometimes, that requires
coursework, and other times it requires passing an additional subject area
exam. Visit http://fldoe.org/edcert/adding.asp to read more about how to
add additional subjects.
Frequent Asked Questions

My Statement of Status of Eligibility says the only thing I have left to do is
get fingerprinted. What does that mean?


That typically means that once you are hired in a school or district, the
district will submit the fingerprints on your behalf to the FLDOE you
completed at the time of hiring.
What if I am moving to a different state?

The state where you are moving will have its own certification requirements.
Often times, a verification form is required to be completed by the university.

Submit the out-of-state form directly to Undergraduate Affairs & Partnerships,
Education Complex, Suite 110, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday. You may also email the form to [email protected]. Processing takes 3-5 business days.
Remember
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Being a certified teacher in Florida is a privilege.
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All teachers are held to the highest standards in the community.

A teaching certificate is your professional license to practice.