If you received a Statement of Eligibility and are eligible for a Temporary certificate, you must be hired to teach in a Florida School District or Charter School. Once hired, the district will request that the FLDOE issue your Temporary certificate. It will be effective as of July 1st of that fiscal year and it will expire on June 30th five years later.
Professional Prep College Courses
Pre-approved Professional Prep Courses
College of Central Florida Course Schedule
College of Central Florida Pathways to Permanent Certification
Florida Southern College Course
Seminole State College Course Schedule
Mastery of General Knowledge
Satisfy this requirement with one of the options listed below.
- Earn an advanced degree earned from an accredited college/university in any major
- Mail official, paper transcript to MCPS Certification Department.
- Have two years full-time college teaching experience
- Contact MCPS Certification to discuss.
- Have valid alternative assessment scores
- Upload official score reports to FLDOE account.
- Pass the General Knowledge exam.
- Satisfy exam waiver requirements
- Attempt the General Knowledge exam.
- Teach for three years after failing the GK exam.
- Earn three summative evaluations rated either Effective or Highly Effective during the validity of the Temporary Educator Certificate.
- Note that the timing of these requirements is very specific and must be met in order to use the waiver.
- Effective July 1, 2024, the following assessments may satisfy the GK exam requirement, if the following criteria are met:
- GRE test was taken on or after July 1, 2015
- SAT, ACT, and CLT test was taken on or after March 1, 2016
- The minimum required score on the GRE, SAT, ACT and CLT was earned during the ten (10) years immediately preceding application and qualification for a Professional certificate.
- Passing scores are required in each of the four general knowledge areas.
- Review the eligible passing scores here.
Mastery of Subject Area Exam
- Pass the subject area exam.
- If you have a master’s or higher degree, review the list of eligible degree majors that can waive the subject area exam.
For master’s level subject areas, the exam is required in addition to the master’s in the applicable subject area. The exception is that there is no exam for School Social Worker.
School Social Workers must demonstrate master of subject area competencies as determined by the supervisor of the applicable MCPS Department over School Social Workers.
Mastery of Professional Preparation Competence
Meet this requirement with one of the following options.
- Pass the Professional Education Exam, complete the Professional Preparation Coursework, complete the District’s Professional Education Competence program, and teach for a minimum of one year in a Florida public or charter school.
- Waive the Professional Education Exam by completing the Professional Preparation Coursework, completing the District’s Professional Education Competence program, and earning three summative evaluations rated Effective or Highly Effective during the validity period of the Temporary Educator Certificate.
- Pass the Professional Education Exam and complete an Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) program.
If you have a master’s or higher degree, review the list of eligible degree majors that can waive the subject area exam.
Contact the Certification Department to confirm.
Educator Preparation Institute