How to Become a Teacher in Florida

Florida certification requirements, step by step

Each requirement below is stated as Florida Department of Education Bureau of Educator Certification publishes it, with the governing source cited.

1. 1

   Complete an approved educator preparation program

   Earn a bachelor's degree and complete a state-approved educator preparation program that culminates in eligibility for certification. Florida’s Bureau of Educator Certification organizes pathways around FTCE and a dual-tier structure featuring Temporary and Professional certificates. College-trained applicants, career changers, and out-of-state arrivals use different pathway pages — start with the one that matches your history.

   Source: fldoe.org

2. 2

   Pass required FTCE examinations

   Take and pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) required for your certification subject area, including General Knowledge and Professional Education as applicable. Florida uses FTCE, not Praxis. Consult the Bureau’s subject-area requirements chart for which subtests apply.

   Source: fldoe.org

3. 3

   Apply for certification

   Submit your application to the Bureau of Educator Certification. The application fee is $75 per subject area. Confirm the current fee when you file; the Bureau publishes the amount on its steps-to-certification page.

   Source: fldoe.org

4. 4

   Receive a Statement of Eligibility (SOE)

   If approved, receive an Official Statement of Eligibility valid for three years, authorizing employment while completing any remaining requirements. Because SOE validity is time-bound, coordinate employment start dates carefully so eligibility does not lapse during the first years of service.

   Source: fldoe.org

5. 5

   Obtain a Professional certificate

   After meeting all requirements including employment and any outstanding items, convert to a Professional Florida certificate. Professional renewal requires six semester hours of credit, including coursework in teaching students with disabilities (SWD). A Temporary certificate, if used, is nonrenewable beyond five school years.

   Source: fldoe.org

Florida's Bureau of Educator Certification organizes pathways around the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) and a dual-tier credential structure featuring Temporary and Professional certificates. Traditional candidates who complete approved preparation programs apply directly for certification, paying $75 per subject area, and may receive an Official Statement of Eligibility (SOE) valid for three years that documents their authorization to seek employment while finishing outstanding requirements.

The Temporary certificate serves candidates who are employed and still completing requirements, but it is nonrenewable beyond five school years—a policy detail that pushes districts and educators toward timely completion. Professional certificates represent the fully qualified credential and carry renewal expectations that include six semester hours of credit, with specific inclusion of coursework related to teaching students with disabilities (SWD). This SWD requirement reflects Florida's emphasis on inclusive practice in renewal policy.

Reciprocity pathways recognize valid standard out-of-state certificates and National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) credentials, offering Florida entry points for experienced educators without repeating the entire traditional pipeline. FTCE remains the state's own testing system rather than Praxis, so candidates should consult the Bureau's subject-area requirements chart to determine which General Knowledge, Professional Education, and subject area subtests apply.

Florida publishes consolidated resources on pathways and step-by-step certification procedures that distinguish among college-trained applicants, career changers, and out-of-state arrivals. Because SOE validity is time-bound at three years, candidates and hiring districts must coordinate employment start dates and completion timelines carefully to avoid lapses in eligibility during the first years of service.

Required exams and fees

Florida uses FTCE. Fees and cut scores appear only when published by the cited source (as of August 2026).

Full Florida exam requirements →

Moving a license to Florida

Florida offers reciprocity for holders of a valid standard out-of-state certificate or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification.

Official Florida reciprocity guidance