Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE)

All FTCE testing is offered in a computer-based format and will be available at Pearson VUE professional testing centers.  Test centers are strategically located throughout the state and examinees will be able to sit for exams seven days a week with morning, afternoon, and evening availabilities.

For additional information and registration, please go to: www.fl.nesinc.com or contact their customer service center at (413) 256-2893.  Representatives are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Note:  The Florida legislature expanded opportunities for military personnel, veterans and their spouses by providing the opportunity to request waivers of certification examination fees for active duty military personnel, honorably discharged veterans and their spouses or surviving spouses. Registration fees for initial attempts on examinations for certification will be waived for educator candidates granted eligibility.  Educator candidates who are eligible to apply for the Military Certification Fees Waiver (MCFW) include:

• Active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve unit;
• The spouses of active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve unit;
• Veterans who were honorably discharged or retired from service as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve units;
• The spouses of veterans who were honorably discharged or retired from service as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve units; or
• The surviving spouses of veterans or service members who died while on active duty as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve units.

To complete a waiver request, the educator candidate is required to submit the waiver request via the Military Certification Fees Waiver site.

Subject Area Examination (SAE) - These exams measure content area knowledge, usually in a multiple-choice format. On July 1, 2002, a statute was passed that allowed for teachers to establish eligibility for an initial Temporary Certificate by taking and passing bachelor-level subject area exams in lieu of taking college coursework. Certification subjects excluded are Guidance, Reading, Speech Language Impaired, Educational Leadership and School Psychologist. These areas also require coursework in addition to the subject area exam.

If you were placed out-of-field, you can also take a bachelor's level area exam to meet your mandated training requirement. (Please review the study tips at the end of this section - you may find them helpful in preparing for future subject area exams.) Note that you must add the subject area to your Florida educator certificate to no longer be considered out-of-field.

Professional Education (PED) - This multiple-choice test assesses general knowledge of five content bases: personal development, appropriate student behavior, planning instruction, implementing instruction, and evaluating instruction.

General Knowledge Test (GK) - The GK is a basic skills achievement test containing four subtests: Math (multiple-choice items), Reading (multiple-choice, passage-based items), English Language Skills (multiple-choice items) and Essay.

Below are the options for satisfying the General Knowledge exam requirement:

Pass all subtests (Math, Reading, English, Essay) of the General Knowledge exam. This exam is currently offered through Pearson testing.

If you have passed one or more subtests of the General Knowledge exam but have not passed all four subtests please note you must pass the remaining subtests in order to comply with state statute requirements. The General Knowledge exam is offered in a computer-based exam administration format. Registration, exam information, and study preparation can be found at: www.fl.nesinc.com.

OR

Pass all subtests (Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning) of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). The exam is currently offered through Educational Testing Services. The date of the exam must be on or after July 1, 2015, and the exam must be the 2011 version titled "GRE General Test".

Submit an original score report indicating the score(s) and test date(s) for each of the subtests completed to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). Make certain to include your certificate number or FLDOE record number when submitting the score report. The GRE is offered in a computer-based exam administration format. Registration, exam information, and study preparation can be found through Educational Testing Service (ETS). Effective July 2016, ETS will no longer provide mailed copies of official score reports for the GRE. To obtain a score report access your "myGRE" account and print out a copy.

Additional methods for satisfying the General Knowledge requirement are:

• A valid, standard certificate from another US state or territory
• A valid National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate
• A valid Passport to Teaching Certificate from ABCTE
• Documentation of two semesters full-time, faculty position, college teaching experience 
  

  • Acceptable documentation of experience must be a letter on college/university letterhead from registrar or dean from the accredited school verifying the following:

    (1) the dates of instructional employment

    (2) at least 2 semesters of full-time or equivalent part-time instructional experience*

    (3) the prefix, number, name and semester hour credits of the courses taught

    *for implementation of the statute only, a quarter term of teaching is equal to a semester term of teaching 

    Experience is acceptable, provided that:

    a. experience was earned in a full-time faculty position for at least two semesters, or in a part-time instructional position with the total experience equivalent to at least two semester of full time teaching and
    b. courses resulted in earned college level credit for the students in at least one course each semester

    The documentation must be sent directly to the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Certification for approval.