Professional preparation coursework is required of the majority of teachers on a Florida temporary educator certificate.  This is because you likely did not graduate from a teacher preparation program.  The professional preparation courses are designed to assist in preparing you to be an instructor and will assist you in various areas as you move forward in your professional career as an educator.  These courses are required if they are listed on your Statement of Status of Eligibility (the Statement is the letter the Florida Department of Education issued to you in response to your application for an educator certificate). 

Here is how the professional preparation courses would appear if listed on your Statement:

Note that your Statement may not list all the courses that are shown below as each list of requirements is specific to the individual and takes under consideration the documentation received by the FLDOE at the time of application.

OVERVIEW OF OPTIONS

OPTIONS IN DETAIL

There are several options for satisfying the professional preparation course requirements:

• Complete college courses on your own to satisfy the listed course requirements
  • To verify courses contact the FLDOE at FLCertify@fldoe.org with the university name/course prefix/course title.

• Complete the district's Alternative Certification for Educators (ACE) program or the Broward Educator Certification (BEC) program (see details in graphic below)
  • For more information regarding ACE please visit: https://www.browardschools.com/Page/39824

• Complete college courses through St. Thomas University through a grant-funded program with the Coaching and Induction Department
  • For more information contact: teacher.licensure@browardschools.com

• A valid professional educator certificate from another state
  • Submit a front/back copy of the certificate along with an application and fee for an upgrade to a professional certificate via https://flcertify.fldoe.org/datamart/mainMenu.do 

• A conferred master's or higher degree in a STEM field AND a Florida temporary certificate in a grades 6-12 STEM subject area AND an overall evaluation rating of Highly Effective
  • If you meet all the above listed criteria for STEM please contact District Certification for further guidance at:  certificationrequests@browardschools.com 

• Completion of a Florida state-approved (or another state) teacher education program

  • Documentation of two full-time semesters, faculty position, college teaching experience

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

    • 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 semesters of full time teaching and 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. 

ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION FOR EDUCATIONS (ACE) OPTION

BROWARD EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION (BEC) OPTION

ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY COURSES OPTION