Temporary Certificate (includes Alternate Route)

HISTORY

Authorized by legislation in 1988.

MOTIVATION

To address teacher shortages and to provide a mechanism for persons who are not teacher-trained to consider becoming a teacher.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREAS COVERED

All

WHO OPERATES

Florida Department of Education.

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER

A bachelor's degree.
The individual must meet specialized requirements in a subject in which Florida offers certification.
The individual must have a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in each subject shown on the certificate.
The individual must obtain employment in a Florida public school or in a private school with a state-approved system for demonstration of professional education competencies.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Temporary Certificate may be issued when the individual obtains employment in a public school or in a private school with a state-approved system for demonstration of professional education competencies and when cleared fingerprint reports have been received.

The recipient then has three years to complete the requirements for the Professional Certificate, which are to:

Satisfy professional education preparation requirements by either:

•  Completion of 20 semester hours of college coursework in education + two year of practical teaching experience; or

•  Completion of a district's approved competency-based alternative preparation program (See “Other” below.)

Demonstrate professional education competencies.

Attain:

A passing score on the Professional Education Subtest of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination.

A passing score on the General Knowledge Test.

A passing score on the subject area examination for each subject or field shown on the certificate.

Operating under required competencies set by the state, a local school district works with the candidate to achieve the competencies, then verifies to the state that they have been demonstrated.

LENGTH OF TIME

Valid for three years; non-renewable.

WHO EVALUATES

Florida Department of Education.

OTHER

Each school district must offer a competency-based alternative certification program by which members of its instructional staff who have not been trained as teachers but who meet state requirements for specialization in a coverage area may satisfy the professional education preparation requirements. Instead of taking college courses, program participants complete training only in those competencies, which are identified as deficient by the district. IF the district chooses to develop its own program in lieu of implementing the program developed by the state, then the Department of Education must approve each district-developed program.