This process is for teachers who hold a Florida (state-issued) temporary certificate and are ready to apply for their renewable, five-year professional certificate.

Please note that current processing time for applications is sixteen weeks.  Please plan to submit your application in advance to allowing sufficient time for processing and prior to inquiring about the status of your application.  You will be notified should there be an issue with the processing of your application.

For information regarding understanding the total requirements you may need to meet (and the various options for meeting them) to meet eligibility for a state professional certificate please review the presentation found here.

 IMPORTANT

For the appropriate process to follow; reference the correct type of certificate you currently hold, then the subject area you are adding, and then the method through which you completed addition requirements.

For technical assistance with the FLDOE application, please contact FLCertify@fldoe.org

If you have forgotten your log in information, click the links for “Forgot User ID?” or “Forgot Password?” to locate your account. Creating multiple accounts will cause delays in application processing.

TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE HOLDERS

ESOL

Completed the Five ESOL Endorsement Courses Via In-Service

ESOL

Passed the ESOL Subject Area Exam

Reading

Completed the Five Reading Endorsement Courses Via In-Service

Reading

Passed the Reading Subject Area Exam

Reading

Completed the University of Florida Literacy Matrix

Reading

Completed the Five Reading Endorsement Courses Via College Coursework*

*If you completed Reading courses as college credit but are not certain if all five Reading Endorsement requirements were completed, apply to the FLDOE for the Reading Endorsement.  If you did not complete all requirements for the Endorsement, the FLDOE will advise you of what courses are remaining via a Statement of Status of Eligibility.  In order to document the courses accepted by the FLDOE (so that you can complete any remaining Endorsement courses as in-service), you will need to submit a copy of the Statement along with a copy of your transcripts to:  certificationrequests@browardschools.com.  Any courses accepted by the FLDOE toward the Endorsement will be added to your in-service record.

Gifted

Completed the Five Gifted Endorsement Courses via In-Service (no exam option in this subject area)

Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement

Completed the Required College Coursework (no exam option in this subject area)

Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement

Completed the Three ASD Endorsement Courses Via In-Service (no exam option in this subject area)

Prekindergarten Disabilities Endorsement

Completed the Required College Coursework (no exam option in this subject area)

All Other Subject Areas

Passed the Subject Area Exam

All Other Subject Areas

Completed the required college coursework to meet the subject area requirements

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE HOLDERS

ESOL

Completed the Five ESOL Endorsement Courses Via In-Service

ESOL

Passed the ESOL Subject Area Exam

Reading

Completed the Five Reading Endorsement Courses Via In-Service OR Passed the Reading Subject Area Exam

Reading

Completed the University of Florida Literacy Matrix

Reading

Completed the Five Reading Endorsement Courses Via College Coursework*

*If you completed Reading courses as college credit but are not certain if all five Reading Endorsement requirements were completed, apply to the FLDOE for the Reading Endorsement.  If you did not complete all requirements for the Endorsement, the FLDOE will advise you of what courses are remaining via a Statement of Status of Eligibility.  In order to document the courses accepted by the FLDOE (so that you can complete any remaining Endorsement courses as in-service), you will need to submit a copy of the Statement along with a copy of your transcripts to:  certificationrequests@browardschools.com.  Any courses accepted by the FLDOE toward the Endorsement will be added to your in-service record.

Gifted

Completed the Five Gifted Endorsement Courses via In-Service (no exam option in this subject area)

 Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement

Completed the Required College Coursework (no exam option in this subject area)

Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement

Completed the Three ASD Endorsement Courses Via In-Service (no exam option in this subject area)

Prekindergarten Disabilities Endorsement

Completed the Required College Coursework (no exam option in this subject area)

 All Other Subject Areas

Passed the subject area exam (must have passed the exam to be eligible to add to a Professional Certificate; no option to add via college coursework)

Special Note: To add subject areas requiring advanced training, you must apply to the FLDOE and CANNOT "affiliate" the application with the district as the district does not have the authority to process additions in these subject areas: Administration of Adult Education, Educational Leadership, School Counseling, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, School Principal, Speech Language Impaired.

Please begin by reviewing the FAQs for Renewing a Florida Professional Certificate prior to proceeding.

For information regarding understanding the total requirements you must meet (and the various options for meeting them) to renew a professional certificate, please review the presentation found here.

Jump to: STEPS FOR RENEWAL

Effective with Florida Professional Certificates Expiring June 30, 2025, or Later​
(Does not apply to Educators with a Local, District-Issued Broward Certificate)

​If your Florida five-year professional certificate has an expiration date of June 30, 2025 or later AND you have one of the certification areas identified below on your teaching certificate, you will need to meet a new 40-point reading renewal requirement per State Board Rule 6-4.0051 (note this renewal requirement pertains to those holding certification in one or more of the areas listed below - it does not refer to what you are assigned to teach; meaning, you can hold certification in one of the areas listed but not teach the subject and are still required to satisfy this requirement toward renewal):

• Elementary K-6 ​
• Elementary 1-6
• Exceptional Student Education K-12​
• Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3​
• Primary K-3 ​
• English 1-6 ​
• English 6-12
• Middle Grades English 5-9​
• Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9​
• Reading K-12​
• Reading Endorsement​
• ESOL K-12

Please be aware that the 40-point reading requirement is in addition to the current 20 points in Teaching Students with Disabilities (SWD) that is required by all who renew the State of Florida professional certificate. The new requirement applies to all holders of a Florida professional teaching certificate in one of the specified areas, regardless of job assignment or position.

Resources

• Link to State Board Rule 6-4.0051 - https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?ID=6A-4.0051
  
• Link to BVU Schedule - https://www.browardschools.com/cms/lib/FL01803656/Centricity/domain/13712/bvu/BVU-Calendar.pdf

NOTE: If you are no longer employed by a public school in Broward County, you MUST apply and pay the associated fee for renewal with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE).  DO NOT "affiliate" your renewal application with Broward as we are not authorized to process the application.  If you have in-service points earned within Broward that need to be submitted to the FLDOE to use toward meeting your renewal requirements, please advise us by email at: certificationrequests@browardschools.com.

For technical assistance with the FLDOE application, please contact FLCertify@fldoe.org

If you have forgotten your log in information, click the links for “Forgot User ID?” or “Forgot Password?” to locate your account. Creating multiple accounts will cause delays in application processing.

STEPS FOR RENEWAL

Application for individuals seeking an initial full-time or part-time district educator certificate in adult education or non-degreed vocational education; and for those renewing, requesting a duplicate certificate, or a name change to a district-issued certificate.  Note: Broward hard copy certificates will no longer be printed effective 1/1/2018.  Access to view your certificate information is available via Employee Self Service (ESS).

There are programs available that will assist current teachers and career-change professionals who did not graduate from a college of education to complete requirements toward professional certification.  Learn about these options and assistance offered here.

This form is submitted for a full-time teacher holding a three year temporary certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education and is required according to the individuals Statement of Status of Eligibility (SOE) letter.

Mastery of Professional Education Competence must be demonstrated either through written verification from the principal that the teacher has mastered the state competencies (for non-education majors) or by graduation from a state-approved education program.
 
Principals must verify whether or not the teacher has mastered the state competencies by completing the State Competency Demonstration Checklist. The form should be completed by the principal at the conclusion of the teacher’s first year and submitted through the Checklist database (charters are required to submit the Checklist in hard copy). 

Following is a guide through the CDC process:

The Principal is the designated official for completing and signing the form.

Each competency must be reviewed to indicate the method of mastery used.

Charter schools, contractual agencies, and others receiving services through the district’s certification office, must ensure that the teacher’s full-time date(s) of employment, appropriate contact information including the school name, principal’s name, and phone number have been completed.

The appropriate box at the bottom of the form must be checked indicating whether or not the teacher mastered all competencies.

If you are unable to recommend an overall successful mastery of the state competencies, you must communicate with your designated Talent Acquisition and Operations, Instructional Administrator and indicate in writing specifically what the teacher lacks and identify competencies not mastered. It is likely that a Performance Development Plan would have been initiated and is being handled through Employee Relations.

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
• A confered master's (or higher) degree from an accredited university (FLDOE must have received an official transcript for the degree)
• 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:

    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. 

See chart below for all General Knowledge Exam options:

Below are the options for satisfying the Professional Education exam requirement:

Pass the Professional Education exam. This exam is currently offered through Pearson testing.

Additional methods for satisfying the Professional Education Exam 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
• Completion of the district's Alternative Certification for Educators (ACE) program AND Highly Effective overall evaluation 

See chart below for all Professional Education Exam options:

Below are the options for satisfying the Subject Area exam requirement:

Pass the subject area exam*

*NOTE: Exams for select subject areas are separated into subtests and all subtests must be passed to be considered as having satisfied the subject area exam requirement. These exams are currently offered through Pearson testing.

Additional methods for satisfying the subject area exam 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

See chart below for all Subject Area Exam options:

What is an Official Statement of Eligibility (SOE)?

When you send a complete application package to the Bureau or Educator Certification requesting a Florida certificate, your complete package is evaluated to determine your eligibility for a Florida certificate. The result of that determination is sent to you as an Official Statement of Status of Eligibility.

The Official Statement is valid for three years and has two functions:

• to officially state that "you are eligible" or "you are not eligible" for a Temporary Certificate or a Professional Certificate in the subject area you requested, and
• to provide you with a customized list of the requirements you must complete to be issued full state certification in Florida.

If Your Official Statement Shows that "You Are Eligible" for a Certificate

1. Your Florida Temporary Certificate is issued when:
   • your Official SOE states that "you are eligible" for at least a Temporary Certificate, and
   • you are employed as a teacher and your fingerprints are processed before your Official SOE expires.
2. When your certificate is issued, the list of requirements on your Official Statement must be completed before the expiration date of your Temporary Certificate.
3. If your Official SOE expires before you are employed in a Florida school, you may re-apply for a new evaluation. Your eligibility will be based upon the certification laws and rules in effect at the time your new application is received.

Steps to Take If "You Are Not Eligible" for a Certificate

1. You must qualify for at least a Temporary Certificate to be employed as a teacher. If your Official SOE indicates that "you are not eligible" for a Florida certificate, it will provide you with options for completing necessary requirements to become eligible for certification.
2. When you have completed the requirements listed on your Official SOE for the Temporary Certificate, send official documentation to the Bureau of Educator Certification. Then, your application package will be scheduled for a re-evaluation, and you will receive a "revised" Official SOE indicating that "you are eligible" for a Florida certificate.
3. Once you receive your Official SOE indicating "you are eligible" for a Temporary Certificate, you may then seek employment in a Florida elementary or secondary school.

For information regarding understanding the total requirements you may need to meet (and the various options for meeting them) to meet eligibility for a state professional certificate please review the presentation found here.

All certificate holders renewing the professional certificate must complete a one semester hour college course or 20 inservice points in “Teaching Students with Disabilities.  Information on obtaining this requirement via the district’s Professional Development Standards & Support Department can be found at https://www.browardschools.com/Page/39318.  The Broward Teacher’s Union also offers opportunities to meet this requirement.  Their information can be found at   http://www.btuonline.com/.  A comprehensive outline of all renewal requirements can be found at http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/renewal-requirements/.

Please click the link below for Certification Requirements for Paid High School Athletic Coaches

Certification Requirements for Paid High School Athletic Coaches

A Broward vocational certificate will be issued to teachers who hold at least a high school diploma or the equivalent based on general education development tests approved by the State Board and can document occupational experience in the vocational area including recency of experience.

Broward vocational certificate holders employed under a three-year temporary certificate who are employed as a full-time instructor must complete the ACTIVE program.

ROTC Certificates are Broward certificates issued to teachers hired to teach within the ROTC program.  Issuance of an ROTC certificate requires application, payment, documentation supporting eligibility. NOTE: You are required to complete a three-credit hour college course in adolescent psychology while holding the ROTC certificate - please reference the ROTC document.

Broward Adjunct Certificates

A Broward adjunct certificate will be issued to teachers who have expertise in the subject area to be taught. A teacher shall be considered to have expertise in the subject area to be taught if the applicant holds a bachelor's degree or higher from a USDOE-accredited university and demonstrates sufficient subject area mastery through passage of a Florida subject area test in a bachelor-level area of certification.

NOTE: Only teachers hired to work within the Broward County Public School system will be issued a Broward (district) certificate.  

ESOL training requirements are dictated by the ESOL Training Category your teaching assignment places you in. Note that if you are teaching several subject areas, your category defaults to the ESOL Training Category that requires the more stringent training requirement.

Please review the list below to determine which training category you are in. Use the links to learn more about ESOL Training Category requirements and deadlines. In addition, please review this chart to obtain information on ESOL training options by Category.

ESOL Training Categories

If you have been identified as teaching out-of-field, you are mandated to take inservice, college coursework, the subject area exam (if applicable), or document a minimum of 100 points through an Infield Status Rubric (for select subject areas) in the out-of-field area prior to the end of April in the school year in which you were placed out-of-field. You must continue to complete out-of-field training each school year or until you have obtained the required certification.  See particulars below based on your out-of-field teaching assignment.  Note that failure to comply will impact your future placement/assignments up to including non-renewal of your contract.

Your out-of-field record will remain open until you have added the out-of-field area to your certificate. Parent notification will be required to be sent home to the parents of the affected students.  Once you obtain the certificate reflecting the additional area, be sure to notify certificationrequests@browardschools.com so your out-of-field record in SAP can be closed.  Note: no money is saved by waiting to add a certification area to your certificate when you submit your application for renewal and/or your initial professional certificate.  You are urged to apply immediately for the addition once you have met and can document the subject area requirements.

For information specific to your out-of-field area please use the "Out-of-Field" link under "Quick Links".

Print help guide (for non-ESOL out-of-field).

F.S. Statute 1011.62 states that beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, any K-12 teacher (including ESE teachers) who teaches intensive reading intervention (Tier 3), third-grade retained students and/or third-grade summer academy will need to be reading endorsed or reading certified.