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Every year, we have corps members who join Teach For America who have majored in Education or have already obtained a teaching license in another state. We're so excited that you've decided to continue to develop your teacher-leadership with our community. Please see the following to determine what the best next steps are for you to obtain a teaching license in Florida.
I am currently majoring or previously have majored or minored in Education where my program culminates in taking the teacher certification exam for my state. How do I obtain a teacher certification for the state of Florida?
1. If you WILL have a copy (digital or hardcopy) of your professional teacher certificate by April, you have the option to apply for reciprocity for a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate. Please keep in mind that reciprocity IS NOT GUARANTEED and your classes from your Education major/minor will be evaluated by the Florida Dept. of Education (FLDOE) on an individual basis. The FLDOE takes months to process teacher certifications and you may not find out until October of 2022 that you have been granted reciprocity from the FLDOE for your original certification.
If you are not granted reciprocity by the FLDOE, you will have to take the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (General Knowledge Test and Subject Area Exam) by December 2022.
If you are granted reciprocity by the FLDOE, you will receive notification via email that you have obtained a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate.
Because you will not be guaranteed reciprocity, some corps members decide to take the Florida Certification Exams during their onboarding process (now until June) in addition to their state's certification exams. This will mean that once you have passed all of your exams you will be certified in two states.
2. If you WILL NOT have a copy of your professional teacher certificate by April, we recommend that you take the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (General Knowledge Test and Subject Area Exam) and aim to pass them before the beginning of summer programming in June and at latest before hiring in July and August.
We have found that Education majors/minors who have been studying for teacher certification exams for other states are well prepared to take and pass the Florida Teacher Certification Exams because many of the concepts overlap.
Resources
If you would like to apply for reciprocity, you can apply as soon as you have a digital copy of your Professional Teaching Certificate from your current state. Apply for reciprocity here.
Please contact Xavier for more information or if you would like to talk through which pathway is best for you.
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