The Ins & Outs of Certification/Contracts Dr. Elizabeth S. Hoffman Director, Office of Clinical Experiences

Steps to Obtain Your Teaching Certificate

You are ready NOW to begin the process of obtaining your teaching certificate from the state of Florida!

Step 1: Go to the Florida Department of Education website www.Fldoe.org , click Teaching and then Educator Certification

Step 2: Once on the Educator Certification page, click Apply or Check Status

Step 3: You should now be on the Login page, click Create Account

Step 4: Fill in the information requested to create your account.

Step 5: Once you have created an account you will have a username and password and be given a Florida DOE number. Subsequently you will sign in using that information. Next, navigate back to the Educator Certification page and click on Graduate of Teacher Education Program under New Florida Certification heading

Step 6: You should now be on the Teacher Education Program Graduates page. You all should fall into the Florida Graduates of Approved Programs category. Read over this info and then click on “Begin the Steps to Certification.”

Step 7: Follow the 4 Certification Steps listed.

Step 8: At the end of the Step 4: Fingerprints, you will click Apply for Your Certificate

Reminders: When requesting your transcripts on MyUCF, be sure to… Send to address noted on FLDOE website Select Hold for Degree under Order Options

Things to know: You will need to create an account to apply for your certificate online/access the CG-10 application form. You will need to pay an application fee of $75 per subject or endorsement. You will need to fingerprint with the district in which you wish to teach. Once your application is complete and all fees are paid, you will be issued a Statement of Eligibility. Once your fingerprints clear and you secure a position, your principal/the district will notify FLDOE that you have been hired, then you will be issued your Professional Certificate! (Note: It could take up to 4-6 weeks to receive your certificate.)

“Contracts”

Districts use different labels… Letter of Nomination Letter of Intent Etc… These are not actually contracts, they are generally not binding on your end, but probably are binding on the districts end. Think carefully before you sign a Letter of Intent, while it may not be binding…. If you are unsure of your obligation, ASK!!! If you have not passed all of your FTCEs, it is your obligation to inform the district/interviewer. If you sign a Letter of Intent, it does not necessarily guarantee you a position in a specific school, just a position in the district.

Remember… You DO NOT have to sign/accept the first offer that is made to you. You have choices! Interview the interviewer(s)! You are able to interview with individual principals, if you choose.

Questions???