Certification Information

Applicants

State-Issued Academic and Vocational Educator’s Certificates

Applicants for instructional positions must either be eligible for or hold Florida certification in order to be hired.  Florida’s certification laws allow for a variety of ways for noneducation majors with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to qualify for an educator’s certificate.  Some degrees, though not education degrees, are in an area that equates to a certification coverage (such as a degree in English would establish eligibility for an English 6-12 educator’s certificate).

Some degrees are in areas that would not establish eligibility for any certification coverage (such as a degree in Mass Communications).  However, if an applicant holds a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and passes a bachelor’s level Florida Teacher Certification Subject Area Examination, the applicant will then establish eligibility for certification in this area. Information regarding the exams can be found at the Florida’s Teacher Certification Examination website.

Applicants may apply for a Florida certificate through the Florida Department of Education website.  The Florida Department of Education will evaluate transcripts and out-of-state certificates and will issue either a Statement of Eligibility or a Statement of Ineligibility.  This document lists the requirements to obtain a Temporary and/or Professional Educator’s certificate in the state of Florida.  The district will request issuance of a certificate for applicants who have been offered employment and cleared background screening.

District-Issued Career and Technical Educator’s Certificates

Applicants for instructional vocational positions (cosmetology, auto mechanics, etc.) must be eligible for or hold district-issued Florida certification to be hired.  Information regarding district-issued certification can be found on the Community, Career, and Technical Education website.

Current Employees

State-Issued Academic and Vocational Educator’s Certificates

General information regarding Florida certification can be found at the Florida Department of Education website.  Information regarding certification exams can be found at the Florida Teacher Certification Examination website. Current employees should contact their district certification specialist for guidance regarding certification requirements, renewals, additions, etc.

A current employee who wishes to renew a Professional Certificate may do so by completing the District Renewal Application. 

A current employee who wishes to add a coverage/endorsement, request a duplicate certificate, or request a name change on a certificate may do so by completing the District Application.

District-Issued Career and Technical Educator’s Certificates

A current employee who wishes to renew their district-issued vocational Professional certificate, may do so by following the steps listed on the Community, Career, and Technical Education website.

Highly Qualified Information


In addition to certification, the No Child Left Behind Act requires all core subject area teachers to meet the definition of highly qualified.  Core subject area teachers are defined as all K-12 basic and exceptional student education teachers who are teaching elementary education, English, reading, language arts, mathematics, science, foreign language, social sciences, music, art, and/or drama. Requirements to be Highly Qualified vary based upon the years of experience, teaching level, and subject area.  These requirements are outlined below.

Elementary (Grades K-5) – Basic Education

Elementary (Grades K-5) – Exceptional Student Education

Middle School (Grades 6-8) – Basic Education

Middle School (Grades 6-8) – Exceptional Student Education

High School (Grades 9-12) – Basic Education

High School (Grades 9-12) – Exceptional Student Education

 

The School Board of Pasco County, Florida does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national
origin, marital status, disability, or age in its programs, services, activities or in its hiring and employment practices.

District Wide Accreditation • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools • Heather Fiorentino, Superintendent
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