Alternative Certification Program
What is Alternative Certification?
Alternative Certification programs provide individuals who already possess a bachelor’s degree, and who qualify for a Temporary Certificate, with professional preparation and experience required for the Florida Professional Certificate.
Does Pasco County have an Alternative Certification Program?
Interested Pasco County teachers can obtain their professional preparation through a competency-based program aligned with the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices. The program includes site-based mentoring support as well as on-line support with a flexible timeline for completion.
How do I qualify for ACP?
In order to qualify for Pasco’s On-Line Alternative Certification Program, a candidate must:
- Be a paid full-time instructional employee of Pasco County schools.
- Hold or be eligible for a three-year temporary teaching certificate from the Florida Department of Education.
- Hold at least a bachelor’s degree and meet the subject area requirements in a subject for which a professional certificate may be issued.
What is included in Pasco County’s Alternative Certification Program?
Pasco’s On-Line Alternative Certification Program consists of the following components:
- Induction training offered either before or during the initial weeks of teaching to provide knowledge regarding effective teaching practices.
- A pre-assessment to determine the learning needs of each participant.
- An Individual Action Plan designed to meet the individual’s needs and complete program requirements.
- A support team to coordinate and support the professional development of each participant (site-based mentor, on-line assessor, administrator or district coordinator).
- A site-based peer mentor to provide face-to-face feedback and assistance throughout the learning experience.
- An on-line assessor (National Board Certified Teacher) to provide guidance, feedback, and assessment of work products developed to document performance and knowledge.
- On-line professional preparation resources to provide in-depth, in-time learning of professional education competencies.
- Summative assessments to provide a standards-based method of determining mastery of the professional education competencies.
- District Support Sessions to help with task completion.
- Professional Education Exam to demonstrate knowledge of educational pedagogy.
- Workshop to provide knowledge and understanding of teaching reading.
What activities/assessments are included in the Professional Preparation Content?
Each summative assessment is a competency-based task that documents the teacher’s proficiency related to the Florida Educator’s Accomplished Practices. This documentation may be either a product (written narrative, work samples, etc.) or a performance (observation).
What do I need to do if I am interested in finding out more information about Alternative Certification?
If you are interested in Alternative Certification and would like more information, contact Terri Brown in Staff Development at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call her at x42515, 813-794-2515, or 727-774-2515.
Monthly Alternative Certification Orientations are held at which time all options for receiving a professional certificate will be discussed. These Orientations are for current employees. An application for admission to the district’s program may be completed at that time. You are encouraged to attend an Orientation early in your career so as to explore your options before selecting your next steps. Print out the schedule, complete the registration and return that registration to Terri Brown in Staff Development as per directions on the bottom of the registration.
Visit Florida’s Department of Education’s Alternative Certification web site at http://www.altcertflorida.org
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The mission of the Staff Development Department is to serve our community of learners by meeting their Professional Development needs with excellence, professionalism, efficiency, and respect.
7227 Land O Lakes Blvd.
Land O' Lakes, FL 34638
(813) 794-2256
(727) 774-2256
(352) 524-2256
Aimee Boltze, Director
