Career and Technical Education

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Scholarship Opportunities

Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarships (GSV)

Initial Eligibility Requirements (2025-2026):

(As determined by the Department of Education)

The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV) award may be funded if a student is enrolled in a career education or certificate program. Florida high school students who wish to qualify for the GSV award must meet the following initial eligibility requirements:

  1. Submit the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation
  2. Graduate with a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent
  3. Achieve the required weighted 3.0 GPA in the non-elective high credits
  4. Achieve the required minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA in Career and Technical Education credits
  5. Complete at least 30 volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or a combination that equals a minimum of 100 total hours. For students entering grade 9 in the 2024-2025 school year and thereafter, 75 hours of volunteer service must be completed
  6. Achieve the required minimum scores on one of the college entrance exams per the chart below no later than August 31 of the year the student graduates from high school

Requirements to Receive an Award

(As determined by your postsecondary institution)

  1. Evaluated by Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) as meeting the initial eligibility requirements,
  2. Be a Florida resident and U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, and
  3. Enroll as a degree or certificate-seeking student at a Florida institution in at least 6 non-remedial semester credit hours.
Scholarship Restrictions

GSV may only be used at postsecondary institutions that offer an applied technology diploma, technical degree education program (associate in applied science or associate in science), or a career certificate program and not towards the completion of an associate in arts or a baccalaureate degree.

Renewal Requirements

(As determined by grade and hours submitted by your postsecondary institution)

  1. Students must earn the number of credit hours based on the student’s enrollment type per term
  2. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA (unrounded and unweighted).

Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC)

*The Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award (GSC) may be funded if a student is enrolled in a career education or certificate program. Upon completion of an associate in science degree program that articulates to a Bachelor of Science degree, a GSC Scholar may also receive an award for a maximum of 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor of Science degree program. Upon completion of an associate in applied science program, a GSC Scholar may also receive an award for a maximum of 60 credit hours toward a bachelor of applied science degree program.

Initial Eligibility Requirements (2025-2026):

(As determined by the Department of Education)
  1. Submit the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation
  2. Graduate with a standard high school diploma or its equivalent
  3. Earn a minimum of 5 postsecondary credit hours through CAPE industry certifications that articulate for college credit
  4. Complete at least 30 volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or a combination that equals a minimum of 100 total hours. For students entering grade 9 in the 2024-2025 school year and thereafter, 75 hours of volunteer service must be completed

Requirements to Receive an Award

(As determined by your postsecondary institution)

  1. Evaluated by Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) as meeting the initial eligibility requirements
  2. Be a Florida resident and U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
  3. Enroll as a degree- or certificate-seeking student at a Florida institution in at least 6 non-remedial semester credit hours
Scholarship Restrictions
  1. Until a student has earned an eligible associates degree, Gold Seal CAPE (GSC) scholarships may only be used at postsecondary institutions that offer an applied technology diploma, technical degree education program (associate in applied science or associate in science), or a career certificate program.
  2. Upon completion of an eligible associate degree program, a GSC Scholar may also receive an award for a maximum of 60 credit hours toward an eligible baccalaureate degree. 
Renewal Requirements

(As determined by grade and hours submitted by your postsecondary institution)

  1. Students must earn the number of credit hours based on the student’s enrollment type per term
  2. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA (unrounded and unweighted)

Important information regarding both GSV and GSC awards:

• For detailed information, please refer to the Bright Futures Student Handbook.
• These eligibility requirements are subject to change with each legislative session.
• The student is responsible for tracking application and award status online, and ensuring that funding for an academic year is accurate by contacting their institution’s financial aid office.