How to Become a Teacher in Florida
Florida offers a variety of pathways to becoming a licensed teacher, including options for teacher education program graduates, career changers, and nontraditional candidates.
Regardless of the path you choose, you will require teacher certification from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). From there, you’ll need to maintain your certification to remain in good professional standing throughout your career.
This challenging but rewarding process unfolds across multiple steps, which are covered in complete detail below. Learn how to become a teacher in Florida, from the start of your college education to your first day as a full-fledged instructor.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Teacher in Florida
If you want to pursue a teaching certificate in Florida, you first need to decide on your subject area. This ensures you complete the appropriate educational program and register for the right certification exams.
Follow these steps to learn how to become a teacher in Florida.
Step 1: Meet Florida’s Education Requirements
Florida provides multiple direct and alternative paths to become a certified teacher. Whether you choose to earn atemporary teaching certificateor a professional certificate, you need at least a bachelor’s degree which meets your subject area requirements. Look for a properly accredited school and teaching program.
Candidates can demonstrate educational competence by finishing a state-approved teaching preparation program and passing the Florida Professional Education Test. Florida also offers alternative routes to become a certified teacher. You can pursue a Florida certificate if you hold a standard certificate from another state or a certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
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Earn a bachelor’s degree.
Many educators choose to obtain a teaching degree. Teaching degrees examine educational trends, classroom management, lesson plans, and instruction. They also provide in-person teaching experience in classrooms. Florida does not stipulate the type of bachelor’s degreerequired for teaching candidates. To teach subjects like art, math, science, or English, a degree in that specific subject can be helpful for teaching.
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Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program.
To meet the professional preparation and education competence requirements, teachers must complete a state-approved teacher preparation program and pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations. The exams test your competency in general subject areas, professional preparation and education, and subject specialization.
Colleges like Lynn University, Miami Dade College, and Northwest Florida State College provide state-approved programs in biology, elementary education, chemistry, and middle school math.
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Consider your options for demonstrating competency.
The Florida Department of Education offers 11 different ways to demonstrate professional preparation and education competency. Possible options include completing a master’s degreein aSTEM fieldand passing the Florida Professional Education Test or showing proof of at least two semesters of college instructional experience.
Additionally, pathways to certification exist for teachers with licenses from other states. These candidates need a teaching certificate, a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate, or a certificate from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence to qualify.
Did You Know…
In the fall of 2023, Florida ranked third in total public school enrollment in the United States, with 2.872 million students enrolled. Given the size of the state’s student base, K-12 teachers in the Sunshine State appear poised to benefit from ongoing demand.
Step 2: Pass the Required Certification Exams
To ensure that teachers possess the classroom skills and pedagogical knowledge needed to teach in Florida, they must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE). The exact tests you take depend on your background. The Bureau of Educator Certification determines what courses you need to take after you submit your application.
If you graduated from a Florida-approved teacher program, you must pass three parts of the FTCE, including the general knowledge, professional education, and subject area portions. The general knowledge consists of an essay, English language, reading, and math sections.
Percentages needed to pass vary for each section. Generally, you cannot score below 71%-75%. Tests are graded as pass or fail.
The three subtests cost $97 on the first attempt, while all four subsets cost $130 on the first attempt. Military personnel and their family may qualify for exam fee waivers.
Step 3: Obtain Your Teaching License
Floridians meet the state’s licensure requirements by completing four steps. As of July 2025, teaching in Florida requires an application and fingerprints. Candidates who pass a criminal background check then begin their job hunt. Educators receive their temporary or professional license after accepting a job offer. Please check the state board website for the latest information.
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Fill out the application.
The official application requires aspiring teachers to provide their personal and educational histories. Candidates must reveal any criminal record and submit official undergraduate or graduate transcripts. Teachers with a license from another state include a copy of their license. As of July 2025, Florida charges an application fee of $75 per subject. Educators renewing their license pay the same fee.
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Receive an official statement of status of eligibility (SOE).
Florida issues an SOE to all licensure candidates who submit a complete application. Candidates with a positive SOE may begin a job hunt. If the state finds someone ineligible, the SOE explains why and offers advice on fixing issues. These individuals reapply by submitting new documents and paying an additional fee.
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Find employment.
Florida features public, charter public, virtual, and private schools. The state’s government website provides contact information for the 67 public school districts. These districts post open positions on their human resources websites. Other options include researching private job boards and reaching out to potential employers.
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Provide fingerprints.
Licensure candidates with a job offer submit fingerprints for the state to run a criminal background check. The process varies slightly for individuals planning on teaching in Florida private schools. Criminal convictions that disqualify someone from becoming a teacher in Florida include sexual misconduct, arson, and robbery. Those who pass the background check receive their temporary or professional license within 30 days.
Maintaining Your Florida Teaching Credentials
Florida requires that educators take professional development (PD) classes throughout the school year and summer. Florida requires PD so that educators may create engaging lessons and teach learners valuable life lessons. The state approves a PD catalog by evaluating classes’ professional learning standards.
A professional teaching license lasts five years. Teachers must earn at least six semester hours of college credit, or at least 120 inservice points in that time. The state requires a college class in each of a teacher’s licensed subject areas. Educators must also take at least one college credit in teaching students with disabilities. Teachers must earn a minimum C grade for college classes to count toward PD.
Teachers can earn the remainder of their credits or inservice points by taking PD from approved providers. The state lets licensed educators take some classes 100% online. Please check a provider’s status with the state board before signing up for a class.
How Much Do Teachers Make in Florida?
According to National Education Association (NEA) data, Florida teachers received a 3.42% year-over-year pay increase ahead of the 2023-24 school year. On a national scale, the percentage pay hike ranked about midway, outpacing states like Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York — all of which are noted for their relatively high teacher salaries.
In general, teacher salaries in Florida tend to cluster around similar levels for most positions, with special education teachers commanding premiums at the middle and high school levels. The following table provides a detailed breakdown, along with job growth projections.
Job | Annual Median Wage (2024) | Job Growth Rate (2022-2032) |
---|---|---|
Preschool Teacher | $34,270 | 12% |
Kindergarten Teacher | $56,870 | 11% |
Elementary School Teacher | $55,550 | 12% |
Middle School Teacher | $51,680 | 12% |
High School Teacher | $59,400 | 12% |
Special Education Teacher, Preschool | $50,030 | 10% |
Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten and Elementary | $52,700 | 12% |
Special Education Teacher, Middle School | $59,410 | 12% |
Special Education Teacher, High School | $60,570 | 12% |
Substitute Teacher | $36,400 | 15% |
Teaching Assistant | $30,230 | 11% |
Is There a Teacher Shortage in Florida?
The Florida Education Association (FEA) characterizes the state’s teacher shortage as “severe,” noting that it extends beyond instructors to also include educational support staff. A deeper FEA analysis identified a complex series of root causes, including a large number of certified teachers exiting the profession and a deficit of emerging teachers to replace them.
For its part, the FLDOE highlights specializations experiencing a critical shortage of available teachers. As of the 2024-25 school year, these include:
- Exceptional student education
- English, science, and mathematics
- English for speakers of other languages
By certifying in one of these areas, you could help fill acute needs in Florida’s education system.
Can You Become a Florida Teacher With an Out-of-State License?
Yes, you can become a Florida teacher with an out-of-state teaching license. The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement lets teachers transfer their license between some U.S. states and Canadian provinces. This agreement helps relocating teachers resume their career as soon as possible. As a NASDTEC member state, Florida accepts out-of-state licenses if they compare to its professional license.
Out-of-state teachers must hold an active license in a subject that Florida public schools teach. The state does not accept expired or revoked licenses. These educators follow the same licensure process as Floridians applying for a first-time temporary or professional license.
Resources for Florida Teachers
Florida Center for Reading Research
The National Center for Education Statistics maintains this directory, which allows students to search for colleges by state, degree type, available programs, and institution type.Teacher Created Materials – Florida Resources
New and experienced educators use Teacher Created Materials to find lessons and activities aligned with state standards. Affordable teaching materials include readers in multiple subject areas. Each features colorful photographs and graphics to grab students’ attention.UFLI Virtual Teaching Resource Hub
UFLI offers literacy teachers many free resources, such as lesson plans, instructional activities, and tech tools and tips. Other documents cover classroom management fundamentals and differentiated teaching techniques.Florida Teachers of Tomorrow
This website helps first-year teachers to navigate their way to create a more dynamic and effective learning environment. Resource links lead to an online study community, state test resources, and career postings. Teachers of Tomorrow also offers answers to frequently asked questions.Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Farm to School
FDACS helps Florida’s K-12 science teachers create engaging lessons with free digital books on the state’s agriculture and natural resources. Many of these resources feature classroom activities aligning with state standards.
Common Questions About Teaching in Florida
You must begin by applying for a Florida Temporary Certificate in a subject area in which you hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Florida’s Bureau of Educator Certification will then review your credentials, make an eligibility decision, and grant you a temporary certificate if you qualify.
With a temporary certificate, you can then launch the process of earning a full professional certificate.