Temporary to Professional Certificate

  • Upgrading from a Temporary Certificate to a Professional Certificate

    A 5-year Temporary Florida Educator's Certificate is non-renewable and requires an upgrade to the 5-year Professional by expiration date.  The FLDOE provides important upgrade information:  

    For the different routes to meet Professional Certificate requirements in Florida, please review the chart at Educator Preparation Routes. Please note: Florida administrative rules prohibit an educator from holding consecutive Temporary Certificates.

    How to Apply for the Upgrade to Professional Certificate

    • Visit Certification Application Site.
    •  Log in using your User ID and password. Please use the Forgot Password or User ID links if you need help with your login information.
    •  Select the Upgrade to Professional Certificate application from the drop down menu.
    •  Complete all sections of the application
    •  Submit online payment.

    Need assistance? Please use the “Technical Assistance” link on the staff contact page. We appreciate your commitment to supporting the academic achievement of Florida students and ensuring each student, every day, in every classroom, receives a high-quality education. 

    Our District has Compiled FAQs

    Q: I have completed all my requirements based on my Official Statement of Status of Eligibility during the validity period of my temporary certificate.  How do I upgrade to a professional certificate? 

    A: You can submit an upgrade application by visiting FLDOE’s online licensing service site.

     

    Q: How much does it cost to upgrade a Temporary Certificate to a Professional Certificate?

    A: You will need to pay a processing fee of $75.00 when you submit the application.

     

    Q: Do I need to send passing test scores to the FLDOE at the time I upgrade from a Temporary Certificate to a Professional Certificate?

    A: No, when you receive official test scores, they are automatically added to your FLDOE profile.

     

    Q: My SOE asked for my official transcript. How do I send them to the FLDOE?

    A: Just like you did with your initial application, an official transcript is required at the FLDOE. The only acceptable forms of electronic transcripts the FLDOE will accept are from either SPEEDE or FASTER systems.  If this cannot be verified by your universities, then an official paper transcript must be sent to:

                    Florida Department of Education

                    Bureau of Educator Certification

                    325 West Gaines Street, Room 201

                    Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

    You may also drop off a sealed, physical, copy to the HR Department, c/o Certification, in Largo. We can mail the physical copies to the state on your behalf.

     

    Q: What happens when I meet all the requirements to upgrade my Temporary Certificate to a Professional Certificate?

    A: The FLDOE will email you with an attachment of your Professional Certificate to the address associated with your profile. It is highly recommended that you use a personal email that you check regularly, and it is your responsibility to make a copy of your certificate for your records.

     

    Q: What happens if I do not meet all the requirements to upgrade from a Temporary Certificate to a Professional Certificate and I have submitted an upgrade application?

    A: The FLDOE will send you a letter stating what requirements still need to be submitted to the Bureau of Educator Certification.  However, please be advised that if your temporary certificate expires, it is no longer valid and cannot be used if you are teaching. If your temporary certificate expires, you will have to wait until July 1st of the next calendar year before you are eligible to reapply for a new, temporary, certificate.

     

    Q: Which courses do I need if my degree was not in education?

    A: The courses may vary, but there are courses often listed on a Statement of Status of Eligibility, and these include: 

    1. Classroom Management

    2. Child and Adolescent Development and Learning

    3. Educational Assessment

    4. Effective Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners including Students with Disabilities

    5. Instructional Practices in Reading (applies to all academic and degreed career and technical subjects) ⊗Not Waivable

    6. Instructional strategies for teaching students of limited English proficiency including instruction in the English language and development of the student's mastery of the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. (ESOL) ⊗Not Waivable

    ⊗Teaching experience cannot be used to satisfy this requirement, but you can use one year of teaching in lieu of one course (for a total of three semester hours of credit) w/ the exception of ESOL & Reading.

    Alternative Certification Pathways

     

    Professional Preparation Coursework Resources