HOW TO BECOME A TEACHER IN FLORIDA
Smart Teacher Cert is a certification helpline for Caribbean teachers who are ready to make their passion their profession. The model below is used to help teachers be successful in becoming certified educators who are ready to make a difference in our students life.
PHASE 1: INITIAL APPLICATION
a) Apply for a Florida teacher certification via the online licensing service site. All applicants must create an account with the Florida Department of Education. Once you have your credentials, use this information to complete your application. It is important that applicants read and follow the application instructions carefully! Applications which are incomplete or improperly completed will not be evaluated. Questions should be answered truthfully and in accordance with the Principle of Professional Conduct for the Education Professional in Florida. Candidates who are not a US citizen may apply for a statement of Status of Eligibility (SOE). However, candidates are required to provide immigration status prior to employment. The Florida Department of Education does not issue visas or green card. Kindly click HERE to start the application.
b) Applicants are required to submit the correct processing fee once they have completed the initial application. Payment can be made using a VISA or MasterCard debit or credit card. All processing fees are nonrefundable. Payment by cashier's check, personal check or money order are also acceptable. Click HERE for additional processing fee information.
c) Candidates must submit an official transcript showing at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited or approved U.S. institution to apply for a certificate. Candidates should never send their original foreign diplomas to the Florida department of Education. All trainings done outside of the United States must be accompanied by a credentialing evaluation report. A credentialing evaluation involves a thorough analysis of official academic credentials (diplomas; transcripts with courses, credits/hours, and grades; etc.) Credential evaluation report must be written in English and includes statement of United States degree equivalency and a breakdown of coursework into descriptive course titles and semester-hour credits. The credential evaluation report may be provided by one of the following Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies. An original credential evaluation reports showing the United States equivalency for academic credentials earned in other countries should be provided by one of the credential evaluation agencies. The following agencies are approved by the Bureau of Educator Certification:
o American Evaluation and Translation Service, Inc (AETS), Miami, FL
o International Education Evaluators, Surfside, FL
o Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. International Education Consultants, FL
d) Click HERE for more information on how to complete your Florida teacher
certification application form.
e) Click below to watch a short video to guide applicants through the
certification process. Florida Teacher Certification Application
f) Need help with testing? Please review the information below
