School Teacher Requirements in Florida, FL
So, you want to become a teacher in Florida, the Sunshine State. Need some help getting a push in the right direction? Well congratulations, you landed here and that’s a good start. Let’s begin by looking at the overview of the teaching industry in Florida. As of last year there were approximately 2,587,554 students in the state. Florida has 3,629 public schools, broken down into 1,862 elementary, 517 middle, and 448 high schools. Teachers in Florida had one of the highest average salaries per capita in the United States with $50,187 in 2009-2010 (according to bls.gov), with incrementally higher salaries going to those with higher qualifications. Let’s take a look at what acquiring the license takes.
Preliminary Requirements
Elementary Educator License in Florida:
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution.
- Complete the CG-10 application form, including your subject endorsements.
- Pass subject endorsement tests relevant to desired subject matter.
- 30 semester hours in elementary education.
- Appropriate Elementary material subject courses completed.
- Pass a criminal background check.
- Some schools and districts may have additional requirements.
Secondary Educator License:
Fulfill same requirements as Elementary with the exception of:
-30 semester hours in material subject you wish to teach (ie: English, Mathematics, History, etc.)
Applying for Accreditation
After satisfying these requirements, you must then submit the application form and any related fees, generally a $30 charge.
What next?
Once you have fulfilled these requirements and submitted the appropriate paperwork, you should look into receiving national board teacher certification, as most schools offer financial incentive to those who have one.