Certification Needs

All classroom teachers in Florida must hold valid Florida teaching certificates. The Florida
Legislature has established criteria for certification that ensures that teachers in Florida are
professionally qualified. Further, the legislature has established a renewal process that teachers must
adhere to in order to retain their certifications. According to 1012.585, F. S., to renew professional
certificates—which are valid for 5 years—teachers must earn the equivalent of a minimum of 120 in-
service points during each renewal period. College credit earned at an accredited or approved
institution or community or junior college may be used to renew the professional certificate, with the
requirement that a grade of at least C or the equivalent shall be earned in each course used for the
renewal of a certificate. A grade of pass shall be acceptable under the pass-or-fail grading system
(Rule 6A-4.0051, FAC).
For each area of specialization to be retained on a certificate, a teacher must earn at least 60 in-
service points in the specialization area with the latitude that points earned through professional
learning in some special topics such as literacy, ESE or limited proficiency in English strategies,
drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, dropout prevention, and so on (as listed in 1012.585 (2), F. S.)
may be applied toward a specialization area. Additionally, in place of in-service points, a teacher
can renew a specialization area by passing a State Board of Education–approved subject area test or
through national board certification in the subject area.
A teacher who is teaching out-of-field is required to participate in a certification or professional
learning program designed to provide the teacher with the competencies required for the teaching
assignment. By Florida law, when a district has any teacher teaching out-of-field, the parents of all
students in the class shall be notified in writing of such assignment (Section 1012.42, F. S.).

Checkpoint
Fill in the blank.
1. All classroom teachers in Florida must hold __________ Florida teaching certificates.
2. The Florida Legislature has established criteria for certification that ensures that teachers in
Florida are professionally __________.
3. Professional certificates are valid for __________ years.
4. To renew professional certificates, teachers must earn the equivalent of a minimum of
__________ in-service points during each renewal period.
5. When a district has any teacher teaching out-of-field, the __________ of all students in the class
shall be notified in writing of such assignment.

Checkpoint Answers
1. valid
2. qualified
3. 5
4. 120
5. parents