– Florida Teacher Certification exam cost: The fee to take one subtest is $32.50; two subtests are $65; three subtests are $97.50; all four subtests are $130.
Do you want to make an impact on children’s lives?
Becoming a teacher can help you make a major impact on the life of a child, which can be very rewarding for yourself.
There are several different ways to become a teacher, and every state has its own requirements for those wanting to become teachers.
In Florida, teaching candidates are required to pass basic teaching knowledge and content area exam. However, the requirements for the certification are based on the type of certification you are seeking.
The state of Florida offers two different types of certifications for aspiring teachers:
- Professional Certificate
- Temporary Certificate
The Professional Certificate is valid for five school years and is renewable after those five years. It is also Florida’s highest Educator Certificate.
The Temporary Certificate is valid for three school years and it is not renewable. However, it does give you the opportunity to complete the requirements needed for a Professional Certificate while you are teaching full time.
Whether you’ve decided to get the Professional Certification or the Temporary Certification, there are requirements for each one.
1.Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Both certificates require that you hold a bachelor’s degree with your major being in the subject area that you want to teach. If your major is not within the area you plan to teach, you must have completed courses within that area with a GPA of at least 2.5.
You are also required to demonstrate your knowledge in at least one subject area you plan to teach for both certificates. The Florida Department of Education has more information about Subject Area Knowledge.
2. Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
Not only is it required to take a teacher preparation program, but it’s also very important. When you take a teacher preparation program, you’ll not only complete college coursework, but you’ll also get fieldwork experience. You’ll be able to learn different subject-based teaching methods, instructional strategies, classroom management, technology integration and much more.
The teacher preparation program that you complete must be accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The Florida Department of Education has a list of all the campuses in the state that are approved. If you do not graduate from a Florida teacher preparation program, you may be eligible to get the Temporary Certification while you work towards the Professional Certification.
3. Pass the Certification Exam
The certification exam is the FTCE. The FTCE is the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. The FTCE allows you to demonstrate your general knowledge of essay writing, English language skills, reading, and mathematics. It is an exam that is used for educators that are seeking initial certification to teach within the K-12 areas. Aspiring educators are required to take one of 39 subject area exams as well as the General Knowledge Test and the Professional Education Test.
4. Apply for Certification
Once you have passed the FTCE, you can then submit your application to the state to receive your official certification. Along with submitting your application, you will also need to submit official transcripts showing that you hold at least a bachelor’s degree as well as submitting your fingerprints to pass a national background check.
The purpose of taking the FTCE exam is to show that you have the professional knowledge and skills that are needed to teach students in Florida.
There are 39 subject area subtests for the FTCE that cover different grade levels and specializations.
Passing the FTCE is important to begin your career as a teacher in Florida. Before you begin studying for the FTCE, here are a few tips to help you along the way!
1. Understand the Format of the FTCE exam.
Since there are over 39 tests for the FTCE exam, each test will be in a different format with a different number of questions. Whichever exam you’ll be taking, you’ll need to understand the format of that exam. Understanding the format of the exam that you’ll be taking can help you prepare your study plan and can help you to gather the right resources to study.
You’ll also get more of an idea as to the type of questions you’ll be given such as multiple-choice or fill in the blank, as well as how many questions there are on the exam.
If you plan to take the FTCE General Knowledge Test:
- The Essay subtest contains 1 question that is required to be answered in the form of an essay that is timed for 50 minutes.
- The English Language Skills subtest contains 40 multiple-choice questions that are timed for 40 minutes.
- The Reading subtest also contains 40 multiple-choice questions that are timed for 55 minutes.
- The Mathematics subtest contains 45 multiple-choice questions that are timed for 1 hour and 40 minutes.
- You can choose to take all 4 sections at once. If you do, the test will last for a little over three hours.
2. FTCE Study Guide
A study guide is an important asset when it comes to preparing for any test. It’s best to find a study guide that is specifically geared towards the FTCE exam. Using the FTCE exam study guide can help you brush up on anything that you might not remember and can also help you brush up on those key concepts that you’ll be asked about on the exam.
3. Create a Study Plan
One of the best ways of preparing for an exam is to create a study plan. It’s always a good idea to start planning a few months before you take the actual exam. When you create your study schedule, make a schedule for what areas you should study and what days you should study.
One suggestion is to block out a specific amount of time each day to study one area or concept at a time. When it’s time to sit down and study, make sure you choose a place that is quiet and free from distractions.
4. FTCE Flashcards
There’s plenty of reasons why you should use flashcards when you’re studying for an exam. They’re easy to use and very valuable tools that can help you pass the FTCE exam. Flashcards allow you to focus on one key concept at a time rather than a long list of areas. It’s also been shown that using flashcards to study for an exam can help you retain information for a longer period of time.
5. Read Carefully
You know that you’re limited on time and that will make you want to read the questions fast, but that’s not a good idea. Reading the questions and answers too quickly can actually hurt your chances of getting a high score on the FTCE. Instead, try to slow down a bit and carefully read every question and answer. Reading too fast may make you miss an important detail that can help you choose the correct answer.
6. Pace Yourself
As you study and take the practice tests, remember that you’re given only a certain amount of time to finish the sections. When you’re taking a practice test, set a timer for that section and practice finishing that section within that specific time. Another way to save time and to make sure you finish the section in the allotted time is to answer the easier questions first and leave the more difficult ones for last.
7. FTCE Practice Test
Part of preparing for an exam is to take practice tests. Taking a practice test for the FTCE can help you understand more about the actual exam. The practice exam will have the same type of questions that you will see on the real exam. This will also give you the perfect chance to learn how to pace yourself to make sure that you answer each section within the given amount of time. Also, you’ll be able to see which areas of the exam you’ll need to work more on and which areas you’re doing well with.
8. Prepare with an FTCE Online Course
Mometrix University offers comprehensive prep courses to help you pass your certification exam. Each course includes digital flash cards, full-length practice tests, review videos, and study guide lessons.
