Become a High School Science Teacher in Florida

<p>In order to obtain a Professional Florida Educator's Certificate to become a high school history educator in Florida, there are several requirements you will need to meet. There are specific educational requirements as well as a general knowledge exam and three major certification tests. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Educational Requirements </td><td>Bachelor's Degree</td></tr> <tr><td>Exam Requirements </td><td>Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) General Knowledge (GK) Test; Florida Educational Leadership Examination; FTCE Professional Education Test; FTCE SAE Social Science (6-12)</td></tr> <tr><td>License Validity</td><td>Professional Certificate, renew every five years</td></tr> <tr><td>Average Salary (2018) </td><td>$54,120 per year</td></tr> <tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-26)</td><td>8%</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>Florida high school history teachers develop lesson plans, tests, lectures, and homework material, grade papers, assign readings, and facilitate discussion about history. They are also tasked with preparing students for Florida's standardized test regimen. Additional duties often include supervising homerooms and study halls and meeting with parents. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationRequirements">Education Requirements</h3> <p>In order to become a high school teacher in the state of Florida, you must first obtain a bachelor's degree in history or obtain a bachelor's degree with demonstrated competence in history. Students may want to participate in an Initial Teacher Preparation Program (ITP) while completing their undergraduate degree. Successfully completing an ITP at a state-approved university will ensure that you meet all educational requirements, and can also allow you to complete exam-equivalent requirements while earning your bachelor's degree. </p> <h3 id="section---DemonstratingGeneralKnowledgeProficiency">Demonstrating General Knowledge Proficiency</h3> <p>The Florida Department of Education requires prospective teachers to pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE). The first of these is a General Knowledge (GK) test which includes an essay section, an English language skills section, a reading section, and a mathematics section. If you hold a valid teaching certificate from another US state or territory, this can be used in lieu of the exam to demonstrate your general knowledge. You can also document at least 2 semesters worth of college teaching experience or document high scores on a recently taken GRE test. </p> <h3 id="section---PassingTheFloridaLeadershipExamination">Passing the Florida Leadership Examination</h3> <p>Successfully passing the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) is the next step in becoming a high school history teacher in the state of Florida. This test consists of three sections: Leadership for Student Learning, Organizational Development, and Systems Leadership. Each section is multiple-choice, except the last section which is split into a multiple-choice portion and a written portion. Besides continuing to test you on your language skills and writing competency, this test is also designed to measure your ability to analyze and interpret educational data. </p> <h3 id="section---PassingTheFCTECertificationTests">Passing the FCTE Certification Tests</h3> <p>The next step is to pass the FTCE Professional Education Test, followed by an FTCE Subject Area Examination (SAE). The Professional Education Test is a standard multiple-choice test regarding teaching practice and theory. There are 39 SAE tests, but you will only need to take the Social Science 6-12 (037) test to be certified to teach history at a secondary school level. This test consists of a multiple-choice section and a written section. Any of these Computer-based tests (CBT) can be taken at one of Florida's many CBT testing sites. After passing these exams, you can request a Professional Certificate which is valid for five school years at which point it can be renewed through your school district office.</p>