Becoming a Kindergarten Teacher in Florida: Certification & Requirements

<p>Candidates who wish to become kindergarten teachers in Florida must obtain the professional educator certificate, which is the highest teaching credential in the state. To qualify for certification, they are required to hold a bachelor's or higher degree in early childhood or elementary education and pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE). The table below details the education and test requirements as well as the prospective salary of a kindergarten teacher in Florida. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree in early childhood or elementary education, Florida-approved educator program</td></tr> <tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> FTCE General Knowledge test, Professional Education test, and the Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 test or Elementary Education K-6 test</td></tr> <tr><td> Certification Validity Period </td><td> Five years</td></tr> <tr><td> CEU Credits Required for Renewal </td><td> Six hours of college credit; one credit hour must cover special education</td></tr> <tr><td> Mean Salary (May 2018)</td><td> $50,400*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 8% (kindergarten teachers nationwide)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>Kindergarten teachers prepare young students for elementary school. They teach them the fundamentals, such as numbers, letters of the alphabet, colors, shapes, hygiene, and social skills. Kindergarten teachers also organize activities, such as games, music and storytelling, that are necessary for a child's mental, physical and social development. When providing instruction, they must adapt their teaching methods, as students possess varying degrees of learning ability. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationAndTrainingRequirements">Education and Training Requirements</h3> <p>To earn a professional educator certificate, candidates must earn a bachelor's or higher degree in early childhood or elementary education from a state-approved teacher preparation program. The Florida Department of Education website lists a number of colleges offering these degrees. </p> <p>Typically, these programs include a range of courses designed to help prospective teachers develop classroom environments that meet young children's needs. Candidates also learn about instructional strategies that positively influence a child's educational and personal development. Additionally, fieldwork provides them with the much-needed experience teaching in real school settings. </p> <h3 id="section---TestRequirements">Test Requirements</h3> <p>Prospective kindergarten teachers must achieve passing scores on three FTCE exams. The first is the General Knowledge Test, which is comprised of subtests on essay writing, English language skills, reading, and mathematics. </p> <p>The required Professional Education Test gauges a candidate's knowledge of pedagogy and professional practices that are necessary for teacher certification. </p> <p>The final test is a subject area examination. Candidates can choose either the Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 test or the Elementary Education K-6 test, depending on the grade levels they want to teach. Both exams include around 220 multiple-choice questions. </p> <p>The Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 exam includes four subtests: developmental knowledge, language arts and reading, mathematics, and science. All subtests must be completed within 70 minutes, except for science, where the allotted time is 60 minutes. </p> <p>The Elementary Education K-6 test also has four subtests: language arts, social science, science, and mathematics. The subtests must be completed within 50 to 60 minutes. </p> <h3 id="section---LicenseApplicationAndRenewalRequirements">License Application and Renewal Requirements</h3> <p>Earning a bachelor's degree and passing scores on the FTCE exams are two important steps to professional certification, but that's not all. Candidates are also required to clear a fingerprint-based background screening; in Florida, employers typically assist them with this process. </p> <p>As for renewal of the professional educator certificate, teachers must earn six semester hours of college credit, including one hour in teaching students with disabilities. All renewal requirements must be completed before the expiration of the teacher certificate.</p>