The new year brings new testing changes - including Electronic Score Reporting. Check the testing company FTCE website often for important testing information & updates.
Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE)
Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE) are a normal part of earning aFlorida Professional Educator's Certificate. Teachers with Temporary Certificates are usually assigned three types of exams (detailed below) on their Statement of Status of Eligibility. Subject Area Exams can also used to add new subjects to an existing certificate in some cases.
Unofficial score reports are provided upon completion of most exams, however the GK Essay and some others with a written component only provide a 'Receipt of Completion', as these tests must be scored by hand.
General Knowledge Test (GK)
The GK is a basic skills achievement test containing four subtests: Math (multiple-choice items), Reading (both multiple-choice and passage-based items), English Language Skills (multiple-choice items), and Essay.
As noted on all Statements of Status of Eligibility: "Current Florida law requires that an individual satisfy this requirement within one year from the date of employment in a Florida public school to continue employment in any Florida public school under the Temporary Certificate. Contact your employer for important information concerning this deadline."
If you took and passed the Florida CLAST prior to July 1, 2002, those scores can be used in lieu of the GK.
Professional Education Test
This multiple-choice test assesses knowledge of five content bases: personal development, appropriate student behavior, planning instruction, implementing instruction, and evaluating instruction. The Professional Education Examination must be taken and passed prior to the expiration of the temporary certificate.
Subject Area Examinations (SAE)
SAEs measure content area knowledge, usually in multiple-choice format. On July 1, 2002, a statute was passed that allowed for teachers to establish eligibility for an initial temporary certificate by taking and passing SAEs in lieu of taking college coursework.
Certification subjects excluded are Guidance, Reading, Speech Language Impaired, Educational Leadership and School Psychologist. These areas require coursework in addition to the SAE.
The SAE must be taken and passed if indicated on the Statement of Eligibility, and in some cases in order to become Highly Qualified in a subject. If you are out-of-field, taking and passing the SAE and adding the subject to your teaching certificate may meet your mandated training requirement.
List of SAE's that may be used to qualify for a
Numerous resources are available to assist in preparing for Florida Teacher Certification Exams. Many involve little or no cost.
To access the FTCE website for testing information and registration go to www.fl.nesinc.com or call the testing center at 413-256-2893.
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