Apply

You may use the secure Online Licensing Service site to:

• Submit your Application for Educator Certification in Florida (see instructions below)
• Access current information about your Florida certification record
• Update your legal name and/or address in your Florida certification record
• Make payment for any unpaid fee balance using your major credit card.
  • THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT CASH PAYMENTS.

Go Ahead to Step 2

The Bureau of Educator Certification developed five short instructional videos to guide applicants through the certification process. 

• Florida’s Online Educator Certification System Set-up
  • Transcript (Word)
• Florida Teacher Certification Application
  • Transcript (Word)
• Upgrading from a Temporary Certificate to Professional Certificate
  • Transcript (Word)
• Add a Subject or Endorsement to a Florida Teaching Certificate
  • Transcript (Word)
• Florida Teacher Certification Renewal Application
  • Transcript (Word)

Completing your application using the new Online Licensing Service site

1. Click Begin Here for Sign-up to create a new online user account and retrieve your temporary password sent via email.
2. Enter your User ID and password then click Sign In to access this secure site.
3. Once successfully signed in, educators will be prompted to complete an Initial Onboarding process to match your account to existing Florida certification records. Your social security number¹ and date of birth are required to complete the onboarding process.
4. The Quick Start Menu provides you a choice of options available based on your current Florida certification record.
5. For new applicants, you may Start a New Application for the available Florida certifications issued via the Bureau of Educator Certification:
   • Evaluation of eligibility for Educator Certification
   • Evaluation of eligibility for Athletic Coaching Certification
   • Evaluation of eligibility for Speech Language Impaired Certification
   • Evaluation of eligibility for Exchange Teacher Certification.
6. If you are a certified educator, you may choose an application option to Manage your license information, including:
   • Upgrade from a Temporary to a Professional Educator's Certificate
   • Addition of a subject or endorsement to your valid Florida Educator’s Certificate*
   • Reinstatement of your expired Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.
   • When It is Time to Renew!, an application for Renewal of your Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate will automatically be opened for you which must be submitted before your certificate expires*

*Note: If employed in a Florida public school district, please contact your local certification office for guidance on application and payment procedures.

7. Complete the chosen application by entering your information as requested in each of the application sections.
   • A valid social security number¹ issued by the United States Social Security Administration is required for issuance of a Florida Educator's Certificate.
8. Verify and attest via Affidavit that the information you enter is true, accurate, and complete.
9. Authorize payment of non-refundable application processing fees using your VISA or MasterCard credit card.
   • You will be charged the appropriate processing fee according to the certificate action or service you request.
   • You will be requested to authorize payment for your application using your VISA or MasterCard .
     • THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT CASH PAYMENTS.
   • Some applications do not require online payment to the Bureau of Educator Certification, including Renewal or Addition applications processed by your district.
10. Submit additional documentation as directed.

    Ensure that your social security number or Florida DOE License Number is clearly printed on all accompanying documents.

    • Additional documentation may include, but is not limited to:
    • An official transcript bearing the registrar's seal and signature from each college or university within the United States from which you have earned college level credit. You must have attained a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution to be eligible for certification in Florida (except for the Athletic Coaching certificate).
      • Please request your institution to submit an official transcript electronically to the Bureau of Educator Certification, if possible. Official transcripts may only be submitted electronically by the academic institution via the FASTER or SPEEDE systems as the only secure methods of electronic receipt by the Florida Department of Education. These secure electronic submission methods are recommended in order to protect the confidentiality of your educational records, maintain the integrity of your personal identity, and speed the process of your certification application.

Please Note: Transcripts attached to the online application, sent via email, printed from electronic files (e.g., PDF) or submitted using other electronic systems will not be accepted by the Bureau of Educator Certification that considers them unofficial and unofficial transcripts cannot be evaluated.

• Applicants with degrees from colleges or universities outside the United States should review the information for Foreign Trained Graduates or contact our office for an explanation of appropriate documentation of foreign degrees and credits.

• A complete photocopy of your valid certificate/s from other state/s, the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE), and/or the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). You may refer to the Pathways and Routes section of our website for more information regarding Florida’s use of out-of-state certificates for certification purposes.

Your application package cannot be evaluated until it is complete and received in the Bureau of Educator Certification. You may refer to the Complete Application Package instructions within the Certification Steps section of our website for more information.

Submit official transcripts and other certification documents to the following address:

Bureau of Educator Certification
Room 201, Turlington Building
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400

Thank you for using the Online Licensing Service to apply for certification in Florida.

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