Renewal Requirements
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Requirements for Renewal
- Renewal requirements must be completed during the validity period of the Professional Certificate to be renewed and prior to expiration of that Professional Certificate. It is the responsibility of each educator to obtain current information regarding renewal requirements from the employing school district or Bureau of Educator Certification.
- Six (6) semester hours of college credit to include at least one (1) semester hour in teaching students with disabilities (SWD) must be earned during each renewal period to renew your certificate.
- College level credit awarded for CLEP, DANTES Subject Standardized Test, Excelsior, other examination, life experience, or other method must be reflected on an official transcript from an accredited or approved institution, or the American Council on Education (ACE).
- College remedial credit is not acceptable.
- College level credits used for certificate renewal must be awarded by an accredited or approved institution, or the American Council on Education (ACE), and must be reflected on an official transcript. Click here to view a list of Florida's accredited state universities and state colleges and community colleges.
- A grade of at least "C" must be earned in each college course used for renewal. A grade of "pass" or "satisfactory" is an acceptable grade.
- NEW LEGISLATION- According to 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., for renewal or reinstatement of Professional Certificates with a beginning validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter, educators with subject area coverages which provide reading instruction or intervention to any K-6 students will be required to earn a minimum of two college credits, or the equivalent in-service points (40 in-service points) in the use of explicit, systematic and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness and implementing multisensory intervention strategies. This credit must be earned no earlier than ten (10) years prior to the expiration date of the current Professional Certificate. (Ex. For those individuals whose Professional Certificate expires 06/30/2025, this credit can be earned no earlier than 06/30/2015.) This requirement of two college credits, or the equivalent in-service points (40 in-service points) is required for the following subject area coverages:
- Elementary Education (K-6)
- Prekindergarten/Primary Education (age 3 through grade 3)
- Elementary Education (grades 1-6)
- Primary Education (grades K-3)
- English (grades 1-6)
- Middle Grades English (grades 5-9)
- Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (grades 5-9)
- English (grades 6-12)
- Reading (K-12)
- Reading (Endorsement)
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (grades K-12)
- NOTE: This legislation is in effect for those educators whose validity period begins July 1, 2020 and thereafter. Educators who must renew their certificates between 2020-2024 have a validity period which begins prior to July 1, 2020, so this requirement does not apply. The first group of educators who will be impacted and required to obtain this credit will be those who have a validity period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025.
Acceptable College Credit Equivalencies for Renewal
- Twenty (20) in-service points in an approved Florida master in-service program are equivalent to one (1) semester hour of college credit.
- Sixty (60) in-service points in an approved Florida master in-service program are equivalent to three (3) semester hours of college credit.
- A passing numerical score on the Florida subject area exam specific to the coverage to be renewed is equivalent to three (3) semester hours of college credit for renewal purposes.
- When the certificate includes Exceptional Student Education, Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, or Speech-Language Impaired, a passing score on the corresponding Florida subject area exam satisfies the requirement for credit in teaching SWD for a total of three (3) semester hours of renewal credit.
- A valid certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will renew the Florida certificate in the subject shown on the national certificate.
- An Exceptional Needs Specialist certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards satisfies the requirement for credit in teaching SWD, when the Florida professional certificate includes a subject in instructing students with disabilities.
- Teaching an appropriate college level course at an accredited or approved institution may be accepted the same as credit earned for taking that course. The registrar or dean of the college must submit a letter on institutional letterhead. The letter must verify the title, prefix, number, and semester-hour credits of the course taught and the dates when the course was taught.
Approved Professional Development Resources
For inquiries regarding in-service points you have completed with Duval County Public Schools and whether the in-service points are appropriate for renewal, you must contact the Professional Development Office, via email at EndorsementRegistration@duvalschools.org or via phone at 904-348-7807.
- Beacon Educator
- Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource Service (FDLRS)
- Literacy Solutions
- North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC)
- Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC)
- Schultz Center