Frequently Asked Questions: How do students apply for admission to St. Petersburg College? Students can access the one-time application to St. Petersburg College through the SPC website, www.spcollege.edu or by picking up an application at the admissions office at one of the SPC campuses. Students must also fill out an application to the program. What does "alternative certification program" mean in Florida? It means an alternative path to satisfy professional preparation requirements for a five year Professional Educator's Certificate. Will my Florida Educator's Certificate be the same as the one earned by education majors? Yes. Completion of a Florida approved alternative preparation/certification program or coursework from a College that has received program approval from the Department of Education, along with other eligibility requirements, results in the same Professional Educator's Certificate. How do students get started in a program leading to certification? They should contact the FL Dept of Education to obtain the “Official Statement of Status of Eligibility. They must complete: an SPC application and pay $35 fee, complete the Baccalaureate Application Supplement form and include their official transcripts and submit them for review to the Central Records at SPC P.O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. When should the student submit the applications? For the Spring semester, between August and December 1st. For the fall semester, between March and August 1st. The student should be prepared to submit a transcript along with the program application so it can be reviewed for all possible certification areas for which the student qualifies. If a student has completed a Bachelor's Degree, will they need to complete SPC general education requirements? No. Students who have a BA/BS are considered to have general education requirements met. Will I gain practical teaching experience as required by the Florida Department of Education? Yes! In the Impact program you will apply classroom theory through supervised school based experiences. These school hours are outside of SPC classroom time. 20 hour pathway students fulfill their 6 credit requirement through two (2) years of full time teaching experience in an elementary or secondary school (not through SPC). What are FTCE Exams? All individuals seeking teacher certification must take and pass the FTCE Exams. The FTCE (Florida Teacher Certification Examinations) are required to become certified in the State of Florida. There are three sections of the exam: General Knowledge (GK), Professional Education, and Subject Area Exam. The tests are administered on the St. Petersburg-Gibbs Campus and students sign up using the FTCE registration booklet. What portions of the FTCE exams need to be taken prior to entering the certification program? If the student plans to teach middle or secondary school the GK and subject area exam should be taken prior to entering the program. What are the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs)? These are the researched-based knowledge and skills that all Florida teachers need, regardless of what subject they teach, so that their students can master the skills determined by the Florida Sunshine State Standards for students. The twelve Educator Accomplished Practices are:
What are the Florida Sunshine State Standards? These are skills that students need in order to thrive in our global economy. Student standards have been identified for all subjects and will be essential for you to know as you begin teaching. Will other states accept the Florida Professional Educator's Certificate? Each state has its own certification laws regarding reciprocity with other states. If another state accepts a Florida Professional Educator's Certificate, then your Professional Educator's Certificate will be accepted. You must research the certification laws in the state of your interest. How does my participation in a certification program affect my entry into a master's degree program? Each higher education institution has its own policies for acceptance into master's degree programs. Some Florida institutions may recognize your demonstration of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and, as a result, may not require completion of basic education courses in a master's degree program. You must research the policies of the institution you wish to attend. |