Certification Renewal

New students must apply to the College and pay a $25* application fee. Current and former students must ensure their information is up-to-date. If you are unsure of your status, you should apply as a first time student.

Note: An online application process is available. Due to the documentation required, we recommend using the appropriate process listed below.

*This is a non-refundable processing fee. The $25 application fee includes certain legal immigrants and visa holders. An $80 application fee is assessed to (F-1) international students.

Enrollment for First Time Students

You need to complete a membership application (PDF) and the residency declaration (PDF). In the Educational Plans section of the membership application, please select “My main goal is to take a college credit courses or courses for professional development, but not earn a degree.”

Take the completed admission application, residency affidavit and required residency documentation** to any campus or center advising center for processing.

Enrollment for Current and Former Students

If you have previously attended Florida State College at Jacksonville you need to complete a readmission application (PDF) and the residency declaration (PDF). In the Educational Plans section of the readmission application, please select “College-Credit Non-Degree” and specify the number as “3401.”

If you were previously enrolled under a different name, be sure to complete a record change form.

Take the completed readmission application, residency declaration and required residency documentation** to any campus or center advising center for processing.

**Refer to the residency declaration for required documentation.

The Florida Certification Coverages webpage can help you identify any coursework you may need to strengthen knowledge of your subject area. You may also decide that you want to add additional subject areas to your certificate by taking coursework.

Content Area Coursework offered at FSCJ

• Social Sciences (Middle or High) Teachers: United States history; western civilization; European, Asian, African, Latin American, or Middle Eastern history; economics; United States government; geography
• Math (Middle or High) Teachers: Calculus; geometry; probability; statistics; abstract or linear algebra
• English (Middle or High) Teachers: English composition and grammar beyond freshman English; speech; oral interpretation; literature
• Science (Middle or High) Teachers: biology; chemistry; Earth and space science; physics
• Elementary School Teachers: music; art; physical education; health; all core content (science, math, social sciences, English)
• All Certification Areas: Education department coursework (course prefixes EDF, EDG, EEX, EME) can be used for all certification areas.

Education Coursework offered at FSCJ

• EEX 2010- Introduction to Exceptional Student Education
• EME 2040- Introduction to Education Technology: Useful for all teachers to stay current in this area.
• EEX 1600- Behavior Management: This course teaches strong classroom management skills.
• EDF 2230- Foundations of Cooperative Learning: Counts towards recertification and offers many new strategies for teachers.
• EDG 2701- Teaching Diverse Populations: Field experience is required for this course.
• LIT 2930- Special Topics in Literature (Introduction to Children’s Literature): A helpful class for teachers of pre-kindergarten through middle school.

Note

Though there is a broad range of coursework the Florida Department of Education will accept toward your certificate renewal, there are a few classes that won’t count. You cannot select any of our classes with an EPI prefix as these are pre-professional courses toward teacher certification and are not traditional college credit. Some education classes in the Early Childhood Education bachelor’s degree program may require special permission to enter and these courses are only appropriate for renewal if your certificate is in this area.

If you have questions about the eligibility of classes you have chosen to take, please contact the FLDOE with the course identification for the class(es) you are considering.  The Florida Department of Education keeps records of who they talk to but it is always a good idea to write down the name of the person in their call center who approves the class you plan to take. You should not need to call them about any of the classes that are recommended in on this Webpage.

Once you are enrolled as a student, you need to establish a Connections account. Connections is the College’s online student portal. To search for classes before you enroll as a student, please visit the online class schedules where you can select a term to browse or search the schedule. You may also use the Open Class Keyword Search to search all available courses regardless of term.

When you begin to identify classes you would like to take, pay attention to whether the class is entirely or partially online. Students agree that they work harder in online classes but they distance learning very convenient. Also notice if the class you plan to take requires field experience (spending time in a school or social agency) as you may not have the time to do this. Consider whether the class is 4, 8, 12 or 16 weeks. Classes that are offered in 4 or 8 weeks are considered by some to be fast track.

You may register for classes through Connections. For detailed registration information, including session dates, the registration calendar and information about paying for classes, visit the online class schedules and select the term you are interested in.

The Florida Educator Certification Renewal Requirements allows the usage credits earned by examination to be applied toward certification renewal if the course content is ap propriate and is reflected on the student’s official transcript. FSCJ offers credit by assessment through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Defense Subject Standardized Test (DSST) and Excelsior assessment. Contact the Florida Department of Education for final approval of any credit by exam prior to taking the exam.

If you need further assistance scheduling classes, please contact Victoria Bennett at vbennett@fscj.edu.