Certification - Lake County Schools

The purpose of Florida educator certification is to support the academic achievement of our students by assuring that our educators are professionally qualified for highly effective instruction. Florida educators must be certified to teach within Lake County Schools. Educators include classroom teachers, school administrators, and other support professionals, such as guidance counselors and media specialists.

Click on a topic below for more information.

Temporary Certificate

Professional Certificate

FTCE/FELE - Subject Area Exams and Certification Tests

All Florida assessments are administered under the FTCE or the FELE programs and are required by Florida law.

For information on certification exams, or to sign up for an exam, please visit: www.fl.nesinc.com

Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE): The FTCE is administered to educators seeking initial certification in the K-12 system. Educator candidates may take one or more of 39 subject area examinations, as well as the General Knowledge Test and Professional Education Test.

Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE): The FELE is administered to educators seeking initial certification as educational administrators in the K-12 system. Administrator candidates take the FELE as well as the General Knowledge Test and Professional Education Test.

Reciprocity for Out-of-State Teachers

Florida has two reciprocity routes for certified teachers and administrators to qualify for our Professional Certificate.

Route 1: Valid Standard Certificate Issued by a State Other than Florida

The certificate shall be the valid standard educator's certificate issued by that state which is comparable to a Florida Professional Certificate, and
Be issued in a subject comparable to a Florida certification subject, and
Require the same or higher level of training required for certification in that subject in Florida, and
The certificate must be currently valid (not expired or revoked).

Route 2: Certificate Issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)

The NBPTS certificate must be currently valid.
The Florida certificate will reflect the Florida subject considered comparable to the NBPTS subject.

View more information on the reciprocity process by clicking on the following link.

Reciprocity Information

Begin the Process

If you feel you meet the requirements for one of Florida's reciprocity routes, then begin the "Steps to Certification" by clicking on the link below. You will apply for a Florida Professional Certificate in the same subject/s shown on your valid out-of-state or NBPTS certificate

Begin the Steps to Certification

Change Your Name on Your Certificate

Access your VERSA account

From the Quick Start Menu, under 'Manage your license information'
Choose 'Request Name Change' and click select
Complete the next steps as listed on the application.
The FLDOE will email you a new certificate once the Name Change application has been processed.

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