Military 5 Year Temporary Certificate

Blue Banner with military 5 year temporary certification

Florida educators must be certified to teach in our public schools. Educators include classroom teachers, school administrators, and other support professionals, such as guidance counselors and media specialists.

Beginning July 1, 2022, a program was developed for veterans and servicemembers to receive a five-year temporary education certificate while they finish their bachelor’s degree, provided they meet certain criteria. This will allow the veteran to earn a bachelor's degree as well as complete the requirements to upgrade to a professional certificate.

Am I Eligible?

To become eligible for the Military 5 Year Temporary Certificate you must meet the following requirements:

Minimum of 48 months of military service with an honorable/medical discharge
Minimum of 60 earned college credits with a 2.5 GPA
Passing score on a Florida subject area exam

All Florida assessments are administered under the FTCE or the FELE programs and are required by Florida law. Out of state exams, such as Praxis, will not be accepted. For more information on subject area exams, or to sign up for an exam, please visit: www.fl.nesinc.com

Military Fee Waiver

The FLDOE provides the opportunity to request waivers of initial certification fees and certification examination fees for active duty military personnel, honorably discharged veterans and their spouses or surviving spouses. Educator candidates who are eligible to apply for the Military Certification Fees Waiver (MCFW) include:

Active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve unit;
The spouses of active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve unit;
Veterans who were honorably discharged or retired from service as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve units;
The spouses of veterans who were honorably discharged or retired from service as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve units; or
The surviving spouses of veterans or service members who died while on active duty as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or reserve units.

Click the link below complete a waiver request.

Military Certification Fees Waiver site

An MCFW remains valid for up to five years upon determination of eligibility, after which time an educator may submit a new request for review according to eligibility requirements in effect upon submission of the request for a new waiver. Fees for the following certification services will be waived for individuals granted MCFWs:

$75.00 per subject for an initial certification application
$75.00 for an initial application for certification in athletic coaching
$75.00 for an application to upgrade from a Temporary to a Professional Certificate
$75.00 per subject for addition of a subject or endorsement to a valid certificate
Certification exams (cost of exam fees vary)

Eligible Documentation

The following chart provides minimum acceptable supporting documentation to determine eligibility for the Military Certification Fee Waiver (MCFW).

Basis for Waiver of Fee	Documentation Required
Member of Armed Forces	Military ID Card
Spouse of member of Armed Forces	Military dependent ID card (DD Form 1173)
Member of reserves	Military ID card and Activity Duty Report (DD Form 220); or Military ID card and current orders for active duty
Spouse of member of reserves	Military dependent ID card (DD Form 1173); or Military dependent ID card (DD Form 1173-1) and spouse’s DD Form 220 or spouse’s orders for active duty
Honorably discharged veteran	DD Form 214 Member 4
Spouse or surviving spouse of honorably discharged veteran	DD Form 214 Member 4 of spouse and marriage certificate
Honorably discharged veteran of reserves	DD Form 214 Member 4
Spouse of honorably discharged veteran of reserves	DD Form 214 Member 4 of spouse and marriage certificate
Surviving spouse of member of armed forces on active duty at time of death	Official documentation from Department of Defense
Surviving spouse of member of reserves at time of death	Official documentation from Department of Defense

*Additional documentation may be requested if documents provided by applicants do not contain sufficient information to determine current eligibility or marital status. Expired documents cannot be used to establish eligibility.

Apply for a Certificate

Watch this short video for tips on submitting an application.

FLDOE educator application video

Click on the following link to obtain the steps to apply for a Florida educator certificate.
FLDOE Online Licensing Service Site

A completed application package will include:

Application for Certification
Application fee - $75 per subject (waived if MCFW on file with FLDOE)
Official Transcripts showing 60 earned college credits or higher
DD214 showing 48 months of military service

FAQ's

Q: How long is a Military temporary certificate valid?

A: A Military temporary certificate is issued for five (5) school years.

Q: If I already have a bachelor's or higher degree, am I still eligible for the 5 Year Temporary Certificate?

A: No. Per the FLDOE, the new 5-year Temporary Military Veterans Certificate is only for applicants who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. If the applicant is a veteran who holds a bachelor’s degree, the applicant will go through the traditional route for certification.

Q: Is the Military 5-year temporary certificate eligible for an extension?

A: No. Per state rules, the military temporary certificate is not eligible for an extension.

Q: I have a Statement of Eligibility that states that I am eligible for a temporary certificate. Can I apply for teaching positions?

A: YES! You may begin to apply for teaching positions within our District. Once hired and cleared for employment, the District will request issuance of the Temporary Certificate.