Eligibility

Miami Teaching Fellows is an alternative route to teaching program designed for candidates who do not have a previous background in education. 
Therefore, candidates:

• Cannot currently be full-time teachers in Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). (Experience as a substitute teacher, however, does not impact eligibility.)

• Cannot be already certified (either temporary or permanent certification) to teach in any state.

• Cannot have completed a degree from a K-12 teacher education program.

• No previous education coursework is required.

• Candidates must have a bachelor's degree (conferred by June, 2008 ) with a minimum GPA of 3.0. (GPA exceptions may be made for candidates who demonstrate exceptional achievement elsewhere). If invited to interview, applicants must provide, at minimum, unofficial college/university transcripts from all institutions attended, although official transcripts are highly preferred. Official transcripts will be required if accepted into the Fellows program.

• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

• Candidates accepted into the Miami Teaching Fellows must take and pass the Subject Area Examination (SAE) and the General Knowledge (GK) portions of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) before they will be able to enter the classroom. Although registering for the FTCE is not a requirement for the initial application, we strongly recommend that all candidates register for the GK exam as soon as possible. While the GK exam is offered in a computer-based format, the essay portion must be taken on a planned testing date. As a result, candidates find it easier and more cost effective to take the entire test on a scheduled testing date.

All candidates invited to interview with Miami Teaching Fellows will be provided with additional information on which SAE test – and test administration date – is right for them, given their academic background . Please read the following section for more information on the FTCE.

Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE)
Candidates accepted into the Miami Teaching Fellows must take and pass the Subject Area Examination (SAE) and the General Knowledge (GK) portions of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) before they will be able to enter the classroom. Although registering for the FTCE is not a requirement for the initial application, we strongly recommend that all candidates register for the GK exam as soon as possible.

While the GK exam is also offered in a computer-based format, the essay portion must be taken on a planned testing date. As a result, candidates find it easier and more cost effective to take the entire test on a scheduled testing date. Click here to visit the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations website to register - candidates may register either online via the FTCE website or by mail.

Candidates invited to interview with Miami Teaching Fellows will be provided additional information on which SAE test –and test administration date-- is appropriate, given their academic background. Candidates will receive explicit direction regarding the SAE tests and dates with their invitation to interview. Depending on subject area, some tests may be available as computer-based examinations, while others require a paper-based administration at a testing site on a specific date. All examinations are pre-scheduled and administered at a designated test site.

There is a registration fee for each FTCE exam of $25. Supplemental administration dates require an additional $100 charge.

Please carefully read the section in this website on Important Dates and Deadlines for key timelines.

The Miami Teaching Fellows office must have all passing test scores or proof of registration for the required FTCEs on file prior to the start of the summer institute training.  Accepted Fellows who fail to file their scores will not be allowed to assume teaching responsibilities.

For more information on the exams, the registration process, exam dates, and exam locations, please visit the FTCE website.