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Program Overview

Educator Preparation Institute, College Credit Certificate (C.C.C.)

The Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) at Florida Gateway College is a program designed to provide individuals who have earned a four-year degree or higher from an accredited institution to enter the field of PreK-12, teaching through competency-based alternative certification. The EPI Program is a 24-credit hour, synchronous online, collaborative program that can be completed in less than one year. The EPI program prepares teacher candidates for the PreK-12 classroom and the FTCE exams. Teacher candidates will understand and apply best practices in classroom management, instructional strategies, and assessment.  Graduates will qualify for a Florida Professional Teacher Certificate with a Reading Endorsement.

Alternative Certification and Renewal-Beginning Fall 2023
Teachers holding a temporary certificate can enroll in specific courses to satisfy the requirements listed on the Statement of Status of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Education. Contact Dr. Toreky for more information at carrie.toreky@fgc.edu.

Full Reading Endorsement – Beginning Spring 2023
Teachers can earn a full Florida state-approved reading endorsement in two semesters.  The full endorsement is nine credit hours.

Review the guided degree pathway where you will find a detailed plan for your courses and other requirements each semester that prepare you for graduation and your transfer goals.

Locations

Florida Gateway College Online

Entrance Requirements

  • Valid Statement of Eligibility*
  • At least a 2.5 GPA on undergraduate transcripts.
  • *Visit https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/ to learn more about the educator certification process and how to obtain your Statement of Eligibility.

Hours

Classes are delivered online. Students are expected to commit one night per week from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., plus field experience. 

Costs

  • Tuition: $2,887.92
  • Textbooks: $150.00
  • Additional fees may apply for FTCE exams, fingerprinting, and the DOE professional certificate application.

21

Credit hours

100%

online

100%

State Licensure Rate

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Careers at a Glance

Starting Salaries

Salaries range from $30,000 to $36,000 per year.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the EPI program have a variety of career position opportunities to teach in PreK-12 schools in the state of Florida.

Employers of FGC Graduates

  • Alachua County School District
  • Baker County School District
  • Clay County School District
  • Columbia County School District
  • Dixie County School District
  • Duval County School District
  • Hamilton County School District
  • Lafayette County School District
  • Madison County School District
  • Suwannee County School District
  • Union County School District

Program Details

Admission Requirements
  • Valid Statement of Eligibility or Temporary Certificate.
  • At least a 2.5 GPA on undergraduate transcripts
Program Notes

All teacher candidates are required to complete 15 hours of field experience per semester. Teacher candidates must complete the required field experience paperwork and will be assigned a mentor teacher for the duration of field experience. Teacher candidates will demonstrate his or her ability to teach through:

  • Teaching demonstrations in the form of a mini-teach for each class
  • Observation and evaluation by Mentor Teacher in the K-12 classroom
  • Observation and evaluation by supervising EPI Instructor in the K-12 classroom

Field experience must take place in an approved K-12 school

Testing Requirements for Graduation

  • Passing score on all areas (or subtests) of the FTCE General Knowledge Exam.
  • Passing score on the FTCE Professional Educator.
  • Passing score on the FTCE Subject Area Exam.

Note: Fingerprinting and a Level-2 criminal background check are required before a student may enroll in Internship courses.

Learning Outcomes
  • Teacher candidates will demonstrate the ability to create effective data-driven instruction and implement knowledge and skills learned in the teaching process to improve student learning. (FEAP #1)
  • Teacher candidates will recognize that effective educators adhere to the Code of Ethics and the Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession of Florida and fulfill expected obligations to the education profession. (FEAP #2)
  • Teacher candidates will apply concepts from human development and learning theories to design differentiated lesson plans aligned with the standards and require students to engage in rigorous activities. (FEAP #3)
  • Teacher candidates will create and maintain a student-centered classroom that is safe, organized, equitable, flexible, inclusive, and collaborative. (FEAP #4)
  • Teacher candidates will utilize a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the subject taught to deliver engaging and challenging lessons using varied instructional strategies, including technology, to differentiate, and modify instruction to promote achievement. (FEAP #5)
  • Teacher candidates will analyze and apply data from a variety of assessment tools to drive the learning process and help students reach mastery level. (FEAP #6)