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2026 - 2027 Academic Catalog

Teacher Certification

Teacher Certification
Florida Administrative Code-
Section 6E-2.04(10) (C)

Baptist University of Florida has received full approval by the State of Florida Department of Education for the Elementary Education (Grades K-6)/ESOL Endorsement/Reading Endorsement program. A graduate of the Elementary Education program at BUF is eligible to apply for a Professional Florida Teaching Certificate from the State of Florida Department of Education.

For all other programs, a degree from BUF does not automatically qualify the student for a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate. To obtain a Professional Teaching Certificate for one of these programs, a graduate must apply for a Florida Temporary Teaching Certificate, obtain a teaching position, and participate in the system’s new teacher program or alternative certification program. Those interested in obtaining a Florida teaching certificate should contact the Office of Teacher Certification, Department of Education, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. 

 

Teacher Education Degree Graduation Requirements

To graduate from a Teacher Education major, students must:

  1. Satisfactorily complete all academic courses outlined in their program of study. All Teacher Education coursework must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
  2. Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.
  3. Internship Placement: Only Teacher Education students who maintain a fully online course load for 2 out of the 3 semesters prior to EDU 4090F. Education Internship may request internship placement outside of 60 miles from Graceville, Florida, on the Internship Packet. Students who maintain an on-campus residency for 2 of the 3 semesters prior to EDU 4090F. Education Internship are required to complete Education Internship within 60 miles of BUF campus. Only special requests made in writing to the Dean of the School of Education will be considered as exceptions. The Internship Packet is due either February 15 or September 15, prior to the semester of Internship.
  4. Elementary Education majors must pass the General Knowledge Test (GKT), pass the Professional Education Test (PET), and pass Subject Area Exam (SAE) in their subject area of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) before enrolling in EDU 4090F. In order to graduate, all three sections of the FTCE (GKT, PET, and SAE) must be taken and passed, as well as EDU 4090F. Education Internship.
  5. Elementary Education and Education Studies Majors must also take and pass RED 4005F. Reading Practicum.
  6. Elementary Education Majors must complete and pass Final Internship in a Florida public classroom. All other majors requiring an internship must complete and pass Final Internship.