Educator Certification
Welcome and thank you for your interest in Bay District Schools. We are dedicated to providing a highly effective and safe learning environment for our students.
The certification office serves as a liaison between Bay District Schools and the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Bureau of Certification to ensure compliance with state statutes and rules related to educator certification.
While Bay District Schools staff will assist to provide a certification pathway, the educator is responsible for application submission, monitoring validity dates, completing time-sensitive requirements and payment of applicable fees.
To be considered for an instructional position with Bay District Schools, you will need to provide one of the following:
- A valid FLDOE issued Official Statement of Status of Eligibility documenting eligibility for a Florida Educator Certificate OR
- A valid FLDOE issued Florida Educator Certificate (temporary or professional)
Begin your certification pathway by visiting any of the following sites:
New Florida certification
Out-of-state certification reciprocity
Certification examinations
Professional Florida Educator's Certificate
The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) has moved to a paperless application process.
On your first visit, you will need to create an online user account. Complete the account creation process and the system will match your user account to your existing records. After completion, you will be able to log into your account, submit applications and check on the status of your certification.
Certificate Renewal
Requirements per 1012.585 Florida Statute:
Six (6) semester hours of college credit, or its equivalent of 120 inservice points to INCLUDE one (1) semester hour of college credit, or its equivalent of 20 inservice points in Teaching Students with Disabilities (SWD)
NOTE: Regardless of your area of certification, degree major or your current teaching assignment, the SWD coursework must be completed with each 5-year certificate renewal. There are NO exemptions from this requirement.ALL Renewal Credits must be earned during the current validity period of the Professional Certificate and prior to the expiration of the certificate.
Step 1
New to the FLDOE system? Create an account with the Florida Department of Education. A temporary password will be sent to you by email to log into the account.
Log into your certification account and begin the online renewal application.
NOTE: Educators may only renew during the last year of the certificate's validity period and prior to the date of the certification expiration.
Step 2
Make payment for application fees through Bay District Schools Online School Payments-Certification Renewal. Mastercard and Visa are the only two acceptable forms of payment. If you are not a registered user of the Bay District Schools Online School Payment System, you will be prompted to create a new user account. These systems are not linked to other District or State accounts.
Step 3
You will receive an email notification directly from the Department of Education when your certificate is renewed. Once received, submit a copy of your updated certificate to Human Resources, attention Certification Office.
Professional Florida Educator's Certificate
Certificate Subject Area Additions and Endorsements (Reading, ESOL, Gifted)
Step 1
New to the FLDOE system? Create an account with the Florida Department of Education. A temporary password will be sent to you by email to log into the account.
Log into your certification account and begin the online application from the Quickstart Menu - Manage Your License - Choose: Add Endorsement Via District OR Add Subject Via District .
Step 2 (For use with Add Subject Via District only)
Make payment for application fees through Bay District Schools Online School Payments-Certification Add-On Mastercard and Visa are the only two acceptable forms of payment. If you are not a registered user of the Bay District Schools Online School Payment System, you will be prompted to create a new user account. These systems are not linked to other District or State accounts.
Step 3
You will receive an email notification directly from the Department of Education when your certificate is updated. Once received, please submit a copy of your updated certificate to Human Resources, attention Certification Office.
For additional questions or concerns, you may email BDS Certification and Compliance Officer Amanda Stein.
