FAQs

1. Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Certification
What is the process for obtaining first time State of
Florida Certification?
GO TO Florida Department of Education website:
http://fldoe.org/teaching/certification/index.stml
These four steps lead to your first Florida certificate:
1. Complete Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Application Package
2. Official Statement of Status of Eligibility
3. Employment
4. Fingerprints
I am planning to attend an off campus conference.
How do I report my hours?
For General Professional Growth & Development Component, component #8-408-001, you
will total the hours you completed throughout the year (anything more than 2 hours and less
than 10) using the Individual Record System document, and then email the BPS Master In-
Service Coordinator, Kristy Ackerman in June (end of year) for credit.
For hours in specific educational related/subject areas, with component #’s to match, use the
following format to request credit (must be more than 10 hours). Throughout the year and
as needed, send an email before & after the training, to the BPS Master In-Service
Coordinator, Kristy Ackerman, to both open & close a component #. If a group of teachers are
attending the same conference, only 1 teacher needs to email and the component will be
opened for all.
Example:
Title of workshop: Learning Disabilities of America
Speaker(s): Multiple Presenters
Date: 2/17/16-2/19/16
Hours Completed: 13 hours
Hotel/Venue name & Location: Marriot World Center, Orlando, FL
Component # 2-100-001 Students with Disabilities: Learning Strategies
BPS Particpant(s): Kristy Ackerman
What activities may be used for renewal credit?
Attendance at conferences, workshops and speaker presentations may all be used for renewal
hours. Grade-level meetings and/or planning times cannot be used for renewal purposes.

2. Who is responsible for keeping record of hours for
renewal?
The individual teacher must maintain a personal record of all hours earned during the
renewal period. FCIS will have an updated list on their website. The school is not responsible
for tracking your specific educational related/subject areas needed for certification renewal.
Will I receive a reminder when my certificate is
about to expire?
The teacher is responsible for applying for renewal no later than 3 months after expiration,
nor earlier than 6 months before the expiration of the certificate. The school does not send
reminders.
What should I do when I renew my certificate?
Verify that you have 120 hours by checking your personal records on the FCIS website.
http://mip.fcis.org
Notify the BPS Master In-Service Coordinator, Kristy Ackerman, by email that you are
renewing. The FCIS office will be contacted and a request will be sent to have your record of
hours reported to FLDOE on your behalf. You must renew online and pay the fee with the
Florida Department of Education.
http://fldoe.org/teaching/certification/index.stml
When do I report hours?
General Professional Growth & Development hours for the current academic year are
reported June 30th, and cover the timeframe of July 1st thru June 30th of the current academic
year.
Hours in specific educational related/subject areas, with separate components are reported to
FCIS throughout the year. FCIS compiles the hours and sends a report annually to FLDOE.

3. What is required for renewal of the certificate?
For renewal of your professional certificate, you must complete 120 in-service points every
5 years.
1. 20 in-service points/hours must be in teaching students with disabilities -
Component #2-100-003. The following link offers a “Teaching Students with
Disabilities” online module and is free! http://www.fl-
pda.org/independent/signin.aspx
2. The remaining 100 hours need to be specific educational related/subject areas.
3. You can earn a maximum up to 60 hours under your General Professional Growth
& Development. Component #8-408-001. Once you have reached the 60 hours of
General Professional Growth & Development limit, you must obtain the remaining
hours in specific educational related/subject areas, with component #’s to
match. Component numbers can be found on the FCIS website or the BPS FCIS
Resource Guide.
If you complete at least 6 semester hours of college credit or its equivalent during your 5-year
certification period, you do not need to submit through FCIS as it is handled directly through
FLDOE.
6 semester hours of college credit, including at least 1 semester hour in teaching students
with disabilities (SWD), must be earned during each renewal period to renew your certificate
with FLDOE.
You can complete a combination of college credit and in-service training. One semester hour
of college credit=20 in-service points.
How often should I report the earned hours?
Professional Growth & Development hours are totaled by you at the end of each school year
using the Independent Record System document and then emailed to the Master In-Service
Coordinator, Kristy Ackerman, no later than June 30th to update with FCIS. Therefore, it is
important that you document your hours using the Independent Record System form.
For hours in specific educational related/subject areas, throughout the year and as needed,
send an email before & after the training, to the BPS Master In-Service Coordinator, Kristy
Ackerman, to both open & close a component # for which you are requesting credit for hours.
Example:
Title of workshop: Learning Disabilities of America
Speaker(s): Multiple Presenters
Date: 2/17/16-2/19/16
Hours Completed: 13 hours
Hotel/Venue name & Location: Marriot World Center, Orlando, FL
Component # 2-100-001 Students with Disabilities: Learning Strategies
BPS Particpant(s): Kristy Ackerman
The FCIS office sends a report of hours annually to FLDOE; hours from previous academic
years cannot be reported.

4. My department worked together on a curriculum
development project over the course of several
months. Can I earn renewal points for this activity?
Renewal points can only be earned for approved activities with matching components. If your
department is planning such an activity, then your department head must contact the Master
In-Service Coordinator, Kristy Ackerman, by email for instructions on how to obtain prior
approval from FCIS.
I have hours from another school district. How can I
get these hours transferred to FCIS?
Obtain a copy of your hours from your former school district. Be sure that the document lists
your name, DOE#, Social Security number, listing of all courses, dates and hours.
What is the minimum number of hours that must be
earned to be categorized under a component other
than Professional Growth and Development?
A minimum of 10 hours must be earned to qualify for a component other than Professional
Growth & Development. If less than 10 hours are reported for an activity or a series of
activities, then the hours will be reported as Professional Growth and Development.