Complete guide to Florida's inservice point requirements, developmental literacy training, and professional certificate renewal process aligned with B.E.S.T. standards.
Florida educators must renew their Professional Certificate every five years. The renewal period runs from July 1st to June 30th, and educators must complete either 6 semester hours of college credit OR 120 inservice points during each validity period.
The Florida Department of Education updated renewal requirements effective July 1, 2024, adding new developmental literacy training requirements for certificates expiring June 30, 2025 or later.
All educators must complete at least 1 semester hour OR 20 inservice points focused on teaching students with disabilities.
New requirement effective July 1, 2024: Educators must complete 2 semester hours OR 40 inservice points in developmental literacy instruction.
Applies to certificates with expiration date of June 30, 2025 or later.
For certificates with validity dates beginning July 1, 2020 or later: 2 semester hours OR 40 inservice points in evidence-based instruction for students with characteristics of dyslexia.
Educators holding educational leadership certificates (validity date July 1, 2020+) must complete 1 semester hour OR 20 inservice points in Florida's educational leadership standards.
Note: Dyslexia training may overlap with developmental literacy requirements. Check with your district for specific guidance.
The FEAPs serve as Florida's core standards for effective educators and form the foundation for professional development. Understanding these practices helps align your PD activities with state expectations.
Apply concepts from human development to plan instruction.
Create and maintain positive learning environments.
Deliver engaging, effective instruction.
Use multiple assessment strategies and data.
Engage in continuous learning and reflection.
Adhere to the Code of Ethics and professional conduct.
Florida's Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards form the foundation for curriculum and instruction. Teacher evaluations must incorporate student performance data aligned with these standards.
At least one-third of a performance evaluation must be based on student performance data. Newly hired teachers must be evaluated at least twice in their first year.
Reading, writing, speaking, and listening standards with emphasis on foundational literacy skills.
Computational fluency, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning across grade levels.
Maintain records of all professional development activities throughout your 5-year validity period. Ensure you're meeting required topic areas.
Fulfill SWD, developmental literacy, and any additional requirements based on your certificate type and validity date.
Apply through your Certification Online account at the Florida DOE website before your certificate expires.
Submit the required renewal fee along with your application. Fees vary based on certificate type.
All renewal credits must be earned during the validity period and prior to the expiration date. If your certificate expires, you'll need to go through the reinstatement process, which has additional requirements.
Yes, you can use any combination of semester hours and inservice points as long as you meet the equivalent of 6 semester hours (120 inservice points). For example, 3 credits + 60 inservice points would satisfy the requirement.
If your certificate expires, you'll need to apply for reinstatement rather than renewal. Reinstatement has additional requirements and may include completing more coursework depending on how long the certificate has been expired.
They are related but separate requirements. Developmental literacy focuses on foundational reading instruction, while dyslexia training specifically addresses evidence-based interventions for students with dyslexia characteristics. Some courses may satisfy both requirements—check with your district.
You should maintain records of your professional development, but you typically don't need to submit transcripts unless specifically requested. Your district tracks inservice points, and college credits are verified through official channels.
You can submit your renewal application once you've completed all requirements, even if your certificate hasn't expired yet. The new certificate will begin when your current one expires.
Classroom Walkthroughs makes it easy to track inservice points, ensure you meet required topics, and stay compliant with Florida DOE requirements.
Start Free TrialJoin thousands of Florida educators using Classroom Walkthroughs to track inservice points and meet certification renewal requirements.