Florida Teacher Certification
Examinations (FTCEs)
FTCE Website - http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce/
You are required to complete three FTC examinations before you begin student teaching (See
your PETE Transition Criteria). In the state of Florida, individuals who wish to become a
certified teacher must take and pass a general knowledge FTCE, a professional education FTCE,
and a subject area FTCE. PETE students at UWF must (on your own time) plan, take, pass, and
report passing scores to the PETE program coordinator or your advisor. Part of the planning
stage is to decide when you will take these exams and then schedule a testing date by accessing
the FTCE website (above). You do not have to complete all three at one time. We advise that
you schedule the FTCEs in the following manner:
General Knowledge FTCE – as soon as you complete your general studies courses (you must
complete this exam to move from a PETE Pending student to a PETE Admitted student).
Professional Education FTCE – normally we recommend that this exam be taken once you
have completed all education-related methods courses in your program. However, you may take
it earlier depending upon your confidence. Be advised that if you wait until immediately prior to
student teaching and you do not pass, you will likely be restricted from entering your student
teaching assignment, costing you a full semester.
Subject Area FTCE – this exam is the K-12 Physical Education exam and like the Professional
Education FTCE, we normally recommend this exam be taken after physical education methods
courses have been completed. Be advised that if you wait until too late and do not pass the test,
you will likely be dropped from student teaching and will lose a semester. Taking the exam at an
earlier date will give you time to retake the exam if you are unable to achieve a passing score on
the first attempt.
Study guides are available for each FTCE. Guides are available through the FTCE website or
most book stores.