Teacher Certification Renewal Guide

Grace Christian School Crusaders

Renewing your Florida Professional Educator's Certificate requires earning the equivalent of 120 inservice points (or 6 college credits) during your current five-year certification period. One inservice point equals one hour of professional development training.

Point Requirements

RequirementPointsDetails
Total Points120Earned within current 5-year period.
In-FieldMin 60Must relate directly to your certificate subject(s).
GeneralMax 60General education topics to improve teaching skills.
SWD20Students with Disabilities training (counts toward 120).

Special Requirements

The 40-Hour Reading Requirement: If your certificate renewal date starts on or after July 1, 2020, and you teach specific subjects (Elementary Ed, English, Reading, ESOL), you must earn 40 inservice points in explicit, systematic reading instruction. Note: You can use the same training to count for both this and your 20-hour SWD requirement!

Educational Leadership: Certificates renewing after July 1, 2020, require 20 inservice points in Florida's educational leadership standards.

How to Earn Your Points

  1. Inservice Training: Attend workshops, conferences, and school-based PD days (must be approved and listed in the CSF Professional Learning Catalog).
  2. College Credit: 1 semester hour = 20 inservice points.
  3. Subject Area Tests: Passing a Florida subject area exam = 60 inservice points.
How We Help You Track Points
At GCS, we submit In-Service activities on behalf of our teachers. Each year, 30 points are submitted on your behalf as part of your participation in our Professional Learning Community (PLC). If you complete an independent activity (e.g., a course on FLDRS.org), simply bring us your completed certificate. We will create a submission through CSF's PLC portal, upload your certificate, and award those points to your account.

The Renewal Process at GCS

  1. Track Your Hours: Ensure your PD hours are logged in the CSF online Master Inservice Program (MIP).
  2. Administrative Review: 3-6 months before expiration, meet with the Head of School to review your MIP record.
  3. The CT116 Form: Once verified, our school head submits a CT116 form to the FLDOE to confirm your points.
  4. Apply Online: Log into your FLDOE Versa account, click "It Is Time to Renew!", and submit your application and payment directly to the state.
Important Reminders: You can only use points earned during your current five-year window. Pay the state directly through your FLDOE Versa account (do not pay the school). College transcripts must be sent directly from the university to the FLDOE.