Career Changers

It’s never too late to make a difference in the lives of students. You’ve got the knowledge and experience earned during your career that you can carry into the classroom with you to be a catalyst in the lives of young people and create your legacy.

There are students who need you in the classroom right now. Here’s how you can get there:

In order to teach 6^th grade – high school in Florida without a degree in education, you’ll need to:

• Apply to the Florida Department of Education for a temporary certification
• Pass a content area exam and general knowledge exam
• Apply for a teaching position.

You’ll have three years to achieve certification, and there are several programs to help you prepare for that and cover the cost of exams.

Duval County Public Schools’ Alternative Certification Program allows you to teach with a Bachelor's Degree and a 3-year Temporary Certificate. During your first few years of teaching, you will be able to obtain your Professional Teaching Certificate by completing professional development courses and passing state examinations.

Tuition for the program will be deducted from your paycheck over several pay periods.

If you’re confident about your mastery of your subject matter but a bit unsure about managing a classroom, The Duval County Public Schools Jump Start program prepares you to lead the next generation with confidence!

Jump Start is a summer program that moves you from a part-time position to full-time with four weeks of training from teacher development specialists followed by a three-week internship shadowing a master teacher.  

If you’re already an employee of Duval County Public Schools and want to make the move to becoming a teacher in early childhood, exceptional student,, elementary school, or middle grade education, the DCSPS START program is the path for you!

This collaboration between DCPS District and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ, Saint Leo University, and the University of North Florida (UNF) provides current educators with the opportunity to obtain teaching credentials and teaching certification within a 2- or 4-year time period. The benefits of this program include free college application, university and district support, a one-year mentorship and free teacher exam prep.

Once you’ve made the decision to create your legacy in Duval County, be sure to take advantage of the incentives offered by the 1,000 by 2025 initiative.