Non-Education Majors
Are you passionate about science and sharing your knowledge with others? Have you felt called to teach, but don't have a degree in education? You can be an expert in subjects other than education and still be an effective, engaging teacher who changes the lives of generations to come.
In Florida, individuals with certain majors, such as Social Science, Biology, English or Business Administration, are eligible to be teachers. For a full list of the non-education majors that are eligible to receive certification, see the Florida Department of Education.
In order to teach 6th grade – high school in Florida without an education degree, 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.
Florida State College at Jacksonville's (FSCJ) Educator Preparation Institute provides an approved alternate certification route for individuals who are passionate about child development and want to become teachers. Curriculum is designed to prepare individuals to become Florida-certified teachers by covering critical topics for early child education in kindergarten all the way through grade 12 classrooms. You have the flexibility of taking course online, in person, or a hybrid of both.
At the completion of the education program, you will have the knowledge needed to earn the Florida Department of Education Professional Educator Certificate in their area of interest.
City Year AmeriCorps members spend a year working full-time in schools, gaining classroom experience and the opportunity of a lifetime. During this gap year, high school students build skills inside and outside the classroom that prepare them for greater opportunities in college and later, as teachers. At the end of the year, AmeriCorps members receive more than $6,000 for college or other professional learning and also have access to additional scholarships.
Many of the students you'll be helping reach their potential live in systemically under-resourced communities where external factors can make it hard for students to come to school ready to learn every day. These obstacles may include food and housing insecurity, trauma or health or safety issues.
City Year AmeriCorps members receive robust training to develop their skills in the classroom and beyond. These learning experiences can follow many different formats, including instructor-led sessions, e-learning, practical exercises, on the job experience and continual coaching and feedback throughout your service year.
Graduates without a degree in education can participate in the Teacher Residency Program, a partnership between the University of North Florida and Duval County Public Schools. The program prepares graduates for certification in elementary and special education, middle grades mathematics and science, secondary language arts, social studies, science, and math to teach in high-need Duval County Public Schools.
Residents apprentice for a full year with an expert teacher while enrolled in UNF's Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Students can now choose from three concentrations in the MAT: MAT in Elementary Education, MAT in Secondary Education, or MAT in Exceptional Student Education.
Teach for America seeks equity-oriented leaders who believe in helping all students achieve their potential. Corps members and alumni are working to improve the quality of teaching and education in high-need communities across the state of Florida.
You can become involved with Teach for America as a college student through paid internships, Ignite Fellowships, or as Ambassadors.
Once you have your bachelor’s degree, you can apply to be a Teach for America corps member and be placed in a public school where you will partner with children and families most impacted by educational inequity. During the two-year commitment corps members are provided with initial training, ongoing professional development, and access to an unparalleled resource and support network.
Today, half the corps identify as people of color and half come from low-income backgrounds. More than 1,000 corps members and alumni were themselves taught by a TFA corps member when they were students.
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.
To be eligible, you’ll need:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in one of the subject areas the Florida Department of Education allows to teach without an education degree
- A temporary teaching certificate from the Department of Education
- Apply for a position and be accepted by the Duval County Public Schools
Once you’re a teacher in Duval County, we encourage you to take advantage of the incentives offered by the 1,000 by 2025 Initiative.