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Florida Department of Education (FLDOE)

Florida Inservice Point Requirements

Renew a Professional Certificate with 6 college credits or 120 inservice points every five years, including credit in teaching students with disabilities.

120 Points
Or 6 college credits
5 Years
Certificate validity
20 Points
= 1 semester hour
Governing body: Florida Department of Education Official FLDOE site Portal: Bureau of Educator Certification (BEC)

Florida Inservice Point Requirements Overview

To renew a Florida Professional Certificate you must earn a minimum of 6 college credits or 120 inservice points, or a combination of the two, during the validity period of the certificate you are renewing.

Florida converts between them: 20 inservice points in an approved Florida master inservice program equal one semester hour of college credit, and 60 inservice points equal three semester hours. A grade of at least "C", or "pass" or "satisfactory", is required for any college course used for renewal.

Two distribution rules decide whether the total is actually enough. At least one credit must be in teaching students with disabilities, and for each area of specialization you want to keep on the certificate, at least three of the required credit hours or equivalent inservice points must be in that area. A teacher with two coverages therefore cannot satisfy renewal with six credits in a single subject.

Approved Activities

College credit

6 semester hours earned during the validity period, with a grade of C or better, or pass/satisfactory.

Inservice points

120 points through an approved Florida master inservice program, or any combination of points and college credit that reaches the equivalent.

Students with disabilities credit

At least one college credit, or the equivalent inservice points, in teaching students with disabilities. Required since July 1, 2014.

Specialization coverage

At least 3 credits or equivalent points in EACH area of specialization you want to retain on the certificate.

Required Topic Areas

Credits must fall inside the validity period

All renewal credit must be earned during the validity period of the certificate being renewed and before its expiration date. Work completed earlier does not carry into this cycle.

Newer requirements from the 2023 session

Two bills changed renewal for specific certificate holders, effective for later renewals. Confirm which applies to your coverage with your district certification office.

  • HB 1537: educators holding a certificate in educational leadership must earn a minimum of one college credit or 20 inservice points in Florida's educational leadership standards, for renewals beginning July 1, 2025 or later.
  • HB 7039: reading renewal requirements for specific professional certificates must be grounded in the science of reading, and educators with Exceptional Student Education coverage must complete the reading renewal requirements for renewals beginning with a validity date of July 1, 2025.

Renewal Process

1

Check what your certificate covers

List every area of specialization you want to keep. Each one needs at least 3 credits or equivalent inservice points of its own.

2

Earn 6 credits or 120 inservice points

Any combination, all during the validity period of the certificate being renewed, with a grade of C or better on college coursework.

3

Include the students-with-disabilities credit

At least one college credit or the equivalent inservice points in teaching students with disabilities.

4

Submit before the expiration date

Renewal documentation goes to the Bureau of Educator Certification, usually through your district certification office.

Florida Quick Summary

College credit option 6 credits
Inservice option 120 points
20 inservice points 1 semester hour
60 inservice points 3 semester hours
Students with disabilities 1 credit minimum
Per specialization kept 3 credits minimum
Validity period 5 years
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Florida Inservice Point FAQs

How many inservice points does Florida require to renew a certificate?

A minimum of 6 college credits or 120 inservice points, or a combination of the two, earned during the validity period of the certificate being renewed.

How many inservice points equal one college credit in Florida?

Twenty inservice points in an approved Florida master inservice program equal one semester hour of college credit. Sixty inservice points equal three semester hours.

Do I need a credit in teaching students with disabilities?

Yes. Since July 1, 2014, an applicant for renewal of a professional certificate must earn a minimum of one college credit or the equivalent inservice points in the area of instruction for teaching students with disabilities.

What if I hold more than one subject area?

For each area of specialization to be retained on the certificate, you must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent inservice points in that specialization area. Six credits concentrated in one subject will not retain a second coverage.

How long is a Florida Professional Certificate valid?

It is renewable for successive periods not to exceed five years after the date documentation of the renewal requirements is submitted.

Does EX in Education track Florida inservice points?

Yes. Select Florida and the system tracks progress toward the 120-point equivalent, records the 20-points-per-credit conversions, and flags whether each specialization you hold has its own 3 credits.

PD Requirements for Other States

Not in Florida? Find requirements for your state.

Evaluated in Florida? See how Florida teacher evaluation works, and how the evidence connects to the record you keep for renewal.

Part of EX in Education

One piece of the educator experience.

Inservice Point tracking is one part of how districts support educators. In EX in Education, it connects to the bigger picture: walkthroughs, coaching, evaluations, goals, PD, recognition, surveys, and retention. Bring your own process, or start from a template, then run it across every school so every educator moves from hired to thriving.