Apprenticeship Teaching
Description
Apprenticeship teaching is the capstone experience for teacher candidates in UWF-Teach STEM secondary education programs. During this semester-long experience, you'll gradually take on full teaching responsibilities in a real classroom, all while receiving support and guidance from an experienced Cooperating Teacher.
This is your opportunity to put everything you've learned into practice—planning lessons, managing a classroom, and delivering rigorous, standards-based instruction to middle and high school students. By the end of the semester, you'll be ready to step into your first teaching position with confidence.
Because apprenticeship teaching is a full-time commitment, we strongly encourage candidates to limit outside work or additional coursework during this period to ensure they can fully engage in the experience.
Requirements
To be eligible for student teaching or apprenticeship teaching, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Complete all program coursework with a grade of C- or higher.
- Maintain a minimum program GPA of 2.5.
- Submit an application through Exxat or another designated data management system during the appropriate application window:
- Fall semester: April 1 – May 1
- Spring semester: October 1 – November 1
- Pass all required FTCE certification exams by the application deadline (May 1 for Fall, November 1 for Spring):
- Professional Education Exam (PED)
- Subject Area Exam (SAE) in one of the following:
- Biology (6-12)
- Environmental Science (6-12)
- Chemistry (6-12)
- Physics (6-12)
- Mathematics (6-12)
These requirements ensure candidates are fully prepared for their final teaching experience and ready to transition into the classroom as certified educators.
Fingerprinting and Background Checks
To comply with the Jessica Lunsford Act, all students completing a field experience in the State of Florida must be fingerprinted and complete a background check. Teacher candidates in Escambia, Okaloosa, or Santa Rosa Counties will be sent fingerprinting information via email from the Office of Clinical Placements and Partnerships prior to field placement.
Distance students should refer to their local school district website for procedures and costs for fingerprinting and background checks when they complete their application in the data management system. Students will not be allowed entry into a school without first completing the fingerprinting and background checks required by that district.
