About the Educator Preparation Institute

The PHSC Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) program provides an alternate route to Florida teacher certification. Those with a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university are eligible to enroll in the program. PHSC’s EPI program fulfills the Professional Education Competence Program and Professional Preparation Coursework requirements necessary for earning a five-year Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.

The EPI program can be completed within one year and offers convenient asynchronous online classes and a field experience component. This alternative certification program enables the student to master competencies necessary not only to receive a Professional Educator’s Certificate and Florida Reading Endorsement but also to become a successful teacher in the P-12 classroom. The program’s curriculum encompasses topics such as classroom management, instructional strategies, teaching and learning processes, as well as a 90-hour required field experience for students to incorporate what they have learned in the classroom.

Participants who demonstrate mastery of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and present passing scores on all sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Exams will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. The program courses designated by an EPI prefix provide institutional credit, are not transferable to an upper-division institution, and do not count toward any degree. Program acceptance is required for participation in the Educator Preparation Institute.

Accreditation

The Educator Preparation Institute is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Learn more by visiting the PHSC Accreditation website.

Licensure

The Educator Preparation Institute provides an alternative route to teacher certification. Individuals that complete the EPI program will obtain their 5-year Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.

Pasco-Hernando State College’s Educator Preparation Institute is included on the State of Florida list of approved EPI programs. 

State Licensure Information

To determine the state(s) in which the program meets or does not meet the requirements, or if PHSC was unable to determine if the program meets the licensing requirements, see below.

  • Meets: Florida
  • Does Not Meet: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Learn more about Residents Outside of Florida and Professional Licensure on the PHSC Public Disclosure website.

Online Learning

The Educator Preparation Institute program is 100% online. It is important that prospective students are comfortable and able to use a computer and have reliable internet access. After applying to PHSC, prospective EPI students must complete the Online Readiness course in Canvas prior to registering for an online EPI course. Learn more about online readiness and technical requirements by visiting the PHSC E-Learning website.