Skip To Main Content

ESE Credit Requirement

20-Hours in Teaching SWD (Students with Disabilities) Required for Recertification

In accordance with Senate Bill 1108, effective July 1, 2014, ALL individuals applying for recertification in Florida are required to earn 20 in-service credits or 1 semester hour in instructing students with disabilities (SWD) within the current validity period. This requirement is included within the 120 in-service credit or six hours of college credit required for recertification.

According to the Florida Legislature in order for a professional learning opportunity to qualify as an ESE credit, the main focus of the professional learning opportunity must be on the instruction of students with disabilities. There are four categories that meet the legislative requirement for ESE credit:

  • Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities
  • Classroom Management for Students with Disabilities
  • Assessment for Students with Disabilities
  • Curriculum for Students with Disabilities

What Training Can I Take?

District Training

Search the MyPGS calendar by keyword ESECR to see what training is currently available. Please note that some courses may be targeted to a particular grade level, classroom type or teacher type so the training might not be the right training for you. Click on the course title in MyPGS to see the details about the course.

BESE (Bureau of Exceptional Student Education) Portal- Professional Development Alternatives (PDA)

The Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Serviced (BESE) Portal to Professional Development Alternatives (PDA) offers a variety of FREE online courses for Florida educators that will increase their ability to respond to the needs of students with disabilities. Please note that these online, self-paced courses are available for ESECR credits upon submission of your Certificate of Completion to Wanda Conley, in the Professional Learning department. These course are ALWAYS available online.

To enroll in one of these courses:

  1. Go to www.fl-pda.org
  2. Under the Independent Study Courses heading, click Sign In.
  3. Click on Register as a New user if it is your first time on the site. If you are returning to the site type in your username and password.
  4. Click on a course title to expand the course and view the description, enroll or continue in a course, and/or to check your status.
  5. Upon completion of all required coursework, send your Certificate of Completion to Wanda Conley in the office of Professional Learning for your in-service credits to be awarded in MyPGS. BESE currently offers 19 self-paced ESE/SWD courses for various point levels.

AFIRM Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules:

https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/node/137

AFIRM: after actively engaging in a module, participants can earn a FREE certificate of completion with identified hours that will count toward ESE credit. Please send your certificates of completion to Wanda Conley at the Office of Professional Learning as verification of hours to be entered in MyPGS.

Beacon Educator

Beacon Educator has two on on-demand self-paced modules designed to meet the Students with Disabilities in-service requirement for recertification. The cost is $40 each and each module is equivalent to 20 in-service points.

  • SWD: ESE for All Educators (SB 1108)
  • SWD: Managing Challenging Student Behaviors (SWB 1108)

College Coursework

Many colleges are also now offering a 1-semester hour college course (equivalent to 20 in-service credits).

What if I earn more than I need for my renewal period?

ESE points earned during one validity period (while holding a teaching certificate) after July 1, 2014, and not used to renew may be banked for future use.

ATTENTION SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS

Designing Professional Learning Opportunities for ESE Credit (Teaching Students with Disabilities)

If you would like to provide a professional learning opportunity that is specific to the instruction of students with disabilities, here's what you need to do BEFORE you hold the training:

  1. Create a new course in MyPGS (Choose any component. IF APPROVED, we will add the correct ESE component).
  2. Include the number of hours of the training, the general and specific objectives of your training, and your implementation and evaluation expectations.
  3. Create your section - DO NOT ADD participants to the roster at this time.
  4. Email your course number to Wanda Conley.

Your course will be reviewed by the Professional Learning Department and FDLRS. Once approved by our office you can then add or allow participants at your school to register.

It is important to know that in order to qualify as an ESE credit, the main focus of the professional learning opportunity must be on the instruction of students with disabilities. There are four categories that meet the legislative requirement for ESE credit:

  • Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities
  • Classroom Management for Students with Disabilities
  • Assessment for Students with Disabilities
  • Curriculum for Students with Disabilities

If you have questions, contact the Professional Learning Department.

Florida Department of Education Resources: