This program will satisfy professional preparation and professional education competence for the Florida Professional Certificate. Through the Institute, people with bachelors' degrees and teaching aspirations can receive teacher certification designed to give them the skills they need to become highly qualified teachers in a fraction of the time required for a traditional education degree. Applicant priority will be given to students interested in teaching high-need subject areas and specializations.

Participants must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE), which include the Subject Area Test, Professional Ed Test, and General Knowledge Test.
Subject area test must be passed before beginning field experience. 

Participants will receive an EPI Certificate after program completion, which will include:
1. 60 ESOL in-service hours for Empowerment 
2. 60 ESOL in-service points for Cross Cultural Communication
3. Reading Endorsement Competency 2
 
* ESOL in-service points are for Polk County ONLY

The Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) program at Polk State College is a combination of face-2-face and Internet classes. The face-2-face classes meet two times a month from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Research Based Practices in Reading course will meet from 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. beginning fall 2010.  See cohort schedule below. The supplemental Internet components consist of tasks/assignments based on Florida Educator Accomplished Practices, meaningful Internet discussions related to readings/assignments, an Online Portfolio Guide, News/information, grades, a dropbox for submitting tasks/assignments, and email.

EPI Course Descriptions

EPI Program Cost

Teachers and Non-Teachers
Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) has cohort groups beginning at different locations and dates during the year. Check the schedule below:

Cohort Classes:
20102 Spring term continuing groups  (Students already enrolled in the program) 

Group Q Winter Haven and Lakeland

Group U Lakeland Dates: November 2009 - May 2010

20102 Spring Term New Cohort Groups
Group T Winter Haven and Lakeland -  Classes start February 2010 and end September 2010. Cohort group is full.
Mandatory New Student Orientation for Group T will be held Wednesday,
February 3, Winter Haven Student Center, WST 127, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.

Group Z Lakeland - Classes start March 2010 and end September 2010. Cohort group is full. 
Mandatory New Student Orientation for Group Z will be held Tuesday, March 2,  Winter Haven Student Center, WST 127, from 5:30 - 7:00pm.

Group V Lake Wales - Classes begin in April 2010 and end in October 2010.
Mandatory New Student Orientation for Group V will be held Tuesday, April 6, Winter Haven Student Center, WST 127, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.

20103 New Summer Cohort Groups - Online registration begins April 5, and In-person registration begins April 12 

Group W Winter Haven and Lakeland - Cohort group May - November 2010 on the PSC Lakeland and Winter Haven Campuses.  Mandatory new student orientation date will be held Tuesday, May 4, Winter Haven Student Center, WST127, from 5:30 - 7:00pm.

Goup X at Ridge Community High School - Cohort group May - November 2010 at Ridge Community High School, Davenport.  Mandatory new student orientation date will be held Tuesday, May 4, Winter Haven Student Center, WST127, from 5:30 - 7:00pm.

Group Y Winter Haven and Lakeland - Cohort group begins in June on the PSC Lakeland and Winter Haven Campuses. Mandatory new student orientation date will be Tuesday, June 8, Winter Haven Student Center, WST 127, from 5:30 - 7:00pm.

20103 Continuing Summer Cohort Groups