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.

Before program completion, participants must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE), which include the Subject Area Test, Professional Ed Test, and General Knowledge Test.

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. 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

Steps to Enroll in the Educator Preparation Institute

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:

Tuition increase: Each course tuition will increase to $292.04 starting in August 2009. 

The cohort groups are for students already enrolled in the program
20101 Continuing Group N Winter Haven and Lakeland - Cohort Group is Full
20101 Continuing Group O Lakeland Cohort Group is Full
20101 New Group P Lake Wales - Cohort Group is Full
20101 New Group Q Winter Haven and Lakeland - Cohort Group is Full
20101 New Group R  Ridge Community High School - Cohort Group is Full

20102 Spring Term Cohort Groups - Registration begins November 2, for online registration and November 9, for Face-2-Face registration

20102 Spring term continuing groups - (Students already enrolled in the program)  Select schedule link below and then click "open", when another dialogue box comes up click  "cancel" to view schedule.
Group O Lakeland
Group P Lake Wales
Group Q Winter Haven and Lakeland
Group R Ridge Community High
Group U Lakeland Dates: November 2009 - May 2010

20102 Spring Term New Cohort Groups
Group T Winter Haven and lakeland - Classes begin in February 2010 and end in September 2010.
Mandatory New Student Orientation for Group T will be held February 3, Winter Haven Student Center, WST 127, from 5:30pm - 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.
Enrollment Process:

Select Flow Chart/Timeline above for a larger view.