Pasco-Hernando State College is accepting applications for individuals who want to pursue a career in teaching. The Educator Preparation Institute (EPI), an approved program by the Florida Department of Education, provides an alternative route to a Florida Professional Educator’s Certification for those who already hold a baccalaureate degree and want to teach in grades K-12. This program is offered completely online where certification can be earned in as little as seven months. The EPI program provides professional preparation and education competence for career-changers and recent college graduates who do not already possess a Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.
The college will be training a new cohort of teachers this fall. Deadline to apply and complete testing requirements is Friday, July 20. Classes begin on Monday, August 20.
“The EPI program provides students with a solid foundation in classroom management, pedagogy, and instructional strategies as well as field experience in a school classroom,” said Melissa Burr, Ed.D., EPI coordinator. “This enables students to be classroom ready upon completion of the program.”
The PHSC EPI recently graduated its 2017-18 class of 29 new teachers. Approximately 85 percent of the graduating class have already secured positions in Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough and Pinellas county schools.
“I am a better teacher because of what I learned in the EPI program and I look forward to many great years using what the program has shown me,” said Paul Hardman, PHSC EPI program graduate and high school chemistry teacher with Florida Virtual School.
People with bachelor’s degrees who are interested in becoming a teacher should contact Melissa Burr, Ed.D., PHSC EPI coordinator, at 727-816-3471 or visit the EPI website at https://educator-prep.phsc.edu/.
PHSC Educator Preparation Institute For those who have always wanted to teach, love challenges or are seeking a fulfilling new career, PHSC’s state-approved Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) is an option to consider. |
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) serves the educational needs and interests of its community by awarding certificates, diplomas, associate and baccalaureate degrees. As a comprehensive, multicampus learning-centered institution, PHSC utilizes various instructional modalities and support services. PHSC provides an accessible, diverse teaching and learning environment rich with opportunities for students to achieve academic success and cultural growth in a global society.
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