Become a Certified Computer Science Teacher in Florida

Prepare for the FTCE Computer Science K–12 certification exam with expert support from USF College of Education and Computer Science faculty.

  • Designed for teachers with little or no CS background
  • FTCE exam-focused curriculum and practice
  • FLDOE reimbursement available for tuition and exam fees
Apply Now

Why Add Computer Science Certification?

Adding Computer Science certification to your existing teaching credentials provides significant professional and personal advantages in today's education landscape.

Career & Financial Benefits
  • Higher demand, less competition - Massive shortage means more opportunities and leverage
  • Salary premiums - Many districts offer $1,000-$5,000+ annual stipends for CS teachers
  • Job security - Become more valuable and harder to replace
  • Administrative pathway - Opens doors to technology coordinator and curriculum specialist roles
Professional Growth
  • 21st-century relevance - Position yourself as a forward-thinking educator
  • Cross-curricular integration - Bring computational thinking to any subject
  • High student engagement - CS classes often have motivated, interested students
  • PD opportunities - Access to cutting-edge training, conferences, and grants
Flexibility & Options
  • Multiple course options - AP Computer Science, coding electives, digital citizenship
  • Curriculum freedom - More creative flexibility than traditional core subjects
  • Industry connections - Partner with tech companies, internships, guest speakers
  • Additional income - Tech camps, workshops, curriculum development opportunities
Future-Proofing & Impact
  • Essential skill set - Computational thinking becoming as fundamental as literacy
  • Growing requirements - More states mandating CS education means expanding opportunities
  • Grant funding available - Federal/state money specifically for CS education initiatives
  • High impact - Directly prepare students for high-demand, well-paying careers

The Bottom Line

The CS teacher shortage is so acute that many districts are essentially seeking qualified CS teachers, giving certified teachers significant advantages in negotiations, career advancement, and professional satisfaction. You'll be teaching one of the most relevant and future-focused subjects in education today.

Addressing Florida's CS Teacher Shortage

The Challenge

Florida is experiencing a critical shortage of computer science teachers, alongside shortages in other subject areas. While FL Statute 1007.2616 requires K-12 schools to provide face-to-face Computer Science courses with properly certified teachers, most schools are currently defaulting to Florida Virtual School (FLVS) due to lack of certified instructors at schools.

State Investment

The state has allocated $9 million in grants through the Computer Science Teacher Certification program to support teacher training and certification costs.

Funding Coverage

FLDOE funding covers training costs and examination fees for computer science teacher certification through district-administered reimbursement programs.

About the Course

This course helps Florida teachers prepare for the FTCE Computer Science K–12 certification exam. It focuses on practical, classroom-ready content that meets state standards. Our goal is to make certification achievable, especially for teachers who may not have a background in computer science.

Who Should Enroll
  • Current Florida K–12 teachers seeking CS certification
  • Teachers with little or no prior experience in computer science
  • Educators interested in teaching AP Computer Science Principles or coding electives
Course Format
  • Semester: Spring 2026
  • Delivery: Multiple options being finalized based on teacher survey
  • Schedule: Flexible weekday evenings and/or weekend options based on participant needs
  • Length: 12–14 weeks
  • Support: Weekly office hours

What You'll Learn

Our curriculum is aligned with all seven FTCE Computer Science K-12 competencies, ensuring comprehensive preparation for certification success:

Computational Thinking & Problem Solving (15%)
  • Algorithm design and problem-solving strategies
  • Software development life cycle stages
  • Predicting algorithm outputs and testing solutions
Data Types & Structures (15%)
  • Variables, constants, and data types (integers, strings, Booleans)
  • Binary, decimal, and hexadecimal number systems
  • Arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and sets
Programming Logic (20%)
  • Debugging techniques and error types
  • Object-oriented vs procedural programming
  • Searching and sorting algorithms
Programming Languages (20%)
  • Scratch programming environment basics
  • Java programming fundamentals
  • Object-oriented principles (abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance)
Hardware, Software & Networking (10%)
  • Computer system components and functions
  • Network protocols and cloud computing
  • Application and productivity software
Social Issues & Ethics (10%)
  • Digital citizenship and intellectual property
  • Historical computer technology milestones
  • Cybersecurity and data protection
Computer Science Pedagogy (10%)

Learn effective teaching strategies, classroom management, assessment methods, and curriculum development specifically for K-12 computer science education.

Course Faculty

The course is co-taught by experienced faculty from both the College of Education and Computer Science departments:

Zafer Unal
Zafer Unal

Professor & Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies,
USF College of Education

unal@usf.edu

Expert in educational technology and computer science education with extensive experience in computer hardware, software systems, and programming languages including Java, C++, Python, PHP, and MySQL. Specializes in teacher professional development and curriculum design for K-12 computer science programs.

Nithin Palyam
Nithin Palyam

Research Assistant,
USF College of Computer Science & Engineering

palyam@usf.edu

Computer engineering graduate student with expertise in computer hardware, software systems, and programming languages including Java, C++, Python, and C#. Experienced in full-stack development, database design, and software engineering principles.

Course Investment & Funding

Course Investment

Course Tuition:

$XXX

FTCE Exam Fee:

$150

Total Estimated Cost: $XXX
Reimbursement Available: Your school district may be eligible for FLDOE Computer Science Teacher Certification grants that can reimburse these costs. Contact your district for details.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Florida Department of Education has allocated $9 million in grants to school districts through the Computer Science Teacher Certification program. This is a reimbursement-based program administered by individual school districts. You'll need to pay upfront costs and then seek reimbursement through your district. Contact your district's grants or professional development office to see if they received FLDOE funding and their specific reimbursement procedures.

According to FLDOE guidelines, funding can cover: (1) training for classroom teachers to earn K-12 computer science certification, (2) fees for examinations that lead to credentials, and (3) professional learning for computer science instruction. This includes our course tuition and the FTCE exam fee.

No programming experience is required. This course is specifically designed for teachers with little or no computer science background. We start with fundamentals and build up to the level needed for the FTCE exam.

No, this is a non-credit professional learning course focused specifically on FTCE Computer Science K-12 certification preparation. Participants receive a certificate of completion from USF College of Education.

We're currently surveying teachers from Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Sarasota, and Hillsborough districts to determine their preferred delivery modes and scheduling options. Based on this feedback, we expect to offer multiple delivery formats and flexible weekday/weekend scheduling to best serve our participants' needs.

FL Statute 1007.2616 requires K-12 schools to provide face-to-face Computer Science courses with properly certified teachers. Currently, many schools default to Florida Virtual School (FLVS) due to lack of certified CS teachers on campus. Getting certified allows you to teach these courses in-person at your school.

This course is designed for current Florida K-12 teachers who want to add computer science certification to their existing teaching credentials. You should be employed by a Florida school district and interested in teaching computer science courses like AP Computer Science Principles or coding electives.

Applications for the Spring 2026 cohort will open in Fall 2025. We'll notify interested candidates when the application process begins. You can express your interest now by contacting us.

FTCE Computer Science K-12 (005) Exam Information

The FTCE Computer Science K-12 (005) is a computer-based test (CBT) with approximately 80 multiple-choice questions. You'll have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete the exam. Your total appointment time will be longer to account for check-in procedures and breaks.

You need a scaled score of at least 200 to pass the exam. The test fee is $150. Official score reports are typically provided immediately after testing, though all score reports are guaranteed to be released within 4 weeks of testing.

The FTCE Computer Science K-12 exam is available by appointment, year round. Computer-based testing (CBT) sites are located throughout Florida and nationwide. You can schedule your test during registration based on available dates at your preferred testing center.

No reference materials are provided during the Computer Science K-12 exam. You'll need to rely on your knowledge and preparation. This is why our course focuses on ensuring you have a solid understanding of all the key concepts and skills tested on the exam.

The FTCE Computer Science K-12 exam specifically tests knowledge of Scratch programming language and Java programming. Our course will cover both of these languages, with Java comprising a significant portion (20% of exam questions) including object-oriented programming concepts like abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.

The exam is weighted as follows: Programming Logic (20%), Programming Languages (20%), Computational Thinking (15%), Data Types & Structures (15%), and three areas at 10% each: Hardware/Software/Networking, Social Issues & Ethics, and Computer Science Pedagogy. Our course curriculum is structured to match these exact weightings.

Apply for Spring 2026 Cohort

Application Requirements

  • Proof of current teaching position in a Florida school district
  • Letter of support from your school or district (optional but recommended)
Important Dates:

Applications Open: November 2025 (you will be provided instructions)

Course Starts: Spring 2026

Current Status:

Survey in Progress: We're currently surveying teachers from Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Sarasota, and Hillsborough districts about their preferred delivery modes and schedules. If you are interested in this course, please complete the survey and leave your contact information.

Complete Survey