Educator Preparation Institute (E.P.I.)
 If you already have a 4-year college degree, in any area, you can begin moving toward teacher certification. Our Educator Preparation Institute Transition-to-Teaching program puts you on the path toward teacher certification and employment in K-12 schools. It can also help teachers currently under three year temporary certificates to complete certification requirements. Read below to learn more...
EPI Entry Requirements
- Application and acceptance into EPI program
- Transcript documenting Bachelors degree from a regionally accredited institution, with 2.5 GPA
- Cleared Level 2 background check
- Application to GCSC
- Completion of New Student Orientation, with submission of all required documents
- Application to Florida Department of Education for teacher certification
According to the Florida Department of Education, the state will need to fill 17,000 to 23,500 classroom teacher positions per year between now and 2027. The number of graduates exiting traditional college of education programs across the state of Florida is approximately 10,000 per year. In an attempt to address this gap, GCSC offers a successful "transition-to teaching" program. The EPI is designed to assist college graduates with four-year degrees to begin a career in teaching.
Gulf Coast State College has partnered with Bay, Gulf, and Franklin County Schools to offer the Educator Preparation Institute (EPI). The Gulf Coast State College EPI has 9 classes and is offered in two formats: 1) hybrid; and 2) full-distance. The hybrid program contains a mixture of online (Internet/Web-based) and face-to-face traditional classroom sessions. Students participating in the full-distance model are provided with electronic access to materials included in face-to-face sessions.
This program is designed for:
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Those individuals holding any 4-year degree interested in a teaching career
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Currently employed teachers within Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties attempting to meet teacher certification requirements (already on a three-year temporary certificate)
Note: Only The Florida Department Education can determine your certification requirements. Certification requirements are determined by Florida D.O.E., not GCSC. Visit http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/ to learn more.
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If you're interested in becoming a Mentor for EPI Candidates, and are already a certified teacher, click here for the Mentor Application.
Enrollment in the GCSC E.P.I. is limited.
Links to Teacher Job Openings within Gulf Coast State College Service Area:
Sites Available for Field Placement
Articulation agreements are in place with the counties listed below to accept EPI candidates in field placement courses. Gulf Coast State College will work to increase the number and availability of field placement sites but can only guarantee placement in the counties listed below.
- Bay District Schools
- Calhoun County Schools
- Florida State University Lab School - Leon County
- Franklin County Schools
- Gulf County Schools
- Holmes County Schools
- Liberty County Schools
- Okaloosa County Schools
- Santa Rosa County Schools
- Wakulla County Schools
- Walton County Schools
- Washington County Schools
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