In 2024, Broward College's Teacher Education Pathway received the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant - Grow Your Own - Teacher Apprenticeship Program (TAP) from the Florida Department of Education. TAP offers an alternative pathway for actively employed educational support specialists, paraprofessionals, or teacher assistant staff employed by local school districts to gain on-the-job experience while earning their bachelor's degree. Under the guidance of a qualified mentor teacher apprentices will commit to a 2-year co-teaching model. Apprentices will be able to become certified educators and transition into professional educator roles within the local school district upon completing the program.

Program Benefits

Free Tuition

Fully Online courses

FTCE Exam Preparation

Competency-Based training

Program Goals and Outcomes

TAP aims to address teacher shortages by improving teacher training, support, mentorship, recruitment, and retention. Additionally, the program will function as an additional recruitment channel for local area school districts. Our recruitment efforts focus on individuals with experience in K-12 education, particularly education support professionals with associate's degrees. We are tailoring every aspect to enhance the availability of high-quality teachers in our local area.

Program Requirements

  1. Completion of all required FTCE exams: General Knowledge, Subject Area Exam (related to the program of study), and Professional Educator Exam
  2. Completion of all related instruction requirements to obtain a bachelor's degree
  3. Satisfactory completion of On-the-job-training (OJT) hours

Degree Programs Offered

The Bachelor of Science in Education for Middle Grades Mathematics Education (BS in Math 5-9) is designed to qualify its graduates to teach math in grades 5-9. This program is eligible for a Florida Professional Certification in Math 5-9.

The Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education is eligible for a Florida Professional Certification in Math Grades 6-12.

The Bachelor of Science in Education Exceptional Student Education is eligible for a Florida Professional Certification in ESE K-12, Reading, and ESOL-English to Speakers of Other Languages. The B.S. in ESE is designed to qualify its graduates to teach ESE placements for inclusive and self-contained settings in grades K 12.

The Bachelor of Science in Secondary Biology grades 6-12 is designed to qualify its graduates to teach Biology in grades 6-12. This program is eligible for a Florida Professional Certification in Biology 6-12.

Program Notes

An apprentice teacher is required to commit to two years of co-teaching using team teaching strategies with a mentor teacher before being eligible to apply for a professional certificate. Completion of the Teacher Apprenticeship program does not exempt a teacher apprentice from meeting certification requirements.

Apprentices are required to participate and complete the FTCE exam preparation transcript before graduation. Courses are offered fully online in a competency-based format with comprehensive feedback from professors to enable students to achieve mastery of Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.

Admission Requirements

  • Minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Completion of an associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • Acceptance to Broward College as a degree-seeking student with all required admissions documents received by admissions
  • Agree to commit two years to team teaching and targeted FTCE study preparation

View the admissions page and click "Follow these steps" to complete the BC application. We advise students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student (FAFSA) aid as well and enter school code 001500

Residency documents are submitted online via a dynamic form with a section to upload evidence documentation.

Students who were not born in the United States or a U.S. Territory must provide evidence of eligible legal immigration status before they may be considered for admission to the college and classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. All students who apply online will be admitted as non-Florida residents until providing the required supporting documentation needed to prove Florida residency before the first day of the term.

  • Florida residents select: Florida resident form
  • Non-Florida residents select: Non-Florida resident form

You must submit official transcripts for high school, and all colleges and universities attended. The transcript(s) should show that there is no coursework in progress.

Submit your transcript to Broward College using one of the formats below:

  1. Contact the previous institution(s) you attended to request your official transcript be sent electronically to Broward College (school code 001500)
  2. For schools that do not transmit electronically, mail an official and complete paper transcript(s) to:

    Broward College Registrar's Office
    4205 Bonaventure Blvd.
    Weston, FL 33332

  3. Students may drop off a transcript in person at our Central, North, or South Campus locations during the following hours:

    Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
    Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Submit an email to cumana@broward.edu with your name, personnel number, position title, school location, supervisor name, email, and phone number, and attach a principal recommendation letter.

  • Complete the steps to register for placement via FieldPrint
  • FieldPrint fingerprinting is the only provider for BCPS Security Badges. No other agency will be accepted. Please use the code below when prompted.
  • Use vendor badge code FPBCPSEmpPreEDnet (cost will be $7.50)

An interview may be required to complete the admission process.

Forms

Teacher Apprenticeship Certificate: required to begin the apprenticeship program, must be submitted to the Florida Department of Education by staff upon candidate verification. Contact the director upon completion of the BC application, submission of residency documents, transcripts, and employment verification confirmation email.

FERPA Form

TAP Student Contract (PDF)

Residency

Meet the Team

Dr. Elizabeth Molina, Dean of Academic Affairs, Grant Sponsor

Dr. Elizabeth Molina serves as the Central Campus Dean of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Education Pathway at Broward College. In her role, she has overseen a $3.5 million Teacher Quality Partnership Grant and developed new program endorsements to address the needs of local school districts. She focuses on refining teacher preparation and increasing the teacher pipeline to improve K-12 learning outcomes. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Master of Science degree in Educational Technology Applications, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership Administration, all from Barry University.


Crystal Umana, Director Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant

Crystal Umana is the Project Director of the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant at Broward College. She has occupied diverse roles throughout her career, including grant coordinator for the Teacher Incentive Fund and the EQUIP Teacher School Leader grant. As an academic advisor for the Education Pathway, she created and enhanced recruiting, retention, and admissions processes, which led to increased program enrollment. Mrs. Umana's primary focus is on increasing resource utilization for all students, educators, community members, and stakeholders. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English with a minor in Education from Florida International University and a Master of Science degree in Higher Education, College Administration, and Leadership from Kaplan University.

Contact

Crystal Umana
cumana@broward.edu
954-201-2503