Question
# 1: Do I need
to take both the Professional section and Specialization section to the FTCE
at the same time?
Answer: No, you do not need to take both sections of the FTCE at the same time or the same day. It is recommended that you take the Professional section as soon as you finish the Foundation Courses, and later take the Specialization section the same semester you apply for internship (by this time you should have finished most of your specialization methods courses, and, also, this will give you an extra semester, in case you need it, to meet the FTCE requirement). The foundation courses for elementary education undegraduate students are the following:
The foundation courses for elementary education graduate students are the following:
Question
# 2: How many items are included in the FTCE for Elementaty Education?
Answer: There are 160 items altogether for the FTCE for Elementary Education?
Question
# 3: Should I take the 1-6 or K-6 version of the Elementary Education Subject
Area Examination?
Answer: At this time, we recommend you take the 1-6 examination. ÊAnyone who applies for initial certification between July 1, 2002, and July 1, 2004, with a passing score on either the 1-6 or K-6 subject area examination will be certified K-6.
Question
# 4: If I need to take all three examinations (Professional Education, Subject
Area, and General Knowledge), can I take them on the same test date?
Answer: No. ÊThe General Knowledge Examination and Subject Area Examination cannot be taken on the same date. ÊYou can take the Professional Education and General Knowledge examinations on the same date. ÊYou can also elect to take the Subject Area Examination and the Proessional Education test on the same date UNLESS you elect to take the new K-6 subject area examination. ÊThat new test has five sections and is scheduled for both morning and afternoon sessions. ÊIf you take that subject area examination (instead of the 1-6) exam, that is the only test you can take on the scheduled date.
Question
# 5: Do I have to pass the FTCE to graduate?
Answer: Yes, the FTCE is a now a graduation requirement for the undergraduate students. It is also required for receiving the teacher certification from the Florida Department of Education. The graduate students (MA) should pass it too since it is a teacher certification requirement.
Question
# 6: What should be my timeline for taking the different parts of the exam?
Answer: First, you should be aware that there are three sections of the exam that must be passed for certification: the General Knowledge Exam, the Professional Education Exam, and the Subject Area Exam. ÊIf you took and passed all four parts of the CLAST prior to July 1, 2002, you do not need to take the General Knowledge Exam. ÊAs of July 1, 2002, the CLAST (including individual sections of the CLAST) cannot be used to satisfy the general knowledge component of the FTCE. ÊIf you need to take one or more portions of the General Knowledge Test, you should do that very early in your program. ÊWe recommend you take the Professional Education Exam after completing the foundations courses in your program (e.g., EDF 4214, EDG 4323, and EDF 4603 for undergraduates). ÊYou should take the subject area examination no later than the last scheduled test date in the semester prior to Internship II. ÊThat will provide you with at least one additional test opportunity prior to graduation should you need to retest. Undergraduate students should take the General Knowledge Exam before entering the program (it is a program entry requirement), the Professional section as soon as they finish with the Foundation courses, and finally the Specialization section a semeter before you are planning to do your intership. ÊPlease see answer to Question # 1 for more details.
Question
# 7: Has the exam changed since my colleagues took it? If so, how? What's
the best way to prepare?
Answer: The General Knowledge Exam is new. ÊThe Professional Education Exam and the Subject Area Exam for Elementary Education 1-6 have not changed recently, though you should be advised that a new Professional Education Exam is being developed and there is a new Elementary Education K-6 Exam that is an option through Jul 1, 2004, after which it becomes mandatory. ÊThe Elementary Education 1-6 Exam will not be offered after July 1, 2004. The UCF College of Education offers Preparation Sections before every administration of the exams. ÊCheck the website for more information regarding this changes: Êhttp://reach.ucf.edu/~ftce.
Question
# 8: What is our current pass rate?
Answer: We do not have statistics for the General Knowledge Exam since this is a new test. ÊFor the past year, our pass rate for the Professional Education and Subject Area Exams has been 100% since passing the FTCE has become a graduation requirement. ÊThe most recent data we have prior to this change reflected a college-wide pass rate of 98.5% on the Professional Education Exam and 88.9% on the Elementary Education 1-6 Subject Area Exam. ÊThose figures probably approximate our current "first attempt" pass rates.
Question
# 9: If I need to take all three examinations (Professional Education, Subject
Area, and General Knowledge), can I take them on the same test date?
Answer: No. ÊThe General Knowledge Examination and Subject Area Examination cannot be taken on the same date. ÊYou can take the Professional Education and General Knowledge examinations on the same date. ÊYou can also elect to take the Subject Area Examination and the Proessional Education test on the same date UNLESS you elect to take the new K-6 subject area examination. ÊThat new test has five sections and is scheduled for both morning and afternoon sessions. ÊIf you take that subject area examination (instead of the 1-6) exam, that is the only test you can take on the scheduled date.
Question
# 10: Should I take the 1-6 or K-6 version of the Elementary Education Subject
Area Examination?
Answer: At this time, we recommend you take the 1-6 examination. ÊFrom July 1, 2002, to July 1, 2004, if you pass either exam (1-6 or K-6) you will be certified K-6.
Question
# 11: I was wondering when I should take the General Knowledge Test?Ê Do
I wait until I graduate, or try to take it early?Ê The other Teacher Certification
tests, are they o taken at the end?
Answer: Please see answer to Question # 1.
Question
# 12: If I take the General Knowledge Test, am I still required to take
the CLAST?Ê
Answer: The General Knowledge Test has replaced the CLAST for teacher certification. ÊThe CLAST is still required for undergradute admission. ÊSections of the CLAST passed prior to Jul 1, 2002 can be used to satisfy the general knowledge test component of the FTCE. ÊSections of the CLAST taken on/after July 1, 2002 can only be used for admission. ÊAs of this date, the General Knowledge Exam CANNOT be used for admission, only for certification.
Question
# 13: I am really confused as to which tests I should be taking now and
which should be taken at the end of my program?
Answer: Please see Question # 1.
Question
# 14: How long does it take until I receive the results?
Answer: Score results are usually mailed approximately one month after the test date.
Question
# 15: Is there some way I can access my results earlier?
Answer: Yes, you may visit the following website for test results and other information:
http://www.ari.coedu.usf.edu/ceffe/index.html
Question
# 16: Are the results automatically sent to Student Services so that it
can be included on my audit? ÊIf not, do I take the results to Student Services?
Answer: Test results are submitted to the College in hard copy format. ÊStudents typically get their mailed results BEFORE the College receives test results.
Question
# 17: I am a Master of Arts in Elementary Education Studnet and have taken
an passed all section of the CLAST except the Mathematics section. What should
I do about the CLAST test for mathematics?
The 1 July changes are the key here for graduate students. ÊThe FTCE has always consisted of three components: a basic skills test, a professional education test, and a subject area exam. ÊUntil July 1, 2002, the CLAST satisfied the basic skills requirement. ÊSince our undergraduates must pass the CLAST for admission to the program, that requirement was met prior to admission, so only the two remaining portions of the FTCE were required. ÊWhile the CLAST was not an admissions requirement for M.A. students, they did need to pass it to satisfy the basic skills portion of the FTCE. ÊEffective July 1, 2002, the CLAST cannot be used to pass the basic skills portion of the FTCE. ÊOnly the new General Knowledge Exam meets that requirement. ÊSince you did not pass the math portion of the CLAST prior to that date, you must now take and pass the math portion of the new General Knowledge Exam as well as the Subject Area Exam and Professional Education Exam to complete your FTCE requirements. ÊSince you are a graduate student, I see no reason for you to take the math portion of the CLAST.
