Contacts

Colleen Rafatti	(863) 784-7403
Director, EPI and Child Development Programs

 

Educator Preparation Institute (EPI)

Are you interested in a career in teaching?
EPI can help you become a highly qualified teacher!

What is EPI?

EPI is South Florida Community College’s alternative teacher certification program, designed to help alleviate Florida’s critical shortage of highly qualified teachers. EPI is an accelerated program that provides adults who already hold non-education baccalaureate degrees the course work needed to successfully complete the components of Florida teacher certification preparation in approximately nine months! EPI graduates, once certified by the Florida Department of Education, receive a professional certificate and may teach anywhere in Florida.

EPI is a flexible and nonsequential program that accommodates the needs of working and parenting adults. Most classes are taught on Saturdays. Students may begin their studies at any time during the year that a new EPI course begins, and may complete their courses in any order.

What are the EPI Admission Requirements?

To be eligible for the EPI program, you must:

• Hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university approved by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE),
• Be accepted as a student at South Florida Community College,
• Be eligible for a temporary teaching certificate from FLDOE,
• Demonstrate competency in basic writing, math, and computer skills,
• Pass level 2 criminal background clearance and fingerprinting, and
• Be approved by the EPI Interview and Selection Committee.

You do not need to be employed as a teacher to be accepted into the EPI program.

How is the EPI Program Structured?

The EPI curriculum consists of seven core courses and two field experiences (totaling 21 credit hours of college course work):

• EPI 0001 Classroom Management (3 credit hours)
• EPI 0002 Instructional Strategies (3 credit hours)
• EPI 0003 Technology (3 credit hours)
• EPI 0004 Teaching and Learning Process (3 credit hours)
• EPI 0010 Research-Based Practices in Reading (3 credit hours)
• EPI 0020 Professional Foundations (2 credit hours)
• EPI 0030 Diversity (2 credit hours)
• EPI 0940 Professional Foundations Field Experience (1 credit hour)*
• EPI 0945 Diversity Field Experience (1 credit hour)*

*Each field experience course requires you to complete a minimum of 15 hours of observation and supervised teaching practice in approved local public or private schools.

You will register for EPI courses through the regular SFCC registration mechanisms and pay standard SFCC tuition and fees. Your EPI classes are taught by faculty who are currently employed as teachers or administrators in local schools, by teachers with expertise in a highly specialized content area such as reading, or by recently retired educators who have extensive background in public or private school education.

What Teaching and Learning Strategies are Applied in EPI Courses?

Your EPI classes are taught using a variety of strategies including traditional lecture, interactive discussion, Web-enhanced course work, and self-directed study. A central element of the competency-based curriculum provides you with practical information, blended with essential theory and real-life practice, to provide the knowledge and skills that you will need to be a successful classroom teacher. Each course addresses one or more of the 12 pre-professional Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and requires that you submit assigned projects for a mandatory electronic portfolio that documents your mastery of the 12 competencies.

EPI courses are supported by your free access to the SFCC Panther Den online learning community and course management system. Panther Den is Internet-based and can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection.

When is an EPI Certificate of Completion Issued?

Your EPI certificate of completion will be issued when:

• You have successfully passed each EPI course with a GPA of 2.5 or higher,
• You have earned a passing score on each required Florida teacher certification examination as outlined on your Status of Eligibility letter from the FLDOE, which may include the :
  • General Knowledge Exam,
  • Professional Education Exam, and
  • One or more Subject Area Exam(s)
• Competency in each of the 12 Educator Accomplished Practices has been documented through your portfolio products and other methods, and
• All SFCC fees and obligations have been satisfied.

To learn more about teacher certification in Florida, go to www.fldoe.org/edcert and www.teachinflorida.com.

What is the Cost of the EPI Program?

EPI students pay regular SFCC community college student tuition and fees. The current in-state (Florida resident) tuition rate for SFCC students is $85.36 per institutional credit hour. The out-of-state (non-Florida resident) student tuition rate is $322.02 per institutional credit hour. (Prospective students new to Florida should check with the SFCC Registrar’s Office for more information on determination of Florida resident status.)

EPI students typically register, and pay for, their classes just prior to the start of each class. Tuition is typically not paid in one lump sum for the entire program. Arrangements can be made through the SFCC Cashier's Office for payments to be made directly by an employer, when applicable.

Is Financial Aid Available to EPI Participants?

Yes! You may wish to explore several types of financial aid, including Federal Student Loans and Pell Grant. (Several student loan “forgiveness” programs are available for teachers who are later employed in high need schools.) Military veterans or their spouses may be eligible for special Troops to Teachers or Spouses to Teachers scholarships. SFCC also offers you the FACTS tuition installment plan (TIP).

If you are interested in exploring these financial aid options, you are strongly encouraged to meet with an SFCC financial aid advisor as soon as possible. Contact the SFCC Financial Aid Office at (863) 784-7108 for an appointment and additional information.