Teaching License from Kentucky to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification ↗
Yes — Florida recognizes teaching certificates from all states, including Kentucky. Apply to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Full reciprocity
Coming from Kentucky, Florida is a comparatively smooth move — but "reciprocity" still means applying to Florida for its own credential, not carrying your Kentucky license across. Florida's streamlined recognition shortens the path, and if you have several years of experience or National Board certification, its exams may be waived entirely. The requirements below are what Florida still asks.
What changes, Kentucky → Florida
| Kentucky (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $85 ($85.00 application fee paid online through the EPSB account (ePay)) | $75 ($75 processing fee per subject for an initial Florida certification application (non-refundable), per the FLDOE Certification Application Fee Schedule; district fingerprint/background screening costs are separate) |
| Processing time | Not stated on the reviewed EPSB out-of-state page | A specific board processing time is not published on the reviewed FLDOE pages |
| Licensing authority | Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) - Division of Educator Licensure and Quality (administered with the Kentucky Department of Education) | Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Apply for an Official Statement of Status of Eligibility, then the certificate, with the Bureau of Educator Certification.
- Provide a valid (unexpired, not revoked) standard out-of-state certificate comparable to the Florida Professional Certificate, OR a currently valid NBPTS certificate.
- If not all Professional Certificate requirements are met, obtain a Temporary Certificate (valid three school years, non-renewable) to teach while completing them.
- Complete the fingerprint-based background screening through the employing Florida school district.
- Pay the fees ($75 ($75 processing fee per subject for an initial Florida certification application (non-refundable), per the FLDOE Certification Application Fee Schedule; district fingerprint/background screening costs are separate)) and allow A specific board processing time is not published on the reviewed FLDOE pages.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida accept a Kentucky teaching license?
Yes — Florida recognizes teaching certificates from all states, including Kentucky. Apply to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
Will I have to retake tests moving from Kentucky to Florida?
Florida's FTCE exams are NOT required for the reciprocity route: a valid standard educator's certificate from another state that is comparable to the Florida Professional Certificate (same or higher training level, comparable subject) qualifies the holder for the Florida Professional Certificate without the FTCE; a valid National Board (NBPTS) certificate qualifies the same way. Applicants who lack a comparable standard certificate are instead issued a Temporary Certificate and must pass the required FTCE within its term. Holding a Kentucky license does not by itself waive Florida's tests — experience or National Board certification is what typically does.
Can I teach in Florida right away?
Generally yes on a provisional or one-year Florida certificate issued while you complete its requirements; districts hire on that credential.
What does the Kentucky-to-Florida transfer cost and how long does it take?
$75 ($75 processing fee per subject for an initial Florida certification application (non-refundable), per the FLDOE Certification Application Fee Schedule; district fingerprint/background screening costs are separate); processing A specific board processing time is not published on the reviewed FLDOE pages.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- FLDOE - Certified Teacher or Administrator (two reciprocity routes to the Professional Certificate; comparable standard cert or NBPTS; FTCE not required; 3-year non-renewable Temporary Certificate) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- FLDOE - Certification Application Fee Schedule ($75 per subject) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Kentucky EPSB - Candidates Trained Outside of Kentucky (out-of-state certification, NASDTEC, CA-1, $85 fee, Praxis) [accessed via Internet Archive; live epsb.ky.gov unreachable/migrating, content dated 2020] ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]