At UCF, internships are a rewarding part of your journey to become the teacher you want to be. You’ll have access to a wide range of placement opportunities thanks to our status as the No. 1 producer of certified teachers in Florida. Our strong reputation and long-standing partnerships mean that school districts trust our students and welcome them into their classrooms.

With two internship experiences built into every teaching degree, you’ll graduate with real-world experience, relationships with mentor teachers and classroom readiness that sets you apart.

What makes our internship model stand out?

Internship I: Two full days each week in a classroom, putting theory into practice as you observe, assist and gradually lead instruction.

Internship II: A full-time, 14-week experience where you take on the full responsibilities of a teacher, from lesson planning and classroom management to student assessment and parent conferences.

You’ll gain hands-on experience with children in a variety of settings — public, private and charter schools, museums, libraries, science centers, hospitals and more. Your placement is personalized based on your track and career goals, and best of all, you choose where you want to intern, whether that’s in Central Florida, closer to home or even abroad!

Throughout both internships, our dedicated team of coordinators provides daily support and encouragement. From check-ins to coaching, you’ll never feel like you’re navigating this experience alone. The internship journey is scaffolded to help you grow, starting with observation and building toward full responsibility.

Many of our students are offered teaching positions during or after Internship II. This isn’t just practice — it’s your future unfolding.

Internship Placements

Young child smiling with student teacherAs the No. 1 producer of certified teachers in Florida, UCF has connections with more than 20 school districts across the state, as well as countless other partners in private schools, nonprofit organizations and children’s hospitals. These partnerships allow us to offer students a wide variety of opportunities to gain on-the-job training with both paid and unpaid options. Best of all, internships are not tied to Orlando or Central Florida, and we encourage students to select internship sites that meet their needs as well.

Some opportunities include:

UCP of Central Florida
Support K-12 classrooms at UCP of Central Florida. As an intern, you’ll assist lead teachers in creating meaningful learning experiences for students with and without disabilities, while completing your internship requirements in a truly impactful setting.

Teacher-In-Residence (TIR)
Work side-by-side with expert teachers as a pre-service teacher. The Teacher-in-Residence program lets you step into the classroom early, gaining valuable teaching experience under supervision while continuing to develop your instructional skills.

FLDOE Temporary Teacher Internship Certification (TTIC)
Get a head start on your teaching career through TTIC. During Internship II, you'll serve as the full-time teacher of record in your own classroom — five days a week for an entire semester. You’ll be both a UCF student and an official school district employee, gaining hands-on experience while earning pay and building confidence.

Educators Plus (Elementary Lake County)
In this co-teaching model, two Internship II students are paired in the same classroom as long-term substitute teachers under the guidance of a mentor. You’ll rotate responsibilities, get real-time feedback and grow your skills in a supportive environment. Bonus: This opportunity may include tuition reimbursement.

UCF PedsAcademy at Nemours Children’s Hospital
As an intern, you can make a meaningful impact through UCF’s PedsAcademy at Nemours Children’s Hospital — a pediatric school program that keeps hospitalized children academically engaged. During your internship, you’ll work directly with patients, gaining hands-on experience while being supervised and mentored by the certified teacher in the hospital setting.

NASA Internship I
Interested in a unique STEM Education internship? Our NASA Internship I opportunity is an educator experience located at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in the Exploration Station Classroom (ESC) under the mentorship of a full-time space and science education specialist and the director of the ESC program. You will have the opportunity to create and implement lesson plans for local schools during field trips to KSC in a classroom setting, with several sessions held twice a week.

Internship Eligibility

  • Student Success and Well Being (SSWB) will determine internship eligibility based on program progression information.
  • Eligible students will be sent a Placement Request Form link from the Office of Immersive Experiences.
  • Internship eligibility is determined the semester before the internships is to take place.
  • If you have a question regarding your eligibility for an internship, please contact your Academic Success Coach.
  • If you have a question regarding the Internship Eligibility and Placement Process, please contact teacheredintern@ucf.edu.

FAQs