At UCF’s School of Teacher Education, learning goes beyond lectures. From your very first semester, you’ll step into real classrooms — logging 75 hours of field experience before your internship even begins. You won’t have to wait until after graduation to start inspiring others. Whether you’re reading alongside children, leading a literacy camp activity or bringing STEM concepts to life through hands-on discovery, you’ll build confidence by doing. Along the way, you’ll grow through service learning, professional development and one-on-one time with faculty. At UCF, you’ll discover the kind of educator you’re meant to be: well-prepared, passionate and ready to lead.
Field Experiences
At UCF’s School of Teacher Education, field experiences are built into your courses, giving you meaningful opportunities to apply what you’re learning in the classroom to real-world settings. From your first semester, you’ll be out in the community, gaining hands-on experience and making a difference, all while fulfilling key service learning requirements.
Reading Clinics and Camps
Work one-on-one with local elementary students to strengthen their reading, writing and critical thinking skills, while receiving guidance from faculty.
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record
Be part of a global shared reading event that brings stories to life for children while you gain confidence leading literacy experiences.
Boots on the Ground
Through 15 hours in a local classroom, you’ll develop essential skills in differentiated instruction, behavior management and professional collaboration. Working with small student groups on pre-planned activities, offering one-on-one support during whole-group lessons, and even sitting in on grade-level Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) where teachers plan lessons, you’ll build assessments, and analyze data.
Read Across America
Join a national movement to spark a love of reading in children of all ages through creative, joyful literacy experiences.
Have questions? Speak to your faculty about field experiences specific to your degree program or reach out to our Office of Immersive Experiences.
Internships
At UCF, we believe one internship isn’t enough to prepare future educators. That’s why our programs include two internships, giving you more time, more mentorship and more opportunities to grow.
Whether you're working with children in a school, museum, or hospital setting, you won’t just observe. You’ll practice using innovative teaching technologies like TeachLivE, and build classroom skills in a supportive environment alongside experienced mentors.
This two-part hands-on approach helps you develop the tools, mindset and heart of a great teacher, ensuring that when you step into your own classroom, you’re ready to lead.
“Witnessing such a high level of involvement during a lesson I created was incredibly rewarding. I learned that not all lessons have to be worksheets and rigid structure. Creativity, interaction, and student-centered approaches can make learning meaningful and fun.”
Breana Webb ‘25, reflecting on her internship in a classroom setting.
Internship Partners
As the top producer of teachers in Florida, we’ve got strong partnerships to help you find the right fit for your internship. From Duval to Collier County, UCF’s network spans the state, giving you access to a wide range of classroom and other educational experiences. From public and private schools to children’s hospitals and nonprofits, our partnerships open doors to real-world experience. You'll find plenty of ways to put your skills into practice and make a difference while you learn.
Partners include:
24 Public School Districts
Florida Virtual School
UCP of Central Florida
Nemours Children’s Hospital
Add a Global Adventure to Your Internship Semester
Interested in adding international experience to your resume? At UCF, you have the opportunity to travel abroad after completing your internship through programs like Carlos V., COST and Meddeas. These can be part of your internship – they’re exciting add-ons that take place during the same semester while giving you a chance to expand your skills, explore a new culture and teach in a classroom overseas.
International Opportunities
Whether you want to explore education through a global lens or gain classroom experience abroad, UCF offers two exciting global pathways:
Study Abroad
Join a faculty-led trip designed just for your program. You’ll travel with fellow students and professors, diving into different educational systems, cultures and communities. It’s a chance to connect what you're learning at UCF to what’s happening around the world. Trips vary by program.
UCF in Costa Rica
Curious what it’s like to teach English outside the U.S.? Spend a semester break in beautiful Atenas, Costa Rica, where you’ll gain real classroom experience while learning about a new culture and education system. Open to School of Teacher Education students enrolled in a teacher certification program or the TEFL program, you’ll assist with English immersion lessons for local pre-K–12 students and take conversational Spanish classes in the afternoons. During your stay, you’ll live with a host family and explore Costa Rica’s vibrant culture through weekend excursions.
Finland
INFO PENDING
Teach Abroad
Want to take your skills even further? After completing Internship I or II, or during your practicum semester, you can volunteer in schools around the world, teaching English or your subject area, while living in dorms or with a host family connected to a school. With placements in more than 30 locations across six continents, these four-week to three-month experiences help you build global connections, explore new cultures and gain a fresh perspective on education.
Student Resources
We’re here to help you succeed. From your first education class to your final internship, the UCF School of Teacher Education offers tools, guidance and support to help you every step of the way.
Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) Resources
To become a certified teacher in Florida, you’ll need to pass the FTCE. These state-required exams help show that you’re ready to lead your own classroom.
You’ll need to complete three key exams to pass the FTCE:
General Knowledge Test (GKT)
Covers reading, math, English language skills and essay writing.
Subject Area Exam (SAE)
Focuses on the subject or grade level you want to teach.
Professional Education Test (PED)
Tests your knowledge of lesson planning, classroom management, student learning and more.
Here are some additional resources to help you as you get closer to test day:
Get writing support at the University Writing Center
As you begin preparing for your exams, check out the Test Information Guides provided by the Florida Department of Education, which also include a practice test. Compare your results with the percent-to-pass each exam to help determine what to study.
You can take the FTCE at the UCF Testing Center on campus or choose a test site near you. Register for your exams on the FTCE website. Be sure to have your scores sent directly to UCF (use school code 5933).
Student Learning & Licensure (SLL) by Watermark™
SLL by Watermark™ is an online portfolio system you’ll use throughout your education program at UCF. It helps track your progress, submit key assignments and make sure you're meeting the requirements to become a certified teacher in Florida.
SLL helps you stay on track as you work toward becoming a certified teacher. You’ll use it to submit major assignments, show your growth over time and meet Florida’s teaching standards. It’s also how we make sure our programs are preparing future educators like you.
It’s a one-time fee of $139 and covers you for seven years. That means you can use it throughout your time at UCF and beyond. Think of it as similar to purchasing textbooks.
Step 1: Using FireFox or Google Chrome, go to the SLL Sign In Page.
Step 2: Click "Forgot Password," enter your official NID@ucf.edu email address and click "SEND LINK".
Step 3: Log into your NID@ucf.edu email account, open the "Password Reset" email message and follow the instructions provided.
Step 4: Return to the SLL Sign In page. Enter your NID@ucf.edu email address and new password, then click "SIGN IN".
Step 5: Accept the Terms of Service and then complete your membership purchase.
Use the “?” icon in the platform to get help or visit the Watermark Help Center for step-by-step guides.
Code of Professional Conduct
At UCF, we believe great teachers are defined by more than just their knowledge. They’re also known for how they carry themselves inside and outside of the classroom. That’s why we help you develop the professional habits and behaviors expected of today’s educators. These skills are built into your program and evaluated throughout your coursework, so you’ll graduate ready to lead with confidence and professionalism.
Curriculum Materials Center
The Curriculum Materials Center, located in the Education Complex, is your go-to library for hands-on teaching tools. From PreK through 12th grade, you’ll find books, lesson plans and other materials to help you plan, practice and get inspired for the classroom.