ESOL Endorsement

  • Teachers who teach Reading, ESE k-12, Language Arts, and k-6 Elementary are required to have the ESOL Endorsement on their certificate. All other teachers may hold the endorsement as well but are required to complete some professional development in ESOL based on their instructional category.

    • Category 1 teachers are required to earn the ESOL Endorsement:
      • Category 1: Language Arts, Reading, ESE K-12; Elementary
    • Category 2, 3, and 4 teachers do not need to earn the ESOL Endorsement but DO need the following hours of ESOL training:
      • Category 2: Teachers of Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Computer Literacy, VE Support (60 in-service hours)
      • Category 3: All other teachers (Music, Art, PE, etc.) and service providers (School Social Workers, Psychologists, etc.) (18 in-service hours)
      • Category 4: School Administrators and Guidance Counselors (60 in-service hours)

      

    OPTIONS FOR EARNING ESOL ENDORSEMENT:

    •  Option 1: Pinellas County Schools offers the professional development necessary for teachers to earn the ESOL Endorsement. Course offerings are updated monthly on the Professional Development Chalk Talk. Training is available in face to face and virtual formats.
    • Each area earns 60 in-service hours.
      • The five areas include:
        •  Methods of teaching English to speakers of other languages (can also be referred to as Essentials, Strategies, Empowering, or Methods)
        • ESOL Curriculum
        • Cross-Cultural Communication
        • Applied Linguistics
        • Testing and Evaluation of ESOL
      • After completing Option 1, add the ESOL Endorsement by submitting the District Add Endorsement Application with the FLDOE.

     

    • Option 2: Earn the ESOL endorsement through college credit. If you have earned the ESOL Endorsement by taking 15 hours of ESOL college credit, submit your application to the FLDOE to add the ESOL Endorsement to your certificate. You will need to submit your official college transcript if you have not already done so.
      • After completing Option 2, add the ESOL Endorsement when submitting the initial Teacher Certification Application with the FLDOE.

     

    • Option 3: Available to Category 1 teachers to earn ESOL K-12 Subject Area Certification. With the completion of any two of the 60-point ESOL training courses and a passing score on the ESOL K-12 Subject Area Examination, Category 1 teachers may earn certification in ESOL K-12.
      • After completing Option 3, add the ESOL K-12 subject area by submitting the District Add Subject Application with the FLDOE.
      • Add ESOL K-12 subject area (not ESOL Endorsement) if you complete Option 3

     

    Sign Up for ESOL Training 

    To view the schedule for upcoming ESOL training, visit the ESOL Training Page.