ADMISSION CRITERIA AND CHECKLIST Educator Preparation Institute
The following criteria will be used for selection into the Educator Preparation Institute. Admission to the Educator Preparation Institute is limited to eligible applicants only. All students must have a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a valid statement of eligibility and/or a valid Temporary Certificate from the Florida Department of Education. To complete the EPI program, students must pass and provide FTCE Exams scores and submit an EPI portfolio. EPI Application Deadlines: Fall Term: August 15th Spring Term: December 15th Summer Term: May 15th * * Summer ONLINE courses begin in early May and all required EPI paperwork must be submitted before online courses begin in the summer term. Once a course begins, you cannot register for the course. Summer INTENSIVE courses begin in mid June. All required EPI paperwork must be submitted by June 1st. All EPI courses are limited to a space available basis.
Application requirements: _____ 1. Obtain a Statement of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Education. You may request an eligibility statement at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/steps.asp. The cost is $75 and is the responsibility of the student. This process will take approximately 4-6 weeks.
_____ 2. Submit a completed college application for admission by the College Application Deadline. Visit Valencia's Web site at www.valenciacollege.edu/admissions for specific information.
_____ 3. Attend a group enrollment session about the Educator Preparation Institute prior to submitting an EPI application to the program. Dates are posted on the EPI website, http://valenciacollege.edu/epi/about.asp
_____ 4. Submit official college transcripts reflecting a Bachelor’s degree _____ 5. Complete the Brief Biographical Statement form and submit with your EPI application. A copy of the statement can be found at http://valenciacollege.edu/epi/steps.cfm
_____ 6. Complete the FEAPs Pre-Assessment form and submit with your EPI application. A copy of the statement can be found at http://valenciacollege.edu/epi/steps.cfm
_____ 7. Complete the EPI Education Plan and submit with your EPI application. A copy of the statement can be found at http://valenciacollege.edu/epi/steps.cfm
_____ 8. After the checklist is complete, an EPI application must be submitted to the EPI office in building 1 room 255 (West campus) with all required documentation and a copy of your Statement of Eligibility and/or Temporary Certificate. EPI applications are located at http://valenciacollege.edu/epi/steps.cfm *After acceptance and prior to the start of the first term of field experience courses, students will be notified of the process required to complete a criminal background check and the deadline for the completion of the check. Applicants with a positive background check may be denied permission to continue in the Educator Preparation Institute. The fee is the responsibility of the student. Students will not begin the EPI field experience courses until we have the background check on file. Background checks are valid for one term. *Applicants for Valencia's Educator Preparation Institute must be free of offenses that would disqualify them from a student field experience in an educational setting and must have their civil rights intact. This policy is in response to requirements by county school district regulations.