FAQs

No. Passing scores on all four sections of the General Knowledge Test (GKT) are required to apply for Student Teaching or Teacher Residency. To begin the internship, passing scores on the Professional Educator (PEd) and Subject Area Exams (SAE) are also required.

Passing the FTCE is a graduation requirement for all initial teacher preparation programs. To stay on track, take the GKT after earning 60 credits and the PEd and SAE at the start of the semester before your internship.

No. Student Teaching has traditionally been an unpaid experience. However, eligible students may consider the Teacher Residency program, which offers a paid internship opportunity.

Full-time employment is not recommended during student teaching due to the demanding nature of the internship. While some student teachers manage part-time work in the evenings or on weekends, balancing a job and a successful internship can be challenging.

Student Teaching requires a significant time commitment beyond classroom hours, including lesson planning, developing instructional materials, and collaborating with your cooperating teacher. Additionally, teaching, especially for beginners, is a high-energy role, and you may find yourself physically and mentally exhausted at the end of each day. Consider carefully whether working during this time is feasible for you.

Student Teaching:  Placements are made in schools with formal agreements to ensure a professional and fulfilling experience. While you may request a specific school or area, we cannot guarantee placement requests.

Teacher Residency:  Placements depend on available teaching vacancies and are coordinated with M-DCPS.

Student Teaching Placements:  We match you with a cooperating teacher in your discipline based on the zip code you provided in your application.

Teacher Residency Placements:  These are arranged in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) and finalized months in advance to allow for onboarding.

For both placement types, the cooperating or mentor teacher and the school principal must sign an internship agreement before the placement is confirmed.

Student Teaching/Teacher Residency applications are submitted months before the student’s placement. If you move, please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences as soon as possible to update your ZIP code. Otherwise, you will be placed in or near the ZIP code you provided when you submitted your application. If you notify the Office of Clinical Experiences after your placement has been processed, we cannot guarantee a change of placement.

Placement details will be emailed a few days before the internship semester begins. After grades for the prior semester are posted and your eligibility is verified, we will email you your placement and cooperating or mentor teacher’s contact information.

We try our best to place at least two interns at every school. This is helpful for students wishing to carpool and university supervisors who must travel to schools for observations and meetings.

The Student Teaching course is the internship course for the traditional Student Teaching and Teacher Residency pathways. Be sure to consult with your academic advisor to confirm your program's enrollment requirements.

You can register for your Student Teaching course when you receive the notification email with your placement information. The email will include the name of your assigned university supervisor and his/her corresponding section of the course. You will need to register in your assigned supervisor’s course section. Notification emails are typically sent a few days before the beginning of the internship semester, before the registration deadline.

The number of credits varies by major. To find the specific credit requirements for your program, refer to the course description for your assigned student teaching course.

ARE 4940 Art Education
EEC 4943 Early Childhood Education
EDE 4943 Elementary Education
EEX 4861 Special Education
LAE 4942 English Education
MAE 4942 Math Education
MUE 4940 Music Education
SCE 4944 Science Education
SSE 4942 Social Studies Education

Students in their final semester will have the full-time requirement waived for certain types of aid. To qualify, you must (1) be in your final term of enrollment, (2) be enrolled at least half-time, and (3) be eligible to graduate at the end of the current semester based on your current enrollment. The grant(s) will be prorated based on your actual enrollment after the add/drop period. Please contact OneStop for questions about scholarships that require full-time enrollment.

Once you receive your placement, you may contact your cooperating teacher and introduce yourself.

You will meet your university supervisor during the mandatory Student Teaching/Teacher Residency orientation.

Your university supervisor is critical in supporting and guiding you throughout your internship. They observe your teaching in the classroom multiple times during the semester, provide detailed feedback, and discuss their observations with you to help improve your instructional skills. Your supervisor also serves as a mentor, offering advice and support as you navigate the challenges of Student Teaching or Teacher Residency.

In addition to evaluating your progress, your supervisor works closely with your cooperating or mentor teacher to assess your performance and professional growth. They are responsible for assigning your final grade for the internship based on their observations, your performance, and input from your cooperating teacher.

Yes, attendance at the orientation is mandatory. You must participate in all three full-day sessions. Be sure to mark your calendar when you receive the orientation dates.

No, Student Teaching and Teacher Residency are full-time commitments that require your complete focus and energy. Taking additional courses during your internship could compromise your success and the quality of instruction you provide to your K-12 students.

To ensure a smooth internship semester, work closely with your academic advisor to complete all coursework and pass your FTCE exams before beginning your internship.

Yes, both Student Teaching and Teacher Residency are graded internships. You will receive a letter grade at the end of the semester, assigned by your university supervisor. Your final grade will be based on the supervisor’s professional assessment of your overall performance throughout the semester and will include input from your cooperating teacher.

Yes, you will need to complete and submit a new application by the deadline for the semester in which you plan to complete your internship. Be sure to notify the Office of Clinical Experiences immediately if your plans change.

Student Teaching does not include designated "sick days" or "personal days." You are allowed up to five absences during your placement, which must be made up during “Make-up Week” (the week following the last day of your student teaching experience).

If you anticipate needing additional time off, you must schedule a meeting with a representative from the Office of Clinical Experiences, and supporting documentation may be required. Exceeding five absences without prior approval could result in the termination of your internship.

For any anticipated or unexpected absences, you must inform your cooperating teacher and university supervisor as soon as possible. Additionally, you must ensure that your lesson plans and teaching materials are delivered to your cooperating teacher to minimize disruptions to the classroom.

Under emergency or critical circumstances, requests for out-of-area placements within Florida (outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties) may be considered. However, such placements are challenging due to differences in school environments and limited familiarity with FIU’s programs and policies among teachers and supervisors.

Out-of-state placements are not allowed. For more information or to discuss specific circumstances, please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences.