Become a Licensed Elementary Teacher in Florida and Earn Your Master's at the Same Time
Designed for career changers: NLU's M.A.T. in Elementary Education takes you from any bachelor's degree to Florida Professional Educator Certification for Grades K to 6, plus a master's degree, in two years or less. Live and learn in the Tampa area.
- CAEP-Accredited National College of Education
- Preparing Teachers Since 1886
- Florida Educator Certification, Grades K to 6
- Master's Waives Florida's General Knowledge Test
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Our stunning Tampa Florida Campus is conveniently located on West Hillsborough Ave. just west of Tampa Airport
Program at a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Plan and teach all four core content areas: literacy, math, science, and social studies
- Design assessments that measure elementary student learning
- Teach students with disabilities and English learners in inclusive classrooms
- Complete supervised field experience and a student teaching placement
- Qualify for Florida Professional Educator Certification, Grades K to 6
- Earn the Florida Reading Endorsement as part of your program
- Earn the Florida ESOL Endorsement, or complete required ESOL coursework
- Complete a 3 semester-hour Methods for Teaching Students with Disabilities course
Full Course List
Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.
Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in any subject
- Online application at nl.edu with official transcripts
- Statement of Eligibility (SOE) from the Florida Department of Education
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0, or three references attesting to your capability
- Criminal background check and TB test before clinical placements
What I love most about NCE is the school's diversity and my interactions with intelligent, insightful classmates.
You don't need an education background. A bachelor's in any subject qualifies you to start, and the program builds everything from there, with field experience before you lead a classroom solo.
The Alternative Florida track prepares bachelor's holders for Florida Professional Educator Certification in Grades K to 6. You apply with a Statement of Eligibility from the Florida DOE, and your finished master's waives Florida's General Knowledge test.
You earn both Florida Professional Educator Certification for Grades K to 6 and the M.A.T., and the master's typically lifts your starting pay on district salary schedules from day one.
Where Will Your M.A.T. Take You?
Florida schools hire elementary teachers every year. Roughly 103,800 elementary and kindergarten openings come open nationally each year as teachers retire or change careers (BLS, 2024 to 2034). NLU’s M.A.T. graduates enter that market with two advantages most first-year teachers lack: a master’s degree, which moves you up the district salary schedule from day one, and real classroom experience from supervised field placements and student teaching.
The median salary for elementary school teachers is $62,340 (BLS, May 2024). For career changers, the M.A.T. is the fastest credible route from deciding to teach to leading your own Grades K to 6 classroom.
How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps
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Request Information
Submit the form above. An NLU enrollment specialist will reach out to answer your questions about the Florida certification pathway and which track fits your situation.
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Map Your Path With an Advisor
Your advisor maps your bachelor's degree and goals to the Alternative Florida track, then walks you through transcripts, your Statement of Eligibility, and testing requirements.
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Apply and Start Classes
Submit your application at nl.edu with official transcripts and your Florida DOE Statement of Eligibility. Next start: September 21, 2026.
Take the First Step
No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions and map your fastest path to the classroom.
Take the First Step- CAEP-Accredited National College of Education
- Preparing Teachers Since 1886
- Florida Educator Certification, Grades K to 6
- Master's Waives Florida's General Knowledge Test
*Salary data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021), May 2024.
**Job openings: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, 2024 to 2034 projections.
***Credit hours, certification pathway, and curriculum: SmartCatalog, National Louis University, Elementary Education M.A.T. Alternative Florida Program (nl.smartcatalogiq.com, current catalog).