Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is committed to providing high quality educational services to all learners. The primary goal of the Alternative Professional Preparation Program (AP3) is to expand the pool of educators to include non-education majors who share this commitment to student learning, achievement, and opportunity.

M-DCPS has developed a program that includes methods for identifying each applicant's entry-level teaching competencies, and requires each applicant to:

1. have expertise in the subject and meet requirements for specialization in a subject area for which a professional certificate may be issued under this chapter and rules of the state board;
2. complete the program within the validity period of the existing Temporary Educators Certificate; and
3. achieve passing scores on the professional education competency examination required by state board rule

The AP3 is a year-long program designed to provide non-education majors the opportunity to complete a program designed to meet the professional education coursework requirements for issuance of a professional certificate. In order to be eligible for participation in the AP3, applicants must:

1. be full-time instructional employees of M-DCPS in a teaching assignment that does not vary daily and be certified to hold said position;
2. hold or be eligible to hold a three-year temporary certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Bureau of Teacher Certification; and
3. possess at least a Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accepted institution, and meet the subject area requirements in a subject area for which a professional certificate may be issued.