To apply for a position with OCPS, applicants will need the following information: 

• A personal email address (employees should not use their ocps.net email address) 

• Social Security Number 

• A resume is required for all instructional, administrative, and other professional positions (a resume may also be required for some non-instructional (classified) positions) 

• For instructional positions, candidates must be certified or have received a statement of eligibility from the Florida Department of Education 

• Recent work history, including the company name, supervisor name and phone number, and dates of employment 

When applying for the first time at OCPS, applicants will create a profile that requires the information listed above. This information will be stored on the candidate profile and will not need to be re-entered for subsequent applications. 

To update your candidate profile, please visit one of the career portals listed below and locate Log back in!  in the upper right corner, just beneath the OCPS banner. 

1. Enter your username. Depending on your choice when creating your profile, this may be your email address or username. 

2. Enter the code shown on the screen and click Continue. 

3. Enter your password and click LOG IN. 

4. Once successfully logged in, you will see buttons labeled Update your Profile (attach a new resume, change your contact information, attach documents, etc.) and AT* Employment History (update your previous employment history dates, supervisor name and contact information, or add additional information). 

When applying for the first time at OCPS, you will create a login ID and password.   The self-service option in the career portal can be used later to reset the password as needed:

1. Locate the Log back in! link in the upper right corner, just beneath the OCPS banner
2. Provide your username – depending on what you chose when you created your profile, this may be your email address or just a username.
3. Enter the code shown on the screen and click Continue. 
4. On the next screen, select the Reset your Password option.  

The system will email you a link to allow a new password to be chosen.   The email address used for this will be the one previously stored on your candidate profile.  If the email address is incorrect, the applicant can’t remember the email address used on the profile, or if it needs to be changed for any reason, the applicant should email HR@ocps.net to request the address be updated.

If you used your ocps.net email address when creating your profile, the system will not allow you to log back in or reset their password with that address.   Please email HR@ocps.net to request the email address be updated on your profile (you must supply a personal email address). 

Candidates may email HR@ocps.net for help with accessing their profile, updating the email address used on their profile, or completing an application.   Questions sent to this address are answered during normal business hours - during the school year, Monday-Friday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM, and during the summer months (June and July), Monday – Thursday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM.  Questions sent to this address on the weekends or during holidays will be answered the next business day. 

All full-time benefitted positions advertised in one of our career portals include the job description and Salary Schedule information.

You may also visit the Compensation Services web page to review Salary Schedules and FAQs for additional information. 

The OCPS pre-employment orientation (PREO) session provides an opportunity for all the components of the pre-employment process to be held at one time and in one location.

All sessions are currently being held at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center (RBELC) located at 445 W. Amelia Street, Orlando, Florida. Parking is available on the first floor of the parking garage located next to the building.  Upon entering the building, candidates will be directed through the process.

The school or work location offering employment registers the candidate for a specific PREO session, and provides the candidate with a confirmation email or letter.  Candidates can expect the following when attending the PREO session:

1. Completion of employment paperwork/forms such as W-4, I-9 Employment Eligibility form, etc.
2. Fingerprinting is performed using Livescan technology. The price to fingerprint is $70.00. Fingerprint Enrollment and payment must be completed prior to attending Pre-Employment Orientation (PREO).  A link will be provided in the electronic on-boarding system.  
3. Drug Testing is performed using a urine specimen will be collected at our on-site facility.  The price to drug test is $49.17.  Drug testing payment must be made prior to attending Pre-Employment Orientation (PREO).  A link will be provided in the electronic on-boarding system.  
4. IPCS Evaluation – certain positions will require the completion of the Industrial Physical Capacity Services (IPCS) evaluation to ensure your ability to safely perform the specific requirements as described in the job description. Eligibility for employment is contingent on your successful completion of the evaluation.

OCPS participates in E-Verify to confirm Work Authorization. For further information, refer to the E-Verify links, below.

I-9 Employment Eligibility Form

List of Acceptable Documents

E-Verify (English)

E-Verify (Spanish)

Right-to-Work (English)

Right-to-Work (Spanish)

Orange County Public Schools maintains a workplace free of drugs and other forms of substance abuse.  School board policy GBEC Drug Free Workplace outlines the parameters of the program and the District’s compliance with Florida Statutes and US Department of Transportation regulations.  

Upon being offered employment, individuals are required to take and pass a screening for controlled substances as a condition of employment.  Controlled substances include the following natural and synthetic drugs: Amphetamines, Cocaine, Opiates, Marijuana, and Phencyclidine.  Orange County Public Schools does not accept medical marijuana cards or prescriptions. 

The candidate must agree to submit to this examination while attending the pre-employment orientation session and authorizes the provider to inform OCPS of the results.  The cost for test is $49.17 and payment for the drug test must be made prior to the examination and will be completed via OCPS SchoolPay.  This will be explained and confirmed during the electronic onboarding the candidate receives through our applicant tracking system. 

This is a mandatory condition of employment and applies to any new hire and anyone returning to the district after a break in service (regardless of the length of the break in service).  

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) has guidelines in place that are used to review an applicant’s past work performance to determine eligibility for employment. OCPS will take into consideration the nature of the action, as well as the age of the action, when making a determination about eligibility for employment.

Each applicant shall answer the Work Performance Questions based on his/her entire work history. OCPS conducts a thorough work performance history check with an applicant’s previous employers over the past five (5) years, including, but not limited to: any evaluations; certification issues (previous or pending revocations, suspensions, sanctions, or denials); resignations (i.e. while under investigation, misconduct, in lieu of termination, while on probation or performance improvement plan, mutual agreement, etc.); investigations; discipline/reprimands/suspensions (with or without pay); terminations; reasons for dismissal (including dismissal during a probationary period); non-reappointments (for performance reasons); references, etc.

All candidates for employment with OCPS will be fingerprinted and a criminal record history check will be completed. In Florida, the entire criminal record, including any arrest record, is revealed to school districts, including sealed and/or expunged records and military court proceedings.1 Applicants (including those seeking to be an employee, vendor, or non‐paid volunteer) must disclose this information even if told differently by a lawyer, judge, or other law enforcement individual. If you were given this information by a judge, then those written instructions would need to be provided to OCPS. Prior criminal records may or may not result in disqualification for employment; however, failure to disclose this information MAY disqualify you for employment. Information that must be disclosed includes any offense that occurred whether as a juvenile or adult; therefore, all adult and juvenile offenses must be listed.

An applicant’s criminal history includes any offense for which the applicant posted bail; entered a pre‐trial diversion program, pre‐trial intervention program, teen or drug court or juvenile program; had adjudication withheld; was convicted or found guilty; was placed on probation; pled guilty or no contest; was jailed or imprisoned; or appeared in court; as a juvenile or adult. In accordance with the Jessica Lunsford Act,2 please understand that you must list all adult or juvenile misdemeanors, felonies, military court proceedings, or other criminal offenses and/or records. Note: DUI and reckless driving are criminal offenses.

The current Hiring Guidelines can be viewed here.

The School Board of Orange County, Florida will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job when such individuals request an accommodation.  The ADA Department through the Office of Legal Services oversees and coordinates the Reasonable Accommodation process on behalf of the District. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to initiate the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Process, please click here.  

Generally. Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, sets forth certain requirements for public employers to accord preferences, in appointment, retention, and promotion, to certain veterans and spouses of veterans who are Florida residents. The relevant portions of the law apply to “the state and its political subdivisions.” School districts are subject to the requirements of Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, under which The School Board of Orange County, Florida (“Board”) establishes this policy.

School Board Policy GBAC

Per Florida Statute 119.071(5), this is to notify you of the purpose of collecting and utilizing your social security number. Providing your social security number is a condition of employment at Orange County Public Schools. To protect your identity, Employment Services will secure your social security number from unauthorized access, and strictly prohibit the release of your social security number to unauthorized parties contrary to state and federal law.

Employment Services collects your social security number for legitimate business purposes during the recruitment, selection and hiring process with Orange County Public Schools. Your social security number will be used for completing and processing the following actions: Employment application for determining certification eligibility [1012.56 F.S.], Completion of federal I-9 form for the filing and issuance of federal employment forms [8 USC 1324a(b)], Completion of federal W-4 form for filing and issuance of federal employment forms [8 USC 1324a(b)], Florida Retirement Contribution Report [119.071(5)(a)6.b.], and Conducting criminal background screening [1012.56 F.S.]. Your Social security number is also used as a unique numeric identification within some of our systems and may be used for search purposes.

Florida offers a number of traditional and alternative educator preparation routes that lead to full Professional certification. Some routes are direct pathways to the Professional Certificate. For other routes, the individual first teaches under a Temporary Certificate and then moves to the Professional Certificate.

Direct Pathways to a Professional Certificate
Many applicants go directly to the full Professional Certificate by following one of these pathways:

1. Valid Standard Certificate Issued by another State (See Reciprocity)
2. Valid Certificate Issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
3. Teacher Education Degree Program and Passing Florida Certification Examinations
4. Educator Preparation Institute Program and Passing Florida Certification Examinations
5. Two Semesters of Full-Time College Teaching Experience, Passing the Florida Professional Education Test, and Passing the Florida Subject Area Examination (for a bachelor's level subject). [NOTE: A graduate level subject requires the graduate degree/coursework specified in the governing State Board Rule in addition to Passing the Florida Subject Area Examination.]

Pathways to a Temporary Certificate
Applicants who do not currently meet all requirements for a Professional Certificate, can qualify for the Temporary Certificate with one of these pathways:

1. Bachelor's Degree with a Passing Score on the Florida Subject Area Examination (for subjects that require no more than a bachelor's degree)
2. Bachelor's Degree with a Valid Certificate Issued by American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE)
3. Bachelor's Degree with a Major in the Content Area
4. Bachelor's Degree with Required Courses and 2.5 GPA in the Content Area

Pathways to Upgrade from a Temporary to a Professional Certificate
The individual who has been teaching under a Temporary Certificate can move to the Professional Certificate with one of these pathways:

1. Valid Certificate Issued by American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) and Demonstration of Professional Education Competence in the Classroom
2. Florida Professional Development Certification Program and Passing Florida Certification Examinations
3. College Professional Training Option, Teaching Experience, Demonstration of Professional Education Competence in the Classroom, and Passing Florida Certification Examinations
4. Professional Preparation College Courses, Teaching Experience, Demonstration of Professional Education Competence in the Classroom, and Passing Florida Certification Examinations
5. Graduate Degree in a STEM Field; Teach Approved STEM High School Course; Hold 6-12 STEM Certification; Highly Effective Summative Rating Based on Student Performance on AP, IB, AICE or EOC Assessments; and Passing Florida Certification Examinations

See Upgrading from the Temporary to the Professional Certificate for important process, application, employment, and timeline information.

Florida has two reciprocity routes for certified teachers and administrators from another state that may be used to qualify for our Professional Certificate.  The Florida Department of Education certification site details both reciprocity routes and includes instructions for application.

The OCPS alternative certification program, known as Professional Learning Certification Program (PLCP), is designed to offer non-education majors, who hold at least a bachelor's degree in a subject for which a professional certificate may be issued, the opportunity to be trained as an educator. The OCPS PLCP philosophy is based on a deep commitment to intense focus on student achievement by building a high-performing and dedicated team of teachers through a quality competency-based program. The goal of the PLCP is to expand the pool of educators to include non-education majors committed to making a positive impact on student achievement and providing quality educational opportunities.

In order to qualify for the OCPS PLCP, an applicant must:

• Be an instructional employee of OCPS in a teaching assignment related to and in a subject matter and grade level setting that are covered by the certification.
• Hold or be eligible for a temporary teaching certificate from the Florida Department of Education.
• Hold at least a bachelor's degree, meet the subject area requirements in a subject area for which a professional certificate may be issued or pass the state subject area exam, and be certified for the teaching assignment.
• Obtain the signature of the school-based support team including the hiring principal on the PLCP Application.
• Sign the PLCP Application as an agreement of participation.

After PLCP completion, the candidate may seek a professional certificate.

Get more information about the transition to teaching.

Get more information about PLCP.

For additional questions, you may contact the program administrators:

Bonnie Toffoli

Director
bonnie.toffoli@ocps.net

Kwani Woods
Senior Administrator
kwani.woods@ocps.net 

Explore pathways to certification for members of the military at the Florida Department of Education site here. 

The district does not sponsor J-1 visas directly, but rather hires international teachers through Educational Partners International (EPI) and TPG Cultural Exchange.  These companies act as an official J-1 visa sponsor for teacher exchange visitors, designated by the U.S. Department of State

The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work- and study-based exchange visitor programs. Qualified foreign nationals can travel to the United States for a period of time to participate in cultural exchange programming and then return to their home country to complete the exchange.

The visa is issued for a 3-year period.  In the third year, the host school and teacher can apply for a 2-year extension if they would like to do so. The 2-year extension is subject to approval by the Department of State.

At the conclusion of the program, educators are required to return to their home countries for a minimum of two years before returning to the U.S. on the J-1 nonimmigrant visa. 

You can read more about the Exchange Visitor Program at the U.S. Department of State website.