New Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE)

The new Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE), referred to as FELE 4.0, is aligned with Rule 6A-5.080, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), The Florida Educational Leadership Standards, which was amended by the State Board of Education (SBE) to reflect new competencies and skills on October 19, 2022.

On January 17, 2024, the SBE approved an amendment to the Rule 6A-4.00821, F.A.C., Florida Educational Leadership Examination. Beginning March 1, 2024, the competencies to be demonstrated by means of a written examination are reflected in the publication, "Competencies and Skills Required for Certification in Education Leadership in Florida, Fifth Edition 2024 ."

Revisions to the competencies and skills necessitated content changes across all current FELE subtests, resulting in a new examination, FELE 4.0. The new examination will follow a different format than the current FELE and will now consist of four subtests (two multiple choice and two written performance assessments). Test development activities for FELE 4.0 have focused on alignment with the Florida Educational Leadership Standards and developing written performance assessments that reflect real-world applications required of a school building administrator.

Once test administration begins for FELE 4.0 in January 2026, the Department will collect performance data prior to holding a standard setting meeting in Spring 2026. Pending approval of the SBE, the Department is planning to implement the new passing scores effective Fall 2026.

The current version of FELE will no longer be administered after December 31, 2025.

All examinees who do not pass all three subtests of the current FELE by this date will be required to take and pass FELE 4.0 in its entirety beginning January 1, 2026 for certification purposes.

There will be no exceptions to this. Therefore, if you need to take and pass any of the current FELE subtests before December 31, 2025, it is highly recommended that you do so as soon as possible to provide time for any unforeseen issues (e.g., weather, illness) that may prevent you from testing as scheduled.

• Why is there a new version of FELE?

  On January 17, 2024, the SBE approved an amendment to the Rule 6A-4.00821, F.A.C., Florida Educational Leadership Examination. Beginning March 1, 2024, the competencies to be demonstrated by means of a written examination are reflected in the publication, "Competencies and Skills Required for Certification in Education Leadership in Florida, Fifth Edition 2024" (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16359 ).

• When will the new FELE 4.0 begin?

  The FELE 4.0 will begin administration January 1, 2026. The deadline for examinees to pass all three subtests of the current FELE is December 31, 2025. Subsequently, all examinees who do not pass all three subtests of the current FELE by this date will be required to take and pass FELE 4.0 in its entirety.

• What is the test administration format of the new FELE 4.0?

  The new examination will follow a different format than the current FELE and will now consist of four subtests (two multiple choice and two written performance assessments). Test development activities for FELE 4.0 have focused on alignment with the Florida Educational Leadership Standards and developing written performance assessments that reflect real-world applications required of a school building administrator. Examinees taking three or more subtests in one testing appointment will receive a 15-minute break after completing the second subtest of their testing appointment.

  • Subtest #1: Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership
    • 4 competencies with approximately 50 multiple-choice (MC) questions
    • Testing time: 90 minutes
  • Subtest #2: Leadership Practices for Student Learning
    • 5 competencies with approximately 50 MC questions
    • Testing time: 90 minutes
  • Subtest #3: Leadership Development
    • 1 competency
    • Performance Task: Action Plan
    • Testing time: 75 minutes
  • Subtest #4: Leadership Communication
    • 1 competency
    • Performance Task: Correspondence
    • Testing time: 60 minutes

• How will FELE 4.0 be scored?

  FELE 4.0 subtests will be administered, scored, and reported independently. Examinees may register to take any one subtest, two subtests, or any combination in any order. If an examinee fails any FELE subtests, they can register to retake only the non-passed subtest(s).

  • Subtests 1 and 2 will be scaled to 200 to match the current generation.
  • Subtests 3 and 4 performance tasks will be scored on a new 4-point rubric with a total passing score that is still to be determined.
  • Examinees must pass all four subtests independently to pass FELE 4.0.

• How much does the exam cost?

  The full battery of FELE 4.0 subtests is $215. Each subtest is priced individually at $53.75.

• What if I have already passed one or more subtests/sections of the current FELE exam?

  The current version of FELE will no longer be administered after December 31, 2025. Subsequently, all examinees who do not pass all three subtests of the current FELE by this date will be required to take and pass FELE 4.0 in its entirety beginning January 1, 2026.

• What resources are available to study for FELE 4.0?

  As it relates to the FTCE, the role of the Florida Department of Education is to ensure the validity and reliability of the exams consistent with the standards and best practices in the field of assessment, not to prepare examinees to pass the exams. However, the Department of Education produces test information guides (TIGs) that provide a general overview of each examination. The TIG for the FELE 4.0 is available here.

• I passed all three subtests of the FELE 3.0 prior to December 31, 2025. Can my scores still be used to satisfy certification requirements for Educational Leadership? Even if I apply after January 1, 2026?

  Yes, a complete FELE 3.0 will continue to satisfy the subject mastery requirement for Educational Leadership, as long as passing scores on all three subtests were earned no more than 10 years prior to the application date.

• After January 1, 2026, if someone has a valid Statement of Status of Eligibility (SOE) that states they are only missing one subtest of FELE 3.0, will they still be required to take and pass all four subtests of the new FELE 4.0?

  The SOE does not identify a specific version of the FELE or any of its subtests. The subject mastery requirement for Educational Leadership is written as “a passing score on all 4 parts of the Florida state approved examination earned no more than ten (10) years prior to the date of application.” If the applicant did not pass all three subtests of FELE 3.0 by December 31, 2025, they will be required to take and pass FELE 4.0 in its entirety.