Georgia Teacher Requirements

Requirements For a Georgia Teacher Certificate

• Bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 2.5
• Completion of a student teaching program
• Completion of the GACE test for your subject area and the Program Admission assessment
• Background check and all appropriate fees and forms for the application

Requirements For a Professional Georgia Teacher Certificate

• Ethics test completion
• Content knowledge assessment in your field of teaching
• Completion of a training program during the Induction period

Tests For Becoming a Georgia Teacher

• Assorted GACE tests, including ones for admission to the program and a content assessment
• Ethics testing
• An edTPA test may be necessary for some applicants

Renew Process

• Participate in one of the state’s acceptable methods of renewing your license, including studying at a university or completing enough professional learning units
• Additional experience may be recommended, including participating in case studies

A Background of Licenses

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission is responsible for managing all licenses for teachers within the state. The state also uses a separate series of tests when evaluating all its teachers.

You will first apply for a certificate of eligibility when in Georgia. The certificate transfers to certification to be a teacher when you are employed. You can use the license you hold in any part of the state. While you can find many jobs with a basic certificate, you will find more opportunities with a Professional Certificate. You cannot renew your initial certificate, meaning you must transfer to a Professional Certificate after that first point expires.

Applying For a Georgia Teacher Certificate

You must confirm when applying for a certificate to teach in Georgia that you have a bachelor’s degree and that you have a GPA of 2.5 or greater. The degree must come from an accredited school, plus it can be from any state so long as the degree is official.

You must also complete a state-approved student teaching program. This internship experience lasts for a semester on average. You will work at a school and learn about the principles of education and how to orchestrate a classroom setting. The school you work at should be certified by the state as a legal educator preparation provider. A program within the state of Georgia is recommended, although it can work in any other state so long as the state of Georgia recognizes the work.

The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators tests are necessary for your work. The GACE tests entail basic assessments on various aspects of training. The Program Admission assessment is critical to your work.

You must also complete a GACE test on the specific subject area you will follow. An ethics assessment surrounding the Georgia Code of Ethics of Educators is also necessary.

You’ll also need to pass a criminal background check and provide a full application alongside the necessary fees to become a teacher in Georgia. You must also pay the necessary fees, including separate charges for the ethics test and the content exam. You can expect to spend at least $200 on fees for the application process.

Becoming a Professional Teacher

Your initial license will be for an Induction position. You can upgrade to being a Professional Teacher after three years. You will receive a five-year license that you can renew later. The license is necessary when you’re aiming to reach a higher-paying field of work.

You must complete the Georgia Special Requirements necessary for moving forward, including:

• A content knowledge assessment in your field of study
• A background check
• Completion of an ethics assessment, specifically the Program Exit Test Code 360
• A passing score on the edTPA, a pedagogy test

You will also be subject to a training program while in your Induction period. The training program entails a teacher being on hand to guide you through the teaching process. You will learn about how to handle students, establish lesson plans, and manage other tasks of value in your work.

Tests of Value

The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators program is responsible for the testing processes utilized. These tests are unique to the state of Georgia and entail multiple aspects for helping teach students and manage the classroom setting.

There are six assessment types available:

1. Program Admission – reading, math, and writing
2. Content – a focus on specific subject areas one might teach
3. Certificate Upgrade – for when you’re aiming to go from the Induction period to the next one
4. Educational Leadership – an assessment for prospective education leaders
5. Georgia Ethics – a review of ethical activities
6. Paraprofessional – for paraprofessional purposes

All GACE tests are available at test centers throughout the state. The specific test you will complete will vary based on the license you have, the experience you hold, and other factors of value.

The Georgia Ethics Assessment entails a focus on how well you can manage individual situations surrounding your work effort.

The edTPA test is also necessary for some applicants. The edTPA test entails a review of how well a student is capable of completing a teaching assignment and managing the classroom environment. The work is about seeing that someone is capable of handling one’s work well.

Renewing One’s License

You can renew your Professional license after it expires in five years. You can complete one of these requirements to renew your license:

• Six semester hours of study from an accredited college or university; you must have a B score or greater on each course
• Ten or more Georgia professional learning units; these include continuing education units
• Pass the GACE content assessment in your field once more
• Complete a year of acceptable out-of-state education experience while holding a professional certificate for whatever state you were in at the time

You may participate in various activities to help you renew your license, including working on a case study or participating in a professional network. Be sure you provide the proper records and other bits of data surrounding whatever you will complete when getting an application ready. The GaPSC will help you when you are renewing your license.