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Interested in pursuing a teaching career in Georgia? Use the information on this page to find the basic requirements for certification and licensure.
Requirements for certified teachers in Georgia
The State of Georgia requires those who want to pursue a career in teaching to complete a state-approved bachelor’s degree program, according to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC). You may elect to pursue your bachelor’s degree in education in general or another specialty field of study. After receiving your bachelor’s degree, enrollment in a post-baccalaureate educator preparation program to become a certified teacher is mandatory. You will need to obtain a recommendation from your college or university upon program completion in order to work as a teacher in a Georgia public school district. Also, starting in 2015, you will need to complete an ethics assessment and a pedagogy assessment.
Graduates of education programs must then have a Georgia teaching certification license. To acquire a Professional or higher teaching certification in Georgia (see below), you must take the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) assessment.
Georgia has four tiers of teaching licenses:
- Pre-Service: For candidates who are student teaching or completing field experience
- Induction: For educators with less than three years of experience; requires completion of an educator preparation program or alternate program
- Professional: For educators with three or more years of experience; requires a passing score on the GACE content exams
- Advanced/Lead Professional: For educators with five or more years of experience, including three years on the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES); issued to exemplary teachers and those who are leaders of their peers, respectively
Georgia offers alternative routes for individuals in pursuit of a career change and who are considering teaching as part of his or her future employment plans. GAPCS advises that those interested in education careers meet the following criteria:
- Have a Georgia Professional Standards Commission-approved bachelor’s degree
- Be accepted into the TAPP Program and employed with a participating school
- Complete a two-year Internship program and special Georgia requirements
More information for the alternative routes to becoming a Georgia certified teacher can be found on the here.
Georgia jobs for licensed teachers
If you plan to teach a subject designated as a Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) by the U.S. Department of Education, you might be eligible for student loan deferment or cancellation. The following TSAs have been approved for Georgia for the 2015-2016 school year:
- Spanish
- Special Education
A full and current list of TSAs for each state is available via the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education.
Teaching license reciprocity in Georgia
Georgia participates in a teaching license reciprocity agreement with the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC). When you apply for a teaching certificate in one state using an existing license from another, the “destination state” is actually recognizing your credentials as verification that you are qualified to teach. You must still meet all requirements before you can teach there.
Fortunately, the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement for Educator Licensure streamlines this application process and expedites the goal of teaching in your new state. For more information, see Teaching License Reciprocity Explained.
Disclaimer: Licensing requirements are subject to change. Please visit your state board of education to check for recent revisions to teaching license requirements.
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Categorized as: Teaching License