Aspiring educators in Georgia must fulfill a set of basic requirements in order to become certified teachers. These requirements include:
These steps are discussed in further detail below.
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You must complete a teacher preparation program recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The traditional route to certification is getting your bachelor's degree in tandem with a teacher preparation program. Once you have your degree, have completed the teacher preparation program, and passed the requisite state exams, you will be eligible for an induction certificate.
Teacher preparation programs leading to an induction certification must include field experiences and/or student teaching. Student teaching takes place while you are completing your educator preparation program. You will be required to teach at a Georgia school full-time for a semester under the supervision of a mentor teacher. During your student teaching you will develop and give lessons, manage the classroom, correct homework, facilitate parent teacher conferences and any other responsibilities required of a teacher in Georgia. Field work can consist of observations of experienced teachers, as well as academic case studies and enquiries.
Teacher preparation programs in Georgia include a variety of courses and field work. If you plan on teaching at the elementary school grade level you will take classes on early childhood development, foundational skills, and pedagogy. If you will be teaching in middle school or high school, you will also complete courses in pedagogy, as well as courses in the specific subject area of your desired certification.
Assessment Requirements
In order to receive your initial teaching certificate, you must pass three Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE). One is a basic skills test in reading, writing, and mathematics, called the GACE Program Admission Assessment. It is a combination of multiple-choice questions and a writing section. You will also take a content specific assessment depending on what grade level and subject you will be teaching. The content assessment will measure your knowledge of that specific subject. Candidates are also required to pass the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment, which focuses on professional standards for teachers.
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Create AccountThe state requires the following additional steps to receive a teaching certification.
If you have your bachelor's degree in a content area taught in Georgia schools, but have not completed a teacher preparation program, there is an alternative route to a Georgia teacher certification using a three-year non-renewable provisional certificate. This certificate allows a candidate to be hired and begin teaching in Georgia schools while completing an educator preparation program. The provisional certification must be requested by the Georgia school that has hired the candidate. Before being granted an induction certificate, you must pass the Program Admission Assessment, the Content Assessment, and the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment.
The Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (GaTapp) is a popular pathway to alternative certification. To qualify as a GaTapp candidate with a non-renewable provisional teaching certificate, you must pass the state-mandated assessments. Employment at a Georgia school is required, with the school providing coaching and mentorship to the teacher.
Teacher preparation programs can be for certification only, or they can lead to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).
Out-of-state teacher preparation programs with regional accreditation from SACS must be approved by GaPSC before licensure can be granted in Georgia. Georgia is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement. All fifty states are members of the NASDTEC interstate Agreement, so all states have reciprocity with the state of Georgia with regards to teaching licenses. However, requirements for each state may be a little different and should be investigated on a state-by-state basis. Additional requirements for all teacher certification candidates including out-of-state educators are listed below.
In Georgia, a renewable teaching certificate is given for five years. In order to be eligible for a certificate renewal at the end of the five years you must complete one of the following:
Additionally, each candidate must pass state and national criminal background checks
There are five different levels of certification in Georgia. They are as follows:
If you are interested in moving from teaching to an administrative position, there are two types of Educational Leadership certificates; Tier I and Tier II. A Tier I certificate is an initial certificate meant for entry level administrators such as an assistant principal. For this certification you must:
A Performance-Based Professional Tier II certificate is awarded to administrators above the assistant principal. The requirements for this certification are as follows:
According to the Georgia Department of Education, there were 1,686,318 students enrolled in 219 public school systems in 2019. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020 Georgia employed about 128,000 teachers in pre-school through 12th grade. This includes special education teachers, and career and technology education teachers. The average ratio of teachers to students is 15:1.
Annual mean salaries for teachers range from $34,720 for pre-school teachers to $62,980 for a special education teacher in kindergarten or elementary school. The highest wages for each grade level are shown in the table below.
| Educator Role/Setting | Top of the Salary Scale |
|---|---|
| Preschool | $58,230 |
| Special Education Preschool |
$115,020 |
| Kindergarten | $91,980 |
| Special Education Elementary |
$98,480 |
| Elementary School | $100,480 |
| Middle School | $98,840 |
| Career & Technical Education MS |
$100,780 |
| Special Education MS | $99,750 |
| Secondary School | $102,130 |
| Special Education Secondary |
$101,050 |
| Career & Technical Secondary |
$96,020 |
Between 2020-2030, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting the following national employment growth for teachers:
| Setting | Projected Growth |
|---|---|
| Preschool | 18% |
| Kindergarten & Elementary | 7% |
| Middle School & Secondary | 8% |
The Georgia Department of Labor is estimating that 45,160 jobs in education, training and library services will be added by 2028.
Nadim Tabsch is an adjunct English professor with over 15 years of experience. He has deep expertise in Literacy and Social Sciences and has been an educator at the elementary, middle school, high school, and collegiate level. Nadim graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Barry University and a Master's degree in Literacy from the University of New England.
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