Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.01 - Georgia Educator Certification
(1)
Summary: State certification
terminology and requirements vary widely between states and are often confusing
to many applicants. Some states use the term "licensure" while others use
"certification." The same title, such as "provisional," may be used in a number
of states, but with different definitions and requirements. Many applicants
assume that "reciprocity" means an automatic "even trade" for an out-of-state
certificate, but that is rarely the case. Georgia reciprocity applies to
initial certification. Once an educator holds certification in Georgia, the
educator must meet Georgia requirements to add a field, upgrade the level and
maintain certification. The certification system used in the State of Georgia
is the responsibility of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)
and published on the GaPSC web site at
https://www.gapsc.com/Commission/Rules/home.aspx.
(2)
Definitions.
(a) Georgia Educator:
1. A Georgia educator for certification
purposes is any individual currently or previously employed by a Georgia local
unit of administration (LUA) while holding a certificate issued by the
GaPSC.
(b) Initial
Certificate:
1. A Georgia educator's first
certificate confirming completion of all Georgia requirements for certificate
issuance in a teaching, service or leadership field.
(c) Base Certificate:
1. The base certificate is the initial
certificate issued in a specific content area confirming completion of all
Georgia requirements for certificate issuance at the time of
application.
(d) Local
Unit of Administration (LUA):
1. A local unit
of administration (LUA) is a local education agency or a regional educational
service agency, including but not limited to public, waiver, strategic waiver
system, charter system or charter schools and private schools (i.e.,
faith-based schools, early learning centers, hospitals, juvenile detention
centers, etc.). State agencies and public and private institutions of higher
education requiring certification for employment purposes are included in this
definition.
(3)
GaPSC Members. The eighteen
(18) members of the GaPSC are responsible for establishing and administering
rules and standards for the preparation, certification and discipline of
Georgia school personnel. Members are appointed by the governor and include
nine (9) classroom teachers, two (2) administrators, two (2) higher education
faculty, two (2) local Board of Education members and three (3) business and
community leaders.
(4)
Legal
Authority. Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 2-2-200, stipulates that "The
Professional Standards Commission shall provide, by regulation, for certifying
and classifying all certificated professional personnel employed in the public
schools of this state. No such personnel shall be employed in the public
schools of this state unless they hold certificates issued by the commission
certifying their qualifications and classification in accordance with such
regulations."
(a) Certificated professional
personnel are individuals who hold certificates, licenses, or permits issued by
the GaPSC.
(b) Teachers, service
personnel, educational leaders, and all other professional education personnel
that have regular contact with students in an instructional setting must hold
GaPSC certification or licensure if employed in a Georgia public school, unless
exempted pursuant to a charter under O.C.G.A.
20-2-2065, or increased
flexibility under O.C.G.A.
20-2-80.
(5)
Charter System or Charter School
Educators. Georgia charter system or charter school educators may, or
may not, be required to hold state certification depending on the policy
outlined in the specific charter. Charter system or charter school educators
who meet the criteria outlined in Section (4)(b) above are, however, required
to hold a Clearance Certificate. See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.42 CLEARANCE
CERTIFICATE.
(6)
Strategic
Waiver System. Strategic Waiver systems may, or may not, be required to
hold state certification depending on the policy outlined in the contract.
Educators employed by these systems who meet the criteria outlined in Section
(4)(b) above are, however, required to hold a Clearance Certificate. See GaPSC
Rule 505-2-.42
CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE.
(7)
Private School Educators. Georgia private school educators may, or
may not, be required to hold state certification depending on the local school
policy.
(8)
Substitute
Teachers. Substitute teachers in Georgia are not required to hold state
certification. See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.20 SUBSTITUTE
TEACHING.
(9)
NASDTEC
Interstate Agreement. Georgia is an active member of the National
Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification
(NASDTEC). As such, Georgia has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
(commonly referred to as reciprocity) with all 49 other states, the District of
Columbia and other NASDTEC jurisdictions. Information on how the Interstate
Agreement may apply is found in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.21 CERTIFICATION BY INTERSTATE
RECIPROCITY. Georgia also participates in the NASDTEC National Clearinghouse
and reports state disciplinary actions imposed against certificate holders to
this national database. Additional information on the Interstate Agreement and
the Clearinghouse may be found on the web at www.nasdtec.org.
(10)
Background Check
Requirement. A state criminal background check is required for a
Pre-Service certificate and verified by the GaPSC as outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.03. Although state and federal
criminal background checks are not part of the certification process in Georgia
other than as required for a Pre-Service certificate, FBI background checks
(fingerprint) are required for professional employment in Georgia public,
private, waiver, strategic waiver system, charter system or charter schools.
Georgia criminal background checks are also required every five (5) years for
certificate renewal and affirmed by the employing school or school
system.
(11)
Educator
Responsibility. It is the responsibility of the individual educator to
meet all requirements and to obtain and maintain a valid Georgia educator
certificate or license. If rules change that impact an educator's
certification, it is the responsibility of the educator to apply to the
commission by submission of a new application requesting evaluation under the
new rule. Certification issued based on a rule revision shall not be issued
prior to the effective date of the revised rule.
(12)
Tiered Certification.
Georgia participates in a tiered teacher certification system. Tiered teacher
certification is envisioned as a means of improving student learning by
recognizing the unique developmental needs of teachers at every career stage
and by encouraging and supporting continuous teacher growth. It is designed to
provide support to new teachers and those preparing to become teachers, and to
establish a fair and equitable environment for growth for practicing teachers.
Tiered certification also creates career advancement opportunities for teachers
aspiring to assume leadership responsibilities and contribute to school
improvement efforts while remaining in the classroom.
(a) When fully implemented, tiered
certification will help foster an environment in which:
1. Educators are focused on the academic
growth of their students by focusing on their own academic growth;
2. The conditions and resources necessary for
teacher professional growth and retention at each career stage are identified,
valued and provided through individualized, ongoing and collaboratively
designed and delivered professional learning activities focused on the common
goal of improving student learning;
3. Expert teachers who can contribute to the
learning of their peers are provided leadership opportunities to mentor and
coach; and
4. School leaders
promote and maintain a positive school culture in which educators are rewarded
based on successful performance in the classroom as well as their contributions
to the school's learning environment.
(b) The tiered certification structure
consists of the following:
1. Pre-Service
(See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.03 PRE-SERVICE
CERTIFICATE);
2. Provisional (See
GaPSC Rule
505-2-.08 PROVISIONAL
CERTIFICATE);
3. Induction (See
GaPSC Rule
505-2-.04 INDUCTION
CERTIFICATE);
4. Professional (See
GaPSC Rule
505-2-.05 PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE);
5. Advanced
Professional (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.06 ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE); and
6. Lead
Professional (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.07 LEAD PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE).
(13)
Routes to Certification. An
explanation of the various routes to Georgia certification may be found on the
GaPSC web site at www.gapsc.com.
Notes
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