Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.26 - Certification and Licensure Assessments

(1) Summary: This rule outlines specific assessment requirements for obtaining certification. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) administers through a testing supplier educator assessments required for certification. As of September 1, 2006, the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of EducatorsT (GACE) is the state-approved educator certification assessment program in Georgia. GACE assessments include Program Admission, Content, Standards-based assessment of knowledge of the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators and Paraprofessional assessments. All GACE assessments are aligned with state-approved educator preparation program standards, national standards, and the state standards for the P-12 curriculum. Information about the GACE program is available at www.gapsc.com. In addition to the GACE, there are other state-accepted content assessments for certain world language and career and technical specializations.

(2) Program Admission Assessment.

(a) The GACE Program Admission assessment measures an individual's general knowledge in the areas of reading, mathematics, and writing at a competency level to be successful in an educator preparation program.

(b) The following individuals are required to either pass or exempt the GACE Program Admission assessment:

1. Candidates seeking admission to a GaPSC-approved educator preparation program in a teaching or service field. Verification of this requirement is the responsibility of the Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) and is documented electronically by the provider in the Traditional Program Management System (TPMS) or on the Georgia Approved Program Completion form used to verify program completion. Documentation of any exemption must also be provided to the GaPSC upon application for Pre-Service certification.

2. Individuals seeking Provisional certification.

3. Individuals seeking the service field of School Social Work (See GaPSC Rules 505-2-.147 SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK).

4. Initial permit holders applying for an extension, with the exception of JROTC Permit holders.

5. Individuals seeking an Induction Teaching or Service field through completion of a GaPSC-accepted program.

(c) Individuals holding a Military Support Provisional certificate must attempt the assessment during the first semester of enrollment in a GaPSC-accepted certification program and pass the assessment prior to issuance of the Year Three (3) Provisional certificate.

(d) Information regarding the Program Admission Requirement and exemption criteria can be accessed at http://www.gapsc.com/EducatorPreparation/Assessment/BasicSkillsInfo.aspx.

(3) Content Assessment.

(a) GACE content assessments test knowledge in a variety of content areas as required for certification. GACE content assessments have two passing levels: Induction and Professional. All passing scores earned on GACE assessments will be treated as Professional level scores for certification purposes even if the official score report reflects an Induction level score. Information on the content assessments required for Georgia certification may be accessed at www.gapsc.com.

(b) The following individuals are required to pass the GACE content assessment for the desired certification field:

1. Individuals seeking a Provisional certificate.

(i) For Special Education fields, the pre-requisite is the special education academic content concentration(s), which must be met by passing the appropriate academic content assessment(s). Individuals enrolled in GaTAPP have the option of verifying an academic content concentration if approved by the GaTAPP provider. The appropriate Special Education field assessment must then be completed before conversion to a Professional.

(ii) Individuals holding the Military Support Provisional certificate must pass the GACE content assessment(s) prior to issuance of the Year Two (2) Provisional certificate.

2. Individuals seeking an initial permit in a world language field.

3. Georgia Pre-Service certificate holders applying for an Induction certificate.

(i) A One (1)-Year Induction certificate may be issued at the request of an employing Georgia local unit of administration (LUA) to individuals applying for initial certification based on completion of a GaPSC-accepted program who must satisfy the content assessment.

4. Georgia Professional or Induction certificate holders applying to add a certification field.

5. Individuals applying for initial Professional or Induction certification in Georgia based on reciprocity.

(i) These individuals may exempt the content assessment requirement by meeting the exemption criteria outlined in section (10)(a) below.

(ii) A One (1)-Year Non-Renewable Professional or One (1)-Year Induction certificate may be issued at the request of an employing Georgia local unit of administration (LUA) to individuals applying for initial certification based on reciprocity who must satisfy the content assessment.

6. Georgia educators who complete out-of-state programs leading to certification must pass the GACE content assessment; these educators will not be eligible for the exemption outlined in section (11)(a) below, even upon submission of an out-of-state professional certificate.

7. Individuals seeking to extend an initial permit in the fields of Art, Music, Engineering & Technology and Superintendent.

8. Individuals seeking an Adjunct license must pass the appropriate GACE content assessment(s) for the field(s) being taught or hold the appropriate professional licensure for the profession or field of instructional experience.

9. Individuals seeking an initial professional Service field.

(c) For fields in which there is no GACE assessment available, the GaPSC may designate other state-approved certification exams. The Praxis exam is the Georgia state-approved content assessment for the field of Speech and Language Pathology, and the proficiency exams offered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), detailed in section (9) below, are one of the Georgia state-approved content assessments for world language fields.

(d) Georgia does not have a content assessment for the fields of Audiology, Dance, Drama, School Nutrition Director, School Social Work, Speech, Physical and Health Disabilities, Special Education Preschool, Visual Impairment, and some world language fields. In fields for which there is no Georgia state-approved or state-accepted content assessment, passing a content assessment for certification is not required. (See GaPSC Rule 505-3-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS).

(e) The following outlines the GACE content assessments alignment for Montessori fields:

1. Birth Through Kindergarten must be passed for Infant Toddler (birth - 3) and PK2- K (ages 2 1/2 - 6).

2. Elementary Education must be passed for Elementary I Grades 1^st - 3^rd (ages 6 - 9) and Elementary I- II Grades 1^st - 6^th (ages 6 - 12).

3. Middle Grades Language Arts and Social Science must be passed for Secondary I Language Arts & Social Studies.

4. Middle Grades Science and Middle Grades Mathematics must be passed for Secondary I Science & Mathematics.

5. English must be passed for Secondary II English.

6. Mathematics must be passed for Secondary II Mathematics.

7. Science must be passed for Secondary II Science.

8. Behavioral Science, Economics, Geography, History, and Political Science must be passed for Secondary II Social Studies, as determined by the field(s) of instruction.

(4) Educator Ethics Assessments.

(a) The GACE Educator Ethics Assessment is designed to both teach and assess knowledge and skills in the areas of the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators and of ethical understanding to guide behaviors and decision-making.

(b) A passing score on GACE Educator Ethics Assessment is required for the following:

1. Issuance of a Pre-Service certificate, with the following exception:

(i) Pre-Service certificate applicants who have been continuously enrolled in the same educator preparation program since July 1, 2014, or earlier are exempt from this requirement. Note: The term "enrolled" is defined as admitted to a program and actively taking coursework.

(ii) The GACE Educator Ethics - Program Entry will continue to be accepted for individuals who previously completed the assessment for program admission. For those individuals, the GACE Educator Ethics Assessment must be passed for conversion of the Pre-Service certificate.

2. Issuance of an initial Clearance certificate to individuals who are not required to hold an in-field certificate as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.42 CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE.

3. Issuance of a Provisional teaching certificate, including the Military Support Provisional teaching certificate.

4. Issuance of a Five (5)-Year Induction certificate in a teaching field.

5. Issuance of an International Exchange certificate.

6. Issuance of an initial three-year Permit.

7. Conversion to the five-year Permit if the initial Permit was issued on or after October 15, 2017.

8. Conversion of a Provisional or Induction Pathway 4 teaching certificate to a Professional certificate.

(c) A passing score on GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership is required for the following:

1. Issuance of a Non-Renewable certificate in educational leadership for completion of an approved program.

(i) The GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership - Program Entry will continue to be accepted for individuals who previously completed the assessment for issuance of the Non-Renewable certificate. For those individuals, the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership must be passed for conversion to the Professional certificate.

2. Issuance of an initial professional certificate in educational leadership.

3. Issuance of an initial Superintendent Permit.

4. Conversion to the five-year Superintendent if the initial Permit was issued on or after October 15, 2017.

(5) Paraprofessional Assessment.

(a) The GACE assessment for paraprofessionals in Georgia covers four (4) areas: reading, writing, mathematics and classroom skills. The Paraprofessional assessment is designed to enable individuals and school districts to satisfy state and federal No Child Left Behind requirements that call for "highly qualified paraprofessionals" in a P-12 setting. These requirements indicate that paraprofessionals working in Title I schools or paid with Title I funds must meet a rigorous standard of quality and demonstrate, through formal state or local assessment, knowledge of and ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics; or knowledge of and ability to assist in instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as appropriate.

(b) Passing the GACE Paraprofessional assessment, in combination with a high school diploma or GED equivalent, is one of the options available to qualify for a Paraprofessional Certificate. (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.18 PARAPROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE).

(6) Educational Leadership Assessment.

(a) The GACE Educational Leadership content assessment is designed to assess knowledge and skills for those completing GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership programs. The GACE Educational Leadership assessment is required for Educational Leadership Tier I and Tier II certification even if the educator has previously passed the Teacher Certification Test (TCT).

(b) Individuals applying for certification in Educational Leadership Tier I or Tier II in Georgia based on reciprocity must pass the GACE Educational Leadership assessment or meet exemption criteria in (10)(a) for content knowledge assessment(s) appropriate to the field of educational leadership prior to the issuance of the Professional certificate:

1. A one (1)-year Non-Renewable Professional certificate may be issued at the request of an employing Georgia local unit of administration (LUA) to individuals applying for initial certification based on reciprocity who must satisfy the content assessment.

(c) A passing score on the Performance-Based Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) is required for educators completing GaPSC-approved Tier II programs after 7/1/17.

(7) Career and Technical Specializations.

(a) For Career and Technical Specializations certificates, GaPSC accepts a number of different industry assessments offered by a variety of external organizations. The accepted assessments are detailed in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.90 CAREER AND TECHNICAL SPECIALIZATIONS.

(8) World Language Assessment.

(a) A GACE assessment is not available for certain world language fields. For these fields, the GaPSC requires The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Written Proficiency Test (WPT). If the OPI and WPT are passed for fields that have a GACE content assessment for issuance of a Permit, the GACE content assessment is not required for conversion of a Permit to an Induction or Professional certificate.

(b) The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) foreign language assessments are considered appropriate content assessments for adding a new world language teaching field. The validation of passing levels of proficiency is the responsibility of the applicant and the employing local unit of administration (LUA). Contact information for scheduling the ACTFL is available at http://www.languagetesting.com/academic-services.

(c) The GaPSC-accepted assessments for world language fields are as follows:

ROMAN-BASED ALPHABET

French	(GACE)
German	(GACE)
Italian	(ACTFL)
Latin	(GACE)
Portuguese	(ACTFL)
Spanish	(GACE)

NON-ROMAN BASED ALPHABET

Arabic	(ACTFL)
Chinese (Mandarin)	(ACTFL)
Farsi (Persian)	(ACTFL)
Hebrew	(ACTFL)
Japanese	(ACTFL)
Korean	(ACTFL)
Russian	(ACTFL)
Swahili	(ACTFL)
Turkish	(ACTFL)
Urdu	(ACTFL)

OTHER

American Sign Language

(GACE)

1. The ACTFL assessments for Greek are not Greek (Classical), and therefore are not accepted for the Georgia Greek (Classical) Permit or Certificate.

2. At the time of this rule change, the WPT is not available in the language of Swahili. Until the WPT in this field is available, the OPI will meet assessment requirements for Swahili.

3. For the Roman-Based Alphabet ACTFL assessments, the passing proficiency level for the OPI and the WPT is "Advanced-Low."

4. For the Non-Roman Based Alphabet ACTFL assessments, the passing proficiency level for the OPI and the WPT is "Intermediate-High."

(9) Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA).

(a) Individuals seeking licensure as an Educational Interpreter must meet assessment requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.16 EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETER LICENSE.

(10) Content Exemption Criteria.

(a) The GACE content assessment requirement may be exempted in the following circumstances:

1. Veteran out-of-state educators moving into Georgia may be eligible to exempt all Special Georgia Requirements except the Standards of Conduct. To be eligible, the individual must hold a valid out-of-state certificate and have a minimum of five (5) full years of successful education experience as defined in section (5) of GaPSC Rule 505-2-.25 EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS.

2. Individuals holding a valid National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification in the specific certificate field, with the exception of the Middle Grades Generalist field are exempted from the content assessment requirement. The NBPTS Middle Grades Generalist field does not exempt the GACE Middle Grades content assessments.

3. Out-of-state professional certificate holders applying for initial Georgia certification who have passed the out-of-state content assessment required for issuance of the out-of-state certificate field.

4. Individuals seeking certification in a field for which the GaPSC has not adopted a content assessment.

(11) Previous State-Approved Assessments.

(a) Georgia honors passing scores on previous state-approved Georgia assessments that are passed during the validity period for those assessments. The following are previous Georgia state-approved assessments:

1. Georgia Teacher Certification Test (TCT):

(i) The TCT was the first content assessment required for Georgia certification effective July 1, 1978, through June 30, 1997.

(ii) Individuals who obtained a passing score on the Special Education Professional Knowledge TCT assessment at the time it was required now meet the certification assessment requirement for the fields of Special Education Adapted Curriculum (P-12) and Special Education General Curriculum (P-12).

(iii) The GaPSC will accept passing scores on a TCT assessment taken in a broad-field area (Science or Social Science) to award certification in the comparable field currently issued.

2. Praxis Series:

(i) The Praxis Series replaced the TCT effective July 1, 1997.

(ii) For Georgia certification candidates in the field of Speech and Language Pathology, the Praxis II Speech and Language Pathology Assessment (Test 0330) will remain the required assessment as it is accepted for national licensing with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The passing score may be found at http://www.gapsc.com/EducatorPreparation/Assessment/passingscores.aspx .

(iii) The GaPSC accepts a passing score on the Praxis Paraprofessional Assessment taken before June 30, 2007.

(iv) The GaPSC accepts passing scores on the required Georgia Praxis assessment in Educational Leadership (Test 0410) on or before March 15, 2008.

3. The GACE replaced the Praxis Series for most fields on September 1, 2006; however, the GaPSC accepts passing scores on the required Georgia Praxis assessment taken in its entirety on or before March 5, 2007, except in the field of Educational Leadership. The GACE Educational Leadership assessment is required for educators completing Educational Leadership programs [See 7(a) and 7(b)].

4. The School Leaders Licensure Assessment:

(i) The GaPSC accepts passing scores on the Praxis School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Test 1010) taken on or after July 1, 2005, through March 15, 2008.

5. Georgia Paraprofessional Assessment:

(i) The Georgia Paraprofessional Assessment was administered July 2002 and November 2002, and was replaced by the Praxis Paraprofessional Assessment and later with the GACE Paraprofessional assessment.

6. Content Pedagogy Assessment (edTPA) September 1, 2015 - July 1, 2020:

(i) A passing score on the GaPSC-approved content pedagogy assessment (edTPA) was required for the following:

(I) Issuance of an Induction certificate to any individual who completed the clinical practice or student teaching requirements of the GaPSC-approved or GaPSC-accepted initial certification program on or after September 1, 2015.

(II) Conversion of an Induction Pathway Four (4) or Provisional teaching certificate held by any individual who completed the clinical practice or student teaching requirements of the GaPSC-approved or GaPSC-accepted initial certification program on or after September 1, 2015.

7. Educator Ethics Assessments:

(i) Georgia Educator Ethics - Program Entry Assessment: January 1, 2015 - July 1, 2020:

(I) Completion of the Georgia Educator Ethics - Program Entry Assessment was required for issuance of a Pre-Service certificate unless an applicant was continuously enrolled in the same educator preparation program since July 1, 2014, or earlier. Note: The term "enrolled" was defined as admitted to a program and actively taking coursework.

(II) Completion of the Georgia Educator Ethics - Program Entry Assessment was required for issuance of an Induction Pathway Four (4) or Provisional certificate.

(III) GACE Educator Ethics - Program Entry Assessment will continue to be accepted for individuals who previously completed the assessment for program admission or issuance of a Provisional certificate.

(ii) Georgia Educator Ethics - Program Exit Assessment was rebranded as the GACE Educator Ethics Assessment.

(iii) Georgia Ethics for Educational Leadership - Program Entry Assessment, January 15, 2016 - July 1, 2020:

(I) Georgia Ethics for Educational Leadership - Program Entry

Assessment was required for issuance of a Non-Renewable certificate in Educational Leadership for completion of an approved program.

(II) Georgia Ethics for Educational Leadership - Program Entry Assessment will continue to be accepted for individuals who previously completed the assessment for program admission or issuance of a Non-Renewable certificate.

(iv) GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership - Program Exit was rebranded as GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership.

(12) Duplicate Score Reports.

(a) The GaPSC, as a courtesy to the state's educators, can provide certain official test score information for those assessments whose scores are otherwise not retrievable. The GaPSC does not charge for the retrieval, validation, or mailing of the score. Complete information on how to request test scores can be accessed at http://www.gapsc.com/EducatorPreparation/Assessment/testScoreRequest.aspx.

1. Test Scores available from GaPSC:

(i) Teacher Certification Test (TCT) regardless of score report date.

(ii) Georgia state-administered Paraprofessional assessment, in 2002 only.

(iii) Praxis I and Praxis II assessments taken on or prior to September 1, 2006.

2. For any GACE scores, examinees must contact the appropriate testing Supplier for the GACE program. Complete contact information is provided at http://www.gapsc.com/EducatorPreparation/Assessment/testScoreRequest.aspx.

(13) Every Student Succeeds Acts (ESSA) In-Field Assessment Requirements.

(a) For complete ESSA in-field requirements, including assessment, please refer to the Georgia Department of Education website at www.gadoe.org.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.26

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2007.

Original Rule entitled "Application for Evaluation" adopted F. Dec. 18, 1991; eff. Jan. 7, 1992. Repealed: Rule Reserved. F. Dec. 16, 1992; eff. July 1, 1993, as specified by the Agency. Amended: New Rule entitled "In-Field Assignments" adopted. F. Feb. 20, 2004; eff. Mar. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Aug. 20, 2004; eff. Sept. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Nov. 15, 2007; eff. Dec. 15, 2007, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Aug. 15, 2008; eff. Sept. 15, 2008, as specified by the Agency. Repealed: New Rule entitled "Certification and Licensure Assessments" adopted. F. June 11, 2014; eff. July 1, 2014, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. June 13, 2014; eff. July 3, 2014. Amended: F. Mar. 25, 2015; eff. Apr. 15, 2015, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Sep. 24, 2015; eff. Oct. 15, 2015, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Apr. 13, 2016; eff. Apr. 15, 2016, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Sept. 26, 2016; eff. Oct. 15, 2016, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Mar. 27, 2017; eff. Apr. 15, 2017, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. June 8, 2017; eff. July 1, 2017, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. June 5, 2018; eff. July 1, 2018, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Oct. 3, 2018; eff. Oct. 15, 2018, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Mar. 26, 2019; eff. Apr. 15, 2019, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. June 26, 2019; eff. July 1, 2019, as specified by the Agency. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Dec. 13, 2019; eff. Jan. 1, 2020, as specified by the Agency. Note: Correction of typographical errors in subparagraph (3)(b)1.(i), "The appropriate Special Education field assessment must then be completed before conversion to a Professional" corrected to "The appropriate Special Education field assessment must then be completed before conversion to a Professional certificate;", as requested by the Agency. Effective Jan. 1, 2020. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 11, 2020; eff. July 1, 2020, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. June 10, 2022; eff. July 1, 2022, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Apr. 9, 2024; eff. Apr. 15, 2024, as specified by the Agency.