Becoming a teacher is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, as teachers play a very important role in shaping the minds of our younger generations. The educational system in Georgia has been experiencing a dramatic increase in its number of students and the quality of their education over the past decade. Every state has their individual requirements for those wishing to become teachers, so read on to learn about Georgia’s state requirements for obtaining a teaching certification.
Georgia Teacher Certification Requirements
Georgia Teacher Certification Types
Your Initial Georgia Teaching Certification must be in the specific area that you wish to teach, and includes types such as Early Childhood Education, Secondary Education and Foreign Language, among others.
Georgia Teacher Education
Georgia requires teachers to have completed at least a Bachelor’s Degree from a teacher education program at a regionally accredited college or university and a teacher preparation program.
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Georgia Teacher Certification Exam
Certification applicants must pass the GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators) Basic Skills Test and the GACE Content Assessments.
Teacher Experience
Your college teacher preparation program includes a student teaching experience according to the grade level and subject area you wish to teach. This experience differs depending on your program’s requirements and may last from a few weeks to a year in length.
Background Check
You aren’t required to have a background check to obtain a teaching certification in Georgia unless you’ve been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in another state that involved moral turpitude. You will need to have a background check, however, when you are hired by a Georgia school system.
Alternative Certification and Other Requirements
- Georgia Alternative Teacher Certification: If you have a Bachelor’s Degree that isn’t in education, you can receive a teaching certification through the Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program (TAPP). You must either have a degree in a field related to that which you want to teach or demonstrate that you have completed 15-21 semester hours of coursework in related fields of study.
- Teacher Certification Renewal: Your Clear Renewable Teaching Certificate is valid for five years in Georgia. To renew your certification, you must complete 10 credits of Georgia Professional Learning Units, 10 credits of continuing education units, 10 credits of U.S. Department of Education Teacher-to-Teacher Workshops, or six semester hours of college coursework from an accredited Georgia college or university. If you’re employed by a public school system, you must also have an individual professional development plan and undergo another criminal background check.
- Georgia Substitute Teaching: All districts require substitute teachers to have at least have a high school diploma or GED, but other policies regarding the requirements for substitute teachers vary according to each school district in Georgia.
- Reciprocity: You may obtain a Clear Renewable Teaching Certification through Interstate Reciprocity as long as you have a Professional Educator Certification from a NASDTEC member state or have fulfilled all of Georgia’s necessary certification requirements along with completing an approved teacher preparation program in another state.
Discover teacher certification programs in Georgia that are a match for you!
What Does a Teacher Do in Georgia?
As a teacher in Georgia, you are expected to provide instruction to your students in a classroom setting. A myriad of activities accompanies this task, including developing lesson plans, potentially mentoring students one-on-one, communicating with parents and other family members, and coordinating activities with your fellow teachers and faculty members.
Georgia Teacher Salary
Your specific salary and career information varies according to what grade level you teach. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary school teachers make an average of $54,890 a year, middle school teachers make approximately $56,410 per year, and high school teachers earn $56,420 a year, on average.
Georgia Teacher Certification Links
Teacher Certification Programs in Georgia
Teacher Certification Programs in Georgia
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Choose your area of study and receive free information about programs you are interested in. Becoming a teacher is an important decision that requires commitment, dedication, and passion. Teacher certification requirements vary by state. However, there are a number qualifications that every state requires to teach at the public school level. Request information from multiple schools to find the best program and educational opportunity for you!