Rule 505-2-.22 - Certification By State-Approved Program(1)Summary: State-approved programs are professional education programs based on established state standards and delivered as traditional or non-traditional routes to certification. Such programs, usually provided by colleges/universities, school systems, Regional Educational Services Agencies (RESAs), or collaborative arrangements between any of these agencies, must be approved by the appropriate state agency in order to verify completion of certification programs. Program standards and requirements are based on preparation necessary to obtain a certificate, and state-approved programs may or may not require a specific degree. Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)-approved programs include those that result in certificates as well as endorsements. A listing of GaPSC-approved programs may be found on the GaPSC web site at www.gapsc.com. Information concerning program approval standards and procedures may be found HERE.(2)Out-of-State Programs. The GaPSC may certify individuals who have completed state-approved educator preparation programs in any state under the following conditions: (a) The educator preparation program was approved by the state approval authority in a state that approves teacher preparation programs, the program was approved for the field in which the educator completed the program and the program held approval status during the year in which the individual completed the program. 1. In the specific field of Speech and Language Pathology, the GaPSC shall accept ASHA-approved programs that are not state-approved but are completed at GaPSC-accepted accredited institutions.(b) The individual has completed all state-approved program requirements and the authorized official at the program provider has verified program completion on the appropriate GaPSC form.(c) The program was completed in a field recognized by the GaPSC. If the program was completed in an area recognized in Georgia as an endorsement only, the individual will be eligible for the appropriate endorsement certificate in that field.(d) The individual has completed field experiences or clinical practice including student teaching. If field experiences, clinical practice or student teaching was completed in a Georgia local unit of administration (LUA) requiring GaPSC certification, the individual must have held a Pre-Service certificate and have worked with a cooperating teacher holding renewable professional certification in the field in which the individual completed a state-approved certification program, or in a closely related field as outlined below. If clinical practice was completed in a Georgia LUA that has the legal authority to waive certification, the cooperating teacher must, at a minimum meet federal requirements under Title IIA regulations or Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 In-field requirements. If the cooperating teacher does not meet these requirements, the clinical practice or field experience does not meet Georgia certification requirements and will not be accepted.1. The following fields are considered closely related for the purposes of cooperating teachers for field experiences, clinical practice, or student teaching: (i) An individual earning certification in Birth through Kindergarten may work with a cooperating teacher certified in Early Childhood Education.(ii) An individual earning certification in Middle Grades may work with a cooperating teacher certified in the corresponding secondary (6-12) field.(iii) An individual earning certification in a world language field may work with a cooperating teacher certified in any other world language field.(iv) An individual earning certification in Science (6-12) may work with a cooperating teacher certified in any other secondary science field (Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space Science, or Physics), and a candidate earning certification in any of the secondary science fields may work with a cooperating teacher certified in Science (6-12).(v) An individual earning certification in a Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) field may work with a cooperating teacher certified in any other CTAE field.2. Effective July 1, 2020, individuals completing culminating residency (formerly referred to as student teaching) in a Georgia LUA must be placed in classrooms for a minimum of one full semester or the equivalent.(3)In-State Programs. GaPSC-approved programs shall include all course work specified in Special Georgia Requirements, outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS. However, the GACE content assessment is not considered part of the approved program, but is a separate state requirement for certification. GaPSC-approved program providers may verify approved program completion for an individual who has completed all program requirements, to include the Special Georgia Requirements, and the GACE content assessment as long as the assessment was attempted. If a GaPSC-approved provider verifies program completion with attempting but not passing the assessment, the individual will not be eligible for any certificate unless requested by an employing Georgia local unit of administration (LUA). Upon such a request, a One (1)-year Induction certificate may be issued.(4)Out-of-Country Programs. The GaPSC may certify individual who have completed the equivalent of a state-approved educator preparation program outside the United States. The program must be in a field recognized by the GaPSC, and include clinical practice/student teaching. Individuals for certification who have attended colleges or universities outside the United States must provide the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) with a detailed course-by-course credential report of college-level credit completed as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.29 EVALUATION OF CREDIT EARNED OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.(5)Advanced Degrees. In order to qualify for a certificate level upgrade, an individual must complete an advanced degree program that meets specific quality standards outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.33 CERTIFICATE UPGRADE. These standards apply to all advanced degree programs, even those that are state-approved.(6)Educational Leadership.(a) Georgia Educational Leadership programs that lead to certification must be GaPSC-approved programs, as described in GaPSC Rules 505-3-.58 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM and 505-2-.153 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP.(b) Georgia applies reciprocity to initial out-of-state Educational Leadership certificate holders based on completion of a state-approved program at level six (6) or seven (7), and also at level five (5) when the educator has at least three (3) years of successful experience in a leadership position as outlined in Rule 505-2-.153 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP.(7)Resources. GaPSC-approved programs for all fields are listed on the GaPSC web site HERE.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.22
O.C.G.A. § 20-2-200.
Original Rule entitled "Application for Initial Certification/Upgrading" adopted. F. Dec. 18, 1991; eff. Jan. 7, 1992.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Correction of Certificates" adopted. F. Dec. 16, 1992; eff. July 1, 1993, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule entitled "PSC-Accepted Accreditation and Validation of Non-Accredited Degrees" adopted. F. Feb. 20, 2004; eff. Mar. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Certification by State-Approved Program" 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. Dec. 22, 2014; eff. Jan. 15, 2015, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Dec. 21, 2015; eff. Jan. 15, 2016, 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.Amended: F. June 11, 2020; eff. July 1, 2020, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Apr. 9, 2024; eff. Apr. 15, 2024, as specified by the Agency.