Certification

About Initial Certification

Individuals wishing to teach full-time in a public school need to hold a teaching certificate appropriate for the classes they intend to teach.  Armstrong offers three paths to initial teacher certification:

• Bachelor of Science in Education
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Post-baccalaureate, non-degree certificate in certain fields of secondary education

Most states have specific requirements, such as student teaching (called an internship), that must be completed for a clear, renewable teaching certificate.  In Georgia, the requirements are established by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

In addition to offering high-quality teacher-preparation programs leading to a teaching certificate, the College of Education provides a certification officer to help students navigate the steps to certification.  This includes assisting students with their application to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

To Become Certified

To gain certification, the Professional Standards Commission requires students to take the following actions:

• Successfully complete an appropriate program of study with an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 and a graduate grade point average of at least 3.0
• Satisfy or be exempt from the GACE Basic Skills Assessment
• Pass the GACE Content Assessment examinations (if applicable)
• Submit a completed application, including transcripts and other supplemental documents

Some of the state’s certification requirements may have been satisfied prior to admission into the College of Education – so you may not have to repeat those actions.

The application asks candidates to explain and document any criminal history – so accurately disclose any incidents so you don’t unnecessarily jeopardize your eligibility for a teaching certificate.  In other words, a legal transgression may be forgiven; however, failing to disclose a transgression may be more injurious to your application.

Seminar about Certification Procedures

Prior to the end of each semester, we hold a final seminar in conjunction with the Office of Field Experiences, Clinical Practice, and Partnerships to discuss the required paperwork and procedures to be followed to ensure students receive their teaching certificates in a timely manner.

After all necessary certification paperwork is completed by the student, the certification officer will forward the package to the Professional Standards Commission.  Students who do not meet all certification requirements must notify the certification officer when the final requirement is completed.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure his/her teaching certificate remains current.

A student who does not apply for his or her certificate within five years of program completion may be required to take additional course work in order to meet the certification requirements at that time.

Advanced Teacher Certification

Students completing a Master of Education (M.Ed.) program do not require paperwork from the certification officer. Students should request a degree-posted transcript from the Registrar's Office pdf and submit this transcript, along with a GaPSC Application for Certification pdf, through their employing school system or directly to the GaPSC for upgrading of their certificate field.

Reading Endorsement

Students completing a program or classes that result in the endorsement of reading as an add-on field must submit the aforementioned GaPSC Application for certification and a transcript reflecting the qualifying classes to the certification officer for processing.

Reciprocity with Other States

Students wishing to teach outside of Georgia are recommended to obtain their initial certification in Georgia, and then contact the certification officer at any point to complete the necessary documentation for any other state's certification board that has a reciprocity agreement pdf with Georgia.

Application Fees

You will have to pay the fee as noted on the application to the Professional Standards Commission unless you are a full-time, employed teacher seeking an initial license.  To take advantage of this exemption, ask your school district to complete an Employer Assurance Form.