How to Become a Teacher in Georgia

Georgia certification requirements, step by step

Each requirement below is stated as Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) publishes it, with the governing source cited.

1. 1

   Complete a GaPSC-approved educator preparation program

   Earn a bachelor's degree (or higher where required) through a GaPSC-approved educator preparation program (EPP) in the field you intend to teach, and receive formal verification of program completion from the institution.

   Source: gapsc.com

2. 2

   Pass required GACE assessments

   Pass the GACE content knowledge assessment in your field of preparation, the GACE Ethics for Teachers assessment, and—if enrolled in or adding a teaching field on or after June 1, 2025—the GACE literacy assessment aligned with your field. All parts of a multi-part assessment must be passed with the same testing supplier.

   Source: gapsc.com

3. 3

   Meet Special Georgia requirements

   Complete a special education course with a grade of B or better. Satisfy any remaining Special Georgia requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 before or during the conversion/renewal cycle.

   Source: gapsc.com

4. 4

   Receive a five-year Induction certificate and complete induction

   New Georgia-prepared teachers are issued a five-year Induction teaching certificate. After three years of successful experience while holding the Induction certificate, educators may convert to a Standard Professional or Performance-Based Professional certificate.

   Source: gapsc.com

5. 5

   Apply through MyPSC

   Submit certification applications electronically through MyPSC. GaPSC-approved EPP completers are generally exempt from the $20 certification transaction fee; other applicants may pay via MyPSC unless employed by a Georgia local unit of administration (LUA) and eligible for fee exemption.

   Source: gapsc.com

Georgia's certification architecture centers on tier movement rather than a single lifetime credential at hire. New in-state completers typically enter on a five-year Induction certificate, which functions as a structured bridge between preparation and full professional standing. GaPSC Rule 505-2-.05 ties conversion to three years of successful experience while holding Induction, at which point educators may move to a Standard Professional or Performance-Based Professional certificate. That sequencing matters for career changers comparing Georgia to states that issue a renewable professional license immediately after program completion.

Assessment policy shifted materially in 2025 when Evaluation Systems, Pearson replaced ETS as the GACE vendor on July 1, 2025. GaPSC's transition policy requires examinees to pass all parts of a multi-part assessment with the same supplier—scores cannot be split between ETS and Pearson administrations. Candidates enrolled in or adding teaching fields on or after June 1, 2025 must also pass a field-aligned GACE literacy assessment, layered on top of content and Ethics requirements. Because cut scores and registration fees are published on the vendor site rather than in GaPSC rules, candidates should confirm current exam schedules at gace.es.pearson.com before registering.

Special Georgia requirements persist even for otherwise qualified applicants. A special education course completed with a grade of B or better is mandatory, and reciprocity candidates may satisfy some assessment obligations through experience-based exemptions outlined in Rule 505-2-.24. GaPSC explicitly cautions that reciprocity does not mean an automatic swap of out-of-state credentials; once certified in Georgia, all upgrades, field additions, and renewals follow Georgia rules regardless of prior licensure elsewhere.

Renewal is employer-integrated for most working educators. LUAs document participation in professional learning communities and verify PLP progress as part of electronic renewal submissions. Educators not employed by a Georgia public or participating private system follow alternate PLG-based renewal pathways. Rule 505-2-.28 sets a $20 fee for most certification transactions, but numerous exemptions apply—including for LUA-employed educators renewing or converting certificates and for initial applicants graduating from GaPSC-approved programs.

Required exams and fees

Georgia uses Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) — administered by Evaluation Systems, Pearson (ES) as of July 1, 2025. Fees and cut scores appear only when published by the cited source (as of August 2026).

Full Georgia exam requirements →

Moving a license to Georgia

GaPSC reviews out-of-state credentials under its own reciprocity rules. Educators with a valid or expired professional certificate and three or more years of successful experience may qualify for a Georgia professional certificate after meeting Special Georgia requirements, which may include GACE content, ethics, literacy, and special education coursework. Educators with fewer than three years of experience may qualify for an Induction certificate.

Official Georgia reciprocity guidance