If you are considering a teaching career in Georgia, you will find numerous options that will allow you to attain this goal.

The State of Georgia requires that all teachers meet certain general, educational and certification requirements. You must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and successfully complete a state-approved program as well as knowledge based testing in the field in which you plan to teach.

Two types of teaching certificates are available in Georgia. A Georgia Clear Renewable Teacher Certification is valid for five years and must be renewed at that time. You must hold a bachelors degree in education in order to receive this certification. Non-renewable certificates have a lower threshold of requirements, are valid for a shorter period of time and cannot be renewed. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in an area other than education, alternative avenues are available.

The licensure exam for teacher certification in Georgia is the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE®). Georgia teachers must also submit to a fingerprint check prior to being employed by Georgia public schools.

Persons interested in becoming a teacher in Georgia can choose from more than thirty institutions of higher learning in the state offering a Bachelor’s Degree program in Education.

In addition to traditional campus-based programs, online degree programs are becoming increasingly available and are now offered through several institutions. Persons who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and plan to transition into a teaching career can explore options available through The Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy.

For teachers from other states who are considering relocation to Georgia, the State of Georgia participates in the interstate reciprocity program available through the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification whereby persons who hold professional teaching certificates issued by another state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, the Department of Defense Education, or the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards are eligible for a Clear Renewable Georgia certificate. Applicants must still meet all Georgia-specific requirements for teaching licensure.

Georgia also offers several service based opportunities for alternative teacher certification, including programs such as Georgia Troops to Teachers and Teach for America Atlanta. Troops to Teachers is a program offered by the Department of Defense to assist persons who have been members of the Armed Forces who wish to become teachers. Teach for America is a partnership program between schools, districts, and communities ensuring equal education opportunities for Metro Atlanta students.

To explore the numerous opportunities for becoming a teacher in Georgia, consult the Georgia Department of Education website.