Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1)
Summary. The Pre-Service teaching certificate is part of Georgia's
tiered teacher certification system and provides a statewide structure to
organize procedures related to pre-service teachers once admitted to certain
state-approved educator preparation programs. Such procedures are designed to:
(a) Assure the safety of school
children.
(b) Provide opportunities
for pre-service teachers to practice/demonstrate knowledge and
skills.
(c) Standardize the
criminal background check process across the state for pre-service teachers,
eliminating those who are not eligible or suited to the profession.
(d) Assist pre-service educators in
understanding the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators and hold them
accountable under the Code.
(e)
Require attainment of the Pre-Service certificate for anyone participating in
field experiences and student teaching in Georgia schools (to include
candidates in Georgia and out-of-state educator preparation programs).
(2)
Requirements. To qualify for the Pre-Service certificate, an
applicant must:
(a) Be admitted to an
educator preparation program in the state of Georgia, any other U.S. state or
online, which meets the following requirements:
1. Leads to a Five (5)-Year Induction
certificate in a teaching field.
2.
Requires participation in field experiences or clinical practice including
student teaching, residency work or any other program requirements in Georgia
schools.
(b) Pass the
Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment, with the following exception:
1. Candidates who have been continuously
enrolled in the same educator preparation program since July 1, 2014 or earlier
are exempt from this requirement. Note: the term "enrolled" is defined as
admitted to a program and actively taking coursework.
2. The GACE Educator Ethics - Program Entry
will continue to be accepted for individuals who previously completed the
assessment for program admission. For those individuals, the GACE Educator
Ethics Assessment (previously titled GACE Educator Ethics - Program Exit) must
be passed for conversion of the Pre-Service certificate.
(c) Have a successful Georgia Crime
Information Center (GCIC) criminal record check.
(d) Must be requested by the candidate
following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 Certification Application,
MyPSC and Test Eligibility Procedures.
(e) Not hold a valid Georgia certificate or
Permit in a teaching field, or an expired Georgia renewable professional
certificate in a teaching field.
(3)
Validity. The Pre-Service
certificate is valid for five (5) years, with the following exceptions:
(a) Invalidated upon program
completion.
(b) Invalidated if an
individual withdraws, transfers or is removed from a program.
1. Previously enrolled candidates who
withdraw, transfer or are removed from an educator preparation program and are
subsequently readmitted to the program or admitted to a different educator
preparation program are eligible for the Pre-Service certificate.
(i) Under these circumstances the five
(5)-year validity period begins again upon readmission and issuance of the new
certificate. Requirements in (2) above, must be met after readmission to the
educator preparation program in order to reissue the Pre-Service
certificate.
(c) May be extended at the request of the
EPP.
(4)
In-Field
Statement. Pre-Service certificate holders are in-field to participate
in supervised field experience, clinical practice, student teaching, or
residency work consistent with the grade levels of certification sought.
Individuals holding valid Georgia certificates or Permits in teaching fields
are also in-field to participate in these activities. These experiences provide
certificate holders with an intensive and extensive culminating activity.
Certificate holders are immersed in the learning community and provided
opportunities to develop and demonstrate competence in the professional roles
for which they are preparing. Holding a Pre-Service certificate, even upon
successful completion of an educator preparation program, does not
automatically result in movement to the Induction tier in the tiered
certification system.
O.C.G.A.
§
20-2-200.
