Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 505 - PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMISSION
Chapter 505-2 - CERTIFICATION
Rule 505-2-.08 - Provisional Certificate

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 505-2-.08

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024

(1) Summary: This rule outlines the requirements and procedures for issuance of a Provisional certificate, which allows individuals holding this certificate and meeting entry requirements to teach up to three years while completing requirements for professional certification.

(2) Provisional Requirements.

(a) Degree Requirement.
1. Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution, unless Georgia does not require a bachelor's degree for the specific field. Minimum degree requirements are defined in the applicable teaching or service rule.

(b) Assessment Requirements.
1. Attain a passing score on the GACE content assessment.
(i) If no GACE or other GaPSC-approved content assessment is available for the certification field requested, the individual is exempt from this requirement.

(ii) For Special Education certificates, the content assessment is not required up front, but must be passed before conversion. Issuance of special education academic content concentration(s) requires the appropriate GACE content assessment(s) for the concentration area(s) for the Provisional Certificate.

2. Pass the GACE Educator Ethics Assessment.

3. Have the certificate requested by the employing Georgia local unit of administration (LUA) following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION, MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.

(c) The Provisional certificate is issued in the following fields to individuals employed by a Georgia LUA who meet the Provisional certificate requirements outlined in the rule specific to that field:
1. CAREER AND TECHNICAL SPECIALIZATIONS (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.90 CAREER AND TECHNICAL SPECIALIZATIONS).

2. HEALTHCARE SCIENCE (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.87 HEALTHCARE SCIENCE).

(3) Additional Certificate Titles Issued in the Field.

(a) The Provisional certificate is issued in the following service fields to individuals employed by a Georgia LUA who meet the Provisional service certificate requirements outlined in the rule specific to that field:
1. Media Specialist (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.143 MEDIA SPECIALIST).

2. School Counseling (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.144 SCHOOL COUNSELING).

3. School Nutrition Director (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.145 SCHOOL NUTRITION DIRECTOR).

(4) Conversion to an Induction or Professional Certificate.

(a) Individuals holding a Provisional certificate may apply to convert their certificate to an Induction or Professional certificate upon meeting all requirements for that certificate.

(5) Certificate Upgrade.

(a) Individuals holding a Provisional certificate are not eligible to upgrade to a higher certificate level until conversion to an Induction or Professional certificate and meeting requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.33 CERTIFICATE UPGRADE. Initial issuance of the Provisional certificate level will be as specified in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.02 CLASSIFICATION.

(6) Validity.

(a) The Provisional certificate is valid for three (3) years with the following exceptions:
1. Provisional certificates will be issued for one (1) year pending verification of enrollment in a GaPSC-accepted educator preparation program leading to certification in the Provisional certification field held by the individual. Once enrolled in a GaPSC-accepted program, the certificate may be extended for two additional years if requested by the employing local unit of administration (LUA) and following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION, MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(i) Individuals who are not enrolled in a GaPSC-accepted program after the initial one-year validity period may be issued a certificate for an additional year upon the request of the employing local unit of administration (LUA). In order to qualify for the remaining year of eligibility, an individual must be enrolled in an approved program. Once enrolled in a GaPSC-accepted program, the certificate may be extended for a third year if requested by the employing local unit of administration and following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION, MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES. Should an individual not be enrolled by the third year, a waiver certificate must be requested by the employing local unit of administration (LUA).

2. Valid from one (1) to three (3) years if an individual has previously held a Non-Renewable Non-Professional, Induction Pathway 4, or GaTAPP (Clinical Practice, Core Academic, Intern and One-Year Supervised Practicum) certificate in any field. In these circumstances, the Provisional certificate will be issued for the number of full years for which the individual can document that the previous certificate was unused. Provisional certificates are not issued for partial academic years.

(7) Restrictions.

(a) The Provisional certificate is not issued to an individual who has completed the student teaching component of a state-approved educator preparation program leading to Induction certification but has outstanding institutional requirements for program completion.

(b) The Provisional certificate is not issued if an individual previously held a Provisional or equivalent certificate for the full validity that was not converted.

(c) The Provisional certificate is not issued for leadership fields (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.153 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP).

(d) Individuals holding a Provisional certificate are not eligible to add Endorsements.

(e) Individuals who hold a Provisional certificate or held a previous equivalent certificate will not qualify for the One (1)-Year Induction or One (1)-Year Nonrenewable to complete assessment requirements.

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-200.

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