Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 505 - PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMISSION
Chapter 505-2 - CERTIFICATION
Rule 505-2-.32 - Validity Periods and Dating of Certificates

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 505-2-.32

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024

(1) Summary: This rule outlines the requirements and procedures for determining the validity period, effective date and issue date of certificates and licensure.

(2) Validity Periods. Certificate fields are issued with specific validity periods depending upon the type and title (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.02 CLASSIFICATION).

(a) The standard validity periods for the various types and titles of certificates are as follows:
1. Induction, Standard Professional, Performance-Based Professional, Advanced Professional and Lead Professional certificates are valid for five (5) years (See GaPSC Rules 505-2-.04 INDUCTION CERTIFICATE, 505-2-.05 PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE, 505-2-.06 ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL and 505-2-.07 LEAD PROFESSIONAL) with the following exceptions:
(i) A renewable professional certificate issued to an individual holding another unexpired, renewable professional certificate is only valid for the remaining validity period of the existing renewable professional certificate.

(ii) A One (1)-year or Three (3)-year Induction certificate may be issued to those meeting criteria outlined in Rule 505-2-.04 INDUCTION CERTIFICATE.

2. Life certificates are valid for the educator's lifetime, but are issued with validity periods for record-keeping purposes. During the certificate holder's lifetime, a Life certificate is automatically renewed at the end of the validity period (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.12 LIFE CERTIFICATE).

3. Pre-Service certificates are valid for five (5) years unless otherwise outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.03 PRE-SERVICE CERTIFICATE.

4. Provisional certificates are valid for three (3) years unless otherwise outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.08 PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE.

5. Non-Renewable Professional certificates are valid for three (3) years unless otherwise outlined in rule noted in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.09 NON-RENEWABLE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE.

6. International Exchange certificates are valid for three (3) years (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.11 INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE).

7. Waiver certificates and Adjunct licenses are valid for one (1) year (See GaPSC Rules 505-2-.13 WAIVER CERTIFICATE and 505-2-.15 ADJUNCT LICENSE).

8. Educational Interpreter licenses, Non-Instructional Aide licenses, Paraprofessional licenses and Support Personnel licenses are valid for five (5) years (See GaPSC Rules 505-2-.16 EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETER LICENSE, 505-2-.17 NON-INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE LICENSE, 505-2-.18 PARAPROFESSIONAL LICENSE and 505-2-.19 SUPPORT PERSONNEL LICENSE):
(i) Non-Renewable Educational Interpreter licenses and Non-Renewable Paraprofessional licenses are valid for one (1) year.

9. Permit certificates are valid for three (3) years or five (5) years as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.10 PERMIT CERTIFICATE.

10. Retired Educator certificates are valid for thirty (30) years.

11. Clearance certificates are valid for five (5) years unless issued to coincide with the end validity of the base certificate.

(b) The standard validity period of a certificate may be decreased by the number of years an individual held a Non-Renewable Professional or Waiver certificate for which requirements were not met.

(c) Fields that are added to a valid certificate are valid only until the expiration date of the base field, at which time all fields renewed will have the same validity period.

(3) Effective Date. The effective date of a certificate level or field is governed by employment, the category of certificate and the date the complete application package is received by the GaPSC. The effective date may also be based on the GaPSC fiscal year or academic school year, which is July 1 through June 30.

(a) The effective date of a certificate level or a renewable certificate or license is the more recent of the following:
1. The date on which requirements are completed.

2. July 1 of the fiscal year in which the complete application package is submitted.
(i) The effective date of a certificate field or level issued based on an approved certification appeal will be the date the Certification Appeals Committee approved the appeal.

(b) The effective date of a Non-Renewable, Provisional, Permit, International Exchange certificate, or any other certificate or license not included in part (2)(a) is determined as follows:
1. If the employment date is between July 1 and December 31 and the complete application package is received prior to the end of the fiscal year (June 30), the effective date is the beginning of the fiscal year (July 1) if all certification requirements are met prior to this date.

2. If the employment date is between January 1 and June 30 and the complete application package is received between January 1 and June 30, the effective date is January 1 if all certification requirements are met prior to this date.

3. The effective dates of Waiver certificates are determined on a case-by-case basis.

(c) Certificates will not normally be backdated prior to July 1 of the fiscal year in which the complete application package is received, regardless of the date requirements are met, with the following exception:
1. If the superintendent of an employing local unit of administration submits a written statement verifying that all salary adjustments will be paid using only local funds, the GaPSC may issue a certificate or level with an effective date prior to July 1 of the fiscal year in which the complete application package is received.

(d) Certification issued based on rule revision will not be issued prior to the effective date of the revised rule.

(4) Expiration Dates. The expiration date of all certificates, with the exception of Waiver certificates, is June 30 of the final year of validity. The final year of validity is determined by adding the number of years of validity to the calendar year of the effective date of the certificate. For example, a five (5)-year certificate with an effective date of December 10, 2014, would expire on June 30, 2019. A five (5)-year certificate with an effective date of January 1, 2015, would expire on June 30, 2020.

(a) The expiration dates of Waiver certificates are determined on a case-by-case basis.

O.C.G.A. 20-2-200.

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