Teacher Certification Section - Clear Renewable
Certification
Clear Renewable Certificates
The professional certificate issued by the PSC is the Clear Renewable
certificate. This category indicates that: all requirements for professional licensure in
the field have been met including applicable special
Georgia requirements; the certificate fields have a five-year validity period; and the
standard renewal requirements apply to all fields in this category. Clear renewable status
applies to teaching (T), service (S), and leadership (L) fields. Traditionally, the clear
renewable certificate may be obtained by completing a college’s approved teacher
preparation program or through reciprocity of a professional certificate from another
jurisdiction.
Performance Based Certificates
The Performance Based Certificate (PBT or PBS) indicates the completion
of an additional assessment component for certification. Between 1979 and 1990, all
initial Georgia professional certificates were issued as non-renewable. During the first
three years of certification, each educator was required to satisfactorily complete an
on-the-job professional skills assessment (TPAI) for continued certification. The
assessment included evaluations of teaching skills by supervisors and mentor teachers.
Upon completion of the assessment, educators were awarded the PBT or PBS certificate.
While initial performance based certificates are no longer issued, educators who hold
performance based certificates may continue to renew these fields.
Life Certificates
Prior to July 1, 1974, educators who had completed five years of
professional service were eligible to apply for continuous life certification.
Educators who hold valid life certificates are not required to complete renewal
credit for certification. This practice was discontinued in 1974; however,
educators who held life certification at that time are eligible to maintain
their life certificates provided they are not absent from the profession for
a period of seven years or longer. Should an applicant be absent from the
profession for this amount of time, they must meet current requirements for
renewal; however, their certificate will be reinstated at the clear renewable
(and not life) category.
If an educator holds a life certificate in a specific field and
completes a higher degree, the certificate field may be upgraded to the higher
level and still maintain the life status. Also, endorsements added to a life
certificate field will also be issued as life certificate fields. If, however,
an educator adds a new field of certification to an existing life certificate,
the new field will not carry life status.
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