Teacher Certification Section - Provisional Certificates
Provisional Certificates
Provisional Certificates are "entry-level" certificates in a
specific field that indicate mastery of minimum content knowledge for the field, verified
by college course work and content knowledge assessment. Provisional certificates allow
individuals who have completed "non-education" degrees to enter the teaching
field before an approved teacher preparation program has been completed. In most cases, a
degree in the field and a passing score on the PSC approved certification test, will
qualify an applicant for provisional certification. Provisional certificates require a minimum
2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or admission to or completion of a
Master’s degree) and, like all conditional certificates, require employment in a
local school system.
The provisional certificate is valid for three school years. During this
time period, the individual affiliates with a college or university with an approved
teacher preparation program in the field of certification. The college advisor reviews the
course work and any educational experience already completed, and maps out an approved
program course of study for the individual to complete within the three years. This course
of study may include college course work, assessment, practica, portfolios, or other
requirements deemed necessary by the institution. Upon completion of the approved program,
the individual is recommended to the PSC by the institution as having met all requirements
for clear renewable certification. At that time a clear renewable certificate with a five-
year validity period is issued.
Individuals who have completed non-education degrees may apply for an
evaluation by the PSC, by a course-by-course transcript analysis, to determine
eligibility for provisional certification. Provisional certificates are not issued in the
following fields: Audiology, Early Childhood (P-5), Educational Leadership, Elementary
Grades (P-8), Health Occupations, Interrelated Special Education/Early Childhood, Reading
Specialist, School Psychology, School Social Work, Speech and Language Pathology, and
Trade & Industrial Education.
Provisional Certificate Examples
Case 1 - An individual holds a bachelor’s degree in English
from Georgia State University with a 3.5 GPA. They have passed the Georgia TCT in
Communicative Arts. They are eligible for provisional certification in English. During
their three years, they will complete outstanding requirements for English Education
certification.
Case 2 - An individual holds a master’s degree in Community
Counseling from Auburn University. They have passed the appropriate Praxis II exam for
this field. They are eligible for provisional certification in School Counseling. During
their three years, they will complete outstanding requirements for School Counseling
certification.
Case 3 - An individual holds a bachelor’s degree in Business
from Penn State University with a 2.8 GPA. They completed 15 semester hours of Spanish
course work while in college and wish to teach Spanish in the public schools. Their PSC
evaluation indicates they still need specific college course work in Spanish and a passing
score on the Spanish assessment to qualify for provisional certification.
Requirements for provisional certification in each field are included in
the official PSC rule for the specific field.
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