As of September 1, 2006, the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators™ (GACE™) is the educator licensure assessment in Georgia. GACE™ assessments include Basic Skills, Paraprofessional, Computer Skill Competency, Professional Pedagogy, and content assessments. All assessments are aligned with state and national content standards and the state standards for the P-12 curriculum, which are the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). Many Georgia educators from various school districts and institutions of higher education assisted with test development in several ways. The PSC and NES are appreciative of the efforts of these Georgia educators.

Information about the GACE™ program is available at www.gace.nesinc.com.
Please note that in the GACE™ testing program, there is no broad field social studies test for high school (6-12). Instead separate tests are available for History, Economics, Geography, and Political Science. An educator seeking authorization to teach multiple social science subjects at the high school level (grades 6-12) will need to pass the appropriate content GACE™tests. However the GACE™program will include a middle grades social studies test to support Middle Grades Social Studies (4-8) certification.

Note: For certification candidates in the field of Speech and Language Pathology the Praxis II test 0330 will remain the required test as it is the test for national licensing with ASHA.
The PSC will not accept Praxis II scores for Educational Leadership assessments that reflect a score report date of after March 15, 2008. If a person has a passing score on his/her score report that is dated on or before March 15, 2008, that passing score will be accepted for the appropriate content assessment if that person completes any approved Georgia Educational Leadership program on or before September 30, 2009.


1. What is the GACE®?

GACE® is the acronym for Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators®. It is the educator assessment program for Georgia and is administered by Evaluation Systems group of Pearson® (ES).

The GACE web site is www.gace.nesinc.com.
2. Where can I find information about testing requirements in Georgia?

General testing questions are answered on the PSC website (www.gapsc.com.) Look for Educator Assessment.
3. When did the GACE replace the Praxis as the certification program in Georgia?

The GACE was required for Georgia educator certification beginning testing after September 1, 2006. The transition period has now passed, and only the GACE is accepted for those who are taking the test(s) now. The only exception field is Speech and Language Pathology as described in the note preceding these questions.
4. Must I take the new GACE® assessments if I have already passed the TCT or Praxis in my content field?

Tests passed prior to March 6, 2007, in certification content fields in the TCT or Praxis programs are still valid and will remain on educator records.

NOTE: The certification field of Educational Leadership is an exception to the above statement. The PSC will not accept Praxis II scores for Educational Leadership assessments that reflect a score report date of after March 15, 2008. If a person has a passing score on his/her score report that is dated on or before March 15, 2008, that passing score will be accepted for the appropriate content assessment if that person completes any approved Georgia Educational Leadership program on or before September 30, 2009.

5. If I took a Praxis test on or after March 6, 2007, will the PSC allow these score to be used for certification?

Unless the field in which you took the test was Speech and Language Pathology, Latin, or Leadership, the PSC will not accept the Praxis scores, and you must take GACE. See Educational Leadership note above.
6. In what instances could an educator take a Praxis test after March 5, 2007 and have it accepted for certification in Georgia?

Educators who are seeking certification in Speech and Language Pathology will continue to use the Praxis II tests. The Speech and Language Pathology Praxis (test # 20330) will continue to be accepted in Georgia. It is also the ASHA test and the minimum score for passing is 600.
7. May a candidate combine a Praxis II test score with a GACE test score to meet the assessment requirement in a field?

No, a candidate may not combine a Praxis test score with a GACE test score to meet the testing requirement in a content field. For example, a person could not combine a passing score on one of the Praxis content assessments formerly required for Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification with one test from the GACE Early Childhood Education assessment in order to meet the content assessment requirement for the ECE field. Either the appropriate Praxis tests taken before March 5, 2007 or the GACE content assessment must be passed to meet the requirement for a content field. This also applies to the Basic Skills Assessment and the Professional Pedagogy Assessment. The Praxis and GACE are different testing programs and individual tests cannot be used to meet the testing requirement. To meet the testing requirement all tests within a GACE assessment (or Praxis, if taken before March 5, 2007) must be passed.

A candidate could meet the basic skills requirement using Praxis I (taken by March 5, 2007) and the content testing requirement using the appropriate GACE assessment because these are two separate requirements for certification. Additionally, middle school candidates may use a combination of Praxis content tests (if taken by March 5, 2007) and GACE content assessments to meet content field testing requirements since tests for each field are stand alone tests.
8. Can I get copies of my TCT scores from the PSC?

Contact Sherese Wilcox at sherese.wilcox@gapsc.com for assistance with getting copies of TCT scores.

GACE:
9. Where do I find information on how to register, get score reports, or get specific information about the GACE® program?

The GACE Website (www.gace.nesinc.com) is the official site for GACE information. The site includes test dates, registration information, the registration bulletin, the test design and framework, and preparation materials for each assessment. General information on the assessment requirement in Georgia is available on the PSC website, not on the GACE website.
10. Has there been a change in the basic skills exemption based on SAT, GRE, and ACT scores with the transition from Praxis I to the GACE Basic Skills Assessment requirement?

No, the exemption did not change as a result of the assessment change. See the PSC web site for more information on the required scores. Note that the required composite SAT score includes only the verbal and math scores. The required SAT is 1000 on verbal and Math sections only; ACT is a score of 43 on combined English and math, and 1030 on the GRE verbal and quantitative test. (Exemption information is available on the PSC website. It is not available on the GACE website.) A chart for recentering SAT scores that were taken prior to April 1995 is available on the PSC website.
11. What are the dates for upcoming GACE® test administrations and when will scores be reported?

Test dates can be found on the GACE® Website on the page titled Test Dates (www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testdates.asp ). The testing schedule includes score report dates, usually within four weeks of the testing date. Scores are available via Internet at 5:00 PM on the day of score release. These Internet releases are "unofficial" score reports; the official report is mailed on the score report date.

What is the difference between an "assessment" and a "test" in the GACE program?

Each assessment is made up of one to three tests. The Professional Pedagogy assessment has two tests as do all content assessments except middle grades. Middle grades assessments have one test each. The Basic Skills assessment has three tests, and the Paraprofessional assessment has one test.
12. How do I register for the GACE® and what forms of payment are accepted?

The registration bulletin is available on the GACE® Website on the page tab titled Register Now. This page contains details of registration procedures and options for payment.
In order to send registrations by mail, candidates must request a Registration Bulletin from the web site. All registration forms must be received and all on-line registrations must be completed by 5:00 PM on the registration deadline date. Registrations received after the deadline will be charged a late fee.

Note: registration forms may not be sent by FAX.
13. If I took the test and do not think I passed, should I register for the next administration before I receive my score report?

No. You should wait to see if you passed the test before registering for it again. If you do not pass the test and you register for the same test at the next administration, you may be able to register without paying the late or emergency registration fees. See the section on "Testing on Consecutive Test Dates" in "Test Fees and Payment Policies" for details about conditions under which you may not be required to pay the late or emergency registration fee when registering to test on consecutive test dates. You should read the information before you register to take the same test(s) the next session.

Note: If you register to take the same test or tests on consecutive test dates before receiving your score report from the first administration, you assume full responsibility for all applicable test fees for both registrations, even if you subsequently learn that you passed one or more tests on the previous attempt. No refunds will be made on the basis of a passing performance on the previous attempt.
14. Where will the GACE® be administered?

Test areas can be found on the GACE® Webpage titled Test Sites: (www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testsites.asp.)

Since this is a Georgia assessment, it is not administered outside of Georgia with the exception of some future administrations for military troops and their spouses.
15. How much do the GACE® assessments cost?

Information about test fees can be found on the GACE® Web page titled Test Fees and Payment Policies (www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testfees.asp).
16. Are alternative testing arrangements available for persons with disabilities or examinees whose religious practices do not allow them to test on Saturdays?

Yes, the GACE® registration bulletin (www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_altarrangements.asp) provides details on documentation required for review of requests for such arrangements.
17. Are there computer-administered or Internet-based versions of the GACE® Basic Skills Assessment and GACE® Paraprofessional Assessment?

Yes, information on the Internet-based Paraprofessional Assessment and Computer Skills Competency Assessment are available on the GACE website at http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA2_internet_based_testing.asp

GACE SCORE REPORTS:
18. If there are two tests in a content or professional assessment, are passing scores on both tests required to meet the content or pedagogy assessment requirement and may both be taken on the same day?

Yes, passing the content or pedagogy assessments requires a passing score on both tests if two are included in an assessment. All content assessments and the Professional Pedagogy assessment have two tests except middle grades content assessments which are made up of one test each. Two content or pedagogy tests may be taken in one testing session or they may be taken on separate testing days. Two middle grades content assessment may be taken in one testing session.
19. Must I pass all three tests in the GACE Basic Skills Assessment, or is there an allowable composite score?

Candidates must pass all three tests in the GACE Basic Skills Assessment. There is no composite score option.
20. I received a letter saying my scores were voided because I had a calculator when it was not allowed, had a cell phone, etc. What can I do to get my scores released?

Any questions about voided scores should be directed to the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson (ES). Violations of the agreed upon rules of test participation are not handled by the Professional Standards Commission. All questions about voided test scores should be directed to ES at 1-800-523-7064 or 1-413-256-2894. The FAX number is 1-413-256-8221. The mailing address is:

GACE Program
National Evaluation Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 660
Amherst, MA 01004-9002

If you want to contact ES about a voided score, the recommended procedure is to send a letter or FAX to the Test Administration Division at the address above. Be sure to include your name, candidate ID, what test you took and were, and a detailed explanation of why you believe that there were extenuating circumstances that warrant a review. Possession of cell phones and unauthorized calculators in the testing area are major violations and generally will not be reviewed.
21. Additional information links
o TeachGeorgia Program (Teacher Recruitment)
o Paraprofessional Information
o National Board Certification for Teachers
o Troops-to-Teachers Program
o Educator Ethics
o Educator Preparation
o Educator Workforce Recruitment, Research and Development

Copyright 2009 Professional Standards Commission