Step-By-Step Requirements to Becoming a Georgia TAPP Teacher-Candidate

Step 1.

Please note the following checkpoints for becoming a GaTAPP Teacher-Candidate:

  1. Do you have a Bachelor's degree or higher from a PSC-approved accredited college or university?
    • If no, stop here. Without at least a Bachelor’s degree, you are not eligible for participation in the GaTAPP program.
    • If yes, please continue.
  2. Have you completed a teacher education program including successfully completing student teaching or held any Clear Renewable teaching certificate in Georgia or any other state? Two issues to consider:
    1. Education Leadership and Service Certificates are not TEACHING certificates
    2. Other states may have another name for Clear Renewable certificates
    • If yes, stop here. You are not eligible for participation in the GaTAPP program.
    • If no, please continue to question 3.
  3. Have you checked with the school system(s) in which you are interested and/or the provider for that system to determine if there is a GPA requirement?
    • Some providers and/or school systems require a 2.5 GPA (To access the website for school systems. The Georgia Department of Education’s, www.doe.k12.ga.us, has a map of Georgia that lists schools by RESA, by school system, and by schools. Information includes website addresses);
    • One of the paths under the GaTAPP umbrella, the Core Academic Path to Clear Renewable Certification, requires a 2.5 GPA. (See U:\WP\TEACHED\Alternative Preparation Rules\2009 Website Documents\Matrix for GaTAPP paths for website.doc);
  4. Do you have the disposition to teach?
    • All non-traditional path participants shall be required, by path completion, to demonstrate the following dispositions:
      1. Do you have an appreciation of the diversity of the students, the staff, and the community and capitalize on the richness of that diversity;
      2. Are your interactions with adults and children friendly, warm, caring, polite, respectful, and developmentally and culturally appropriate;
      3. Do you value a culture of learning where students are committed to the value of the subject, accept the teacher’s high expectations, and take pride in quality work and conduct;
      4. Do you respond appropriately, respectfully, and successfully to student behavior;
      5. Do you intend to provide directions, procedures, and oral and written language are communicated clearly and accurately;
      6. Do you believe in demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness by adjusting lessons, responding to students, and being persistent in your effort to teach all students;
      7. Do you value maintaining accurate, complete records of student assignments and learning and of non-instructional activities;
      8. Do you recognize the value of frequently and successfully providing instructional information and student progress information to parents and engages families in the school program;
      9. Are you supportive of and cooperative with colleagues and volunteers and are willing to make substantial contributions to school and district projects;
      10. Would you be willing to actively seek professional development to enhance content and pedagogical skills and actively assist other educators;
      11. Would you proactively serve all students, challenge negative attitudes, and take a leadership role in high quality decision-making; and
      12. Would you be committed to understanding and actively participating in the school's School Improvement process;
      13. Would you commit to understanding and practicing the Georgia Code of Ethics;
      14. Would be committed to reflect on your teaching practices, analyze student achievement data, and make adjustments to your performance based on results?
    • If you do not believe you have these dispositions (qualities), stop here. The teacher-candidate’s disposition to teach students at the grade level and in the field of interest is critical;
    • If you believe that you do possess these dispositions, please continue to Step 2.

Step 2.

Obtain official transcript(s) from your college or university.

  • If you have not requested your college transcript(s), please do so by contacting your college or university of completion.
  • If you have requested your college transcript(s), please continue to Step 3.

Step 3.

Pass GACE® Basic Skills Assessment or qualify for exemption with a passing score on the SAT, GRE, or ACT. (view GACE® basic skills requirement for exemption scores ) To obtain SAT or GRE scores, you can contact the Educational Testing Service at www.ETS.org. ACT scores can be obtained at www.ACT.org. SAT and ACT scores are also available on high school transcripts.
-It is also possible to exempt the GACE Basic Skills Assessment if you passed the Praxis I test prior to September 1, 2006.

Step 4.

Pass GACE® Content Assessment (all parts) if required for path entry to meet Highly Qualified Teacher requirements:

Candidates for Early Childhood Education (ECE), Special Education, Middle Grades math, science, reading, Language Arts, and Social Science, and Secondary English, math, science, all Social Studies areas, Foreign Language, and fine arts (art, music, band and chorus) who are teachers of record must meet the requirements for Highly Qualified teacher:

  • Early Childhood Education candidates who are teachers of record must have a passing score on the GACE Early Childhood Education Content Assessment. Because there is no degree which is a complete related field to ECE, candidates must expect to have instruction that supplements the basic path and meets the content standards;
  • Special Education candidates who are teachers of record in K-8 must have:
    • Early Childhood Education level: A passing score on the GACE Special Education Academic Content Concentrations or the GACE Early Childhood Education assessment;
    • Middle Grades level: A major in a concentration in the assigned teaching field or a transcript assessment confirming successful completion of 15 semester hours of courses in the assigned teaching field or a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment or a passing score on the GACE Special Education Academic Content Concentrations assessment;
    • Secondary level: A bachelor's degree or higher with a major in the assigned teaching field(s) or a transcript assessment confirming successful completion of 21 semester hours in the assigned teaching field or a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment;
  • Because there is no degree which is a complete related field to Special Education, candidates must expect to have instruction that supplements the basic path and meets the content standards;
  • Middle Grades math, science, reading, Language Arts, and Social Science must have a bachelor's degree or higher with a major in a concentration in the assigned teaching field or a transcript assessment confirming successful completion of 15 semester hours of upper level (300-400) courses in the assigned teaching field or a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment;
  • If the candidate does not have a major in the assigned teaching field that is a core curricular field, for instance the candidate is accepted with a major in a related field or having experience that supports the knowledge and skills in the content area, he/she must have a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment;
  • Secondary English, math, science, all Social Studies areas, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts (art, music, band and chorus) must have a bachelor's degree or higher with a major in the assigned teaching field or a transcript assessment confirming successful completion of 21 semester hours of upper level (300-400) courses in the assigned teaching field or a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment;
  • If the candidate does not have a major in the assigned teaching field that is a core curricular field, for instance the candidate is accepted with a major in a related field or having experience that supports the knowledge and skills in the content area, he/she must have a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment;
  • If you have met the content assessment requirement, please continue to Step 5.

Step 5.

Secure a job offer as a teacher with a Local School System.

  • Determine the teaching field, grade level, and location of the school system in which you are interested;
  • Access the website of the school system(s) in which you are interested in seeking employment to determine its process for employment and the provider of GaTAPP it uses;
  • Access the website of the local program provider (The provider may be the local school system or the Regional Educational Service Agency [RESA]) to determine its process for accepting GaTAPP teacher-candidates;
  • Go back to the system(s) website(s) and follow the directions for seeking employment (PROGRAM PROVIDERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURING CANDIDATE TEACHING POSITIONS);
  • Create a resume that includes, in addition to education and professional experiences, other experiences working with young people such as camp counselor, local recreation center coach, etc. if applicable;
  • Develop a cover letter that states your eligibility and/or interest in the GaTAPP program;
  • Visit www.teachgeorgia.org for a listing of available statewide job openings;
  • Apply for the teaching position in which you are interested. School systems are familiar with GaTAPP and some hire GaTAPP candidates right away. Other systems may have the practice of hiring fully certified teachers first. Some school systems hire all year long;
  • Please practice patience and understanding. Pursuing a teaching position can be very much like seeking employment in the corporate world or any other position outside education. The employer and candidate are both seeking the right fit;
  • If you have secured a teaching job offer with a Local School System, please continue to Step 6.

Step 6.

Obtain a Georgia Criminal History Report. (Often the employing school system will take care of this step.)

  • If you have not obtained a criminal history report, please contact or visit your local law enforcement office for further details on obtaining this report.
  • If you have obtained a criminal history report and prior arrests are present, you must contact the program provider of your interest to obtain clearance for Georgia TAPP program consideration.
  • If you have obtained a criminal history report and it contains no prior arrests, please continue to step 7.

Step 7.

Contact a program provider for program participation information.

  • If you have completed and submitted an interest form or if you have contacted a program provider and expressed your interest in program participation, you will be contacted by the program provider with further instructions/details.*


    * Please note that all applicants are not selected for program consideration. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission develops the standards for education preparation programs and approves program providers. PSC does not select GaTAPP candidates nor intervene in the operation of the programs as long as the program provider is meeting Georgia Standards for the Approval of Professional Education Units and Educator Preparation Programs (2008). Selection of GaTAPP candidates is determined by program providers. If you are selected for GaTAPP consideration, a GaTAPP program provider representative will contact you with further instructions/details. Please be patient during the selection process. Teachers are often hired after the school begins in the fall.

Best wishes on your Georgia TAPP journey!

 
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