Note:  Effective September 1, 2006, Georgia certification applicants are required to take the GACE® test whenever a test is required, either for basic skills or subject area content. See the GACE® website for details:  http://www.gace.nesinc.com

If you are required to take the basic skills assessment and have not done so, you will need to take the GACE® Basic Skills test.

If you need historical information regarding the formerly used Praxis I, please  click here.

Basic Skills Testing

• GACE® Tests in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
  Basic skill in reading is tested by GACE® test code 200, writing is tested by GACE® test code 201, and mathematics is covered by GACE® test code 202. You should carefully check the GACE® testing schedule to see whether the GACE® Basic Skills Test is offered in the afternoon session or morning session for your testing date. Click here to view the GACE® test selection information.
  
  
• Required for Graduates of Georgia Teacher Preparation
  Basic skill testing (or exemption) is required as a part of Georgia approved preparation program entrance requirements.
  
  
• Required for Some Nonrenewable Certificate Holders
  In order to receive either a GA TAPP intern certificate or a nonrewable certificate under another alternative certification route in Georgia you must pass (or exempt) the GACE® Basic Skills Test. There are additional requirements for each style of certificate.
  
  
• Not Required for Prior Certificate Holders
  If you hold a current or expired Georgia clear renewable (professional) certification, you are not required to take a basic skills test in Georgia.
  
  
• Not Required for Holders of Certificates from Other States
  If you hold a current or expired professional certificate from another state or are being recommended for certification from a preparation program approved in another state, you are not required to take a basic skills test in Georgia.
  
  
• Options to Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement

  Currently there are several ways to meet the Georgia Basic Skills assessment requirement:

  • Having the required minimum SAT, ACT, or GRE score. Actual scores, not exemption codes, are required.
    • SAT - 1000 on Verbal and Math
      • Only scores from the official SAT (English version) can be considered.
      • For SAT scores prior to April 1995, click here
    • ACT - 43 on English and Math
      • For ACT scores prior to October 28, 1989, click here
    • GRE - The GRE was revised in August 2011, and the scoring format has changed. Following are the required converted scores to exempt the GACE Basic Skills Requirement:
      • If tested with the old GRE format (before August 1, 2011), candidates need a GRE composite score of 1030 on Verbal and Quantitative to exempt GACE Basic Skills
      • If tested with the new GRE format (on or after August 1, 2011), candidates need a GRE composite score of 297 on Verbal and Quantitative to exempt GACE Basic Skills
• Having a masters degree or above from a PSC-accepted accredited institution. PSC-accepted accredited institutions are those that are accredited by accrediting organizations recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation or The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) at www.chea.org.
• Having passed all three parts of the Praxis I or posted a composite score of 526 on the three tests when all 3 tests are taken by March 5, 2007.
• Passing the three parts of the GACE Basic Skills Assessment. The passing score for each part is 220. There is no composite or combining all three tests. Each must be passed.

Some other states' Basic Skills tests have been "approved" to meet the requirement IF the candidate provides a copy of the test score report: The PSC reserves the right NOT to accept scores from other states.

These states and tests are:
CBEST- Passing scores indicated on score report; used in California and Oregon

CLAST -Passing scores indicated on the score report; Florida used it.

CMEE- used in Alabama. Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program - Applied Math - Minimum score of 4 of possible 7; Reading - Minimum score of 4 of possible 7; Writing - Minimum score of 3 of possible 5.

FTCE - General Knowledge - (Florida). Passing score indicated on score report.
(Subtests must all be passed in one assessment. Candidates cannot combine parts of CLAST and FTCE to achieve a pass.)

ICTS - used in Illinois - Has Reading, Language Arts, Math, and Writing subareas with scoring done as one test with 4 subareas; Must have a 240 score to pass and must score at or above each of the minimum allowable test subarea scores.

LAST - Used in New York - passing score is 220.

MTTC - used in Michigan; MTTC has subtests in Reading, Math, and Writing. Must pass (score of 220) on each section.

• Preparing for the GACE® Basic Skills Test
  
  
  
  • Information about the test frameworks, reference materials and sample test items are available for your review on the GACE® testing web site.   Click here to see those study materials.

Copyright 2012 Professional Standards Commission