Career, Technical and Agricultural Education

Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) provides academic skills and real-world experiences necessary to prepare Georgia students for the competitive workforce. In CTAE programs and courses, students are prepared for post-secondary education and immediate employment after high school. CTAE prepares Georgia’s future workforce and industries to compete in the global marketplace.

Routes to Becoming a CTAE Educator in Georgia

If you are considering a transition from industry to education, there are two routes to consider:

Provisional Certification: Issued to those who wish to complete an educator preparation program that would allow for greater flexibility in the addition of teaching fields, level increases based on approved advanced degrees, and upon meeting all requirements will result in certification that can be renewed without employment.

Permit: Issued to those who do not wish to complete an educator preparation program. Permits are restricted from the addition of fields, level increases through advanced degrees, and can only be extended through employment.

Routes Available to CTAE Field Types

  • Architectural Drawing and Design
  • Audio/Video Technology& Film
  • Automotive Service Technology
  • Aviation
  • Barbering
  • Collision Repair
  • Computer Animation
  • Construction
  • Cosmetology
  • Culinary Arts
  • Distribution & Logistics
  • Electronics Technology
  • Esthetics
  • Government and Public Administration
  • Granite Technology
  • Graphic Communications & Design
  • Health Information Technology
  • Information Technology
  • Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
  • Manufacturing and Engineering Sciences
  • Marine Service Technology
  • Nails
  • Precision Machine Technology
  • Sheet Metal
  • Welding Technology

Both Provisional certificates and Permits may be requested by a Georgia employer for career specializations and have the same initial issuance requirements which include:
  • Passing score on the Educator Ethics Assessment (test code 360)
  • 2 years of industry experience (Flight Operations, Computer Animation, and Electronics Technology have options that do not require occupational work experience)
  • Minimum education requirements
  • Industry Licensure (which for most fields may be obtained by the end of your first certificate)
Each Career Specialization has unique industry-specific initial issuance requirements that may be found on the CTAE Licensure and Testing Chart.


  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Family & Consumer Sciences
  • Marketing

Provisional certification may be requested by an employer for traditional CTAE teaching fields should an educator meet the following:
  • Passing scores on the Educator Ethics Assessment (test code 360)
  • Passing scores on the corresponding GACE content assessment
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher as described here

For traditional CTAE teaching fields, only Engineering and Technology qualifies for either Provisional certification or a Permit. Requirements for a Permit in Engineering and Technology include:
  • Passing scores on the Educator Ethics Assessment (test code 360)
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution in engineering or the GaPSC-determined equivalent


Both Provisional certificates and Permits may be requested by a Georgia employer for Healthcare Science and have the same initial issuance requirements which include:
  • Passing score on the Educator Ethics Assessment (test code 360)
  • Associate’s degree or higher in a healthcare-related field
  • Minimum of 2 years of occupational work experience in the healthcare field
  • A current healthcare professional license, registration, or certification that relates to the healthcare field