If you are a military member or spouse of a military member relocating to Georgia due to military orders, and have professional educator certification in another U.S. state, you may elect to apply for Georgia certification through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This applies to any GaPSC-issued professional educator certification field — including teaching, service (for example, school counseling), and leadership.

What is the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)?

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is a federal law. Congress passed it in 2003. It protects military members and their families.

In 2023, Congress added a new part to the law. This new part lets military members and their spouses use a professional license from one state in a new state if they moved because of military orders.

SCRA vs. the Military Support Pathway

GaPSC offers two ways for military members and spouses to get a Georgia educator certificate:

If you do not have an out-of-state certificate, or your move was not because of military orders, SCRA does not apply to you. You would use the Military Support Certificate pathway instead.

What are the requirements to receive Georgia certification through the SCRA?

Normally, getting a Georgia certificate from another state means sending transcripts, certificate copies, test scores, and other documents. If you qualify under SCRA, you only need to send:

• Military orders reflecting an assignment to Georgia (a letter from your commanding officer also works)
• If a spouse of a servicemember, a copy of the marriage certificate
• A signed and notarized SCRA Affidavit

You do not need to take the GACE (Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators) exam under this pathway.

What do I need to know about Georgia SCRA certification?

Certification issued through SCRA:

• Requires fewer documents than a standard application
• Covers the certification fields held on your out-of-state certificate
• Lasts 5 years, the same initial validity as a Professional certificate
• Appears in our public directory with an “SCRA” label showing you are authorized to practice in Georgia
• Does not include a degree level since transcripts are not reviewed for this pathway

SCRA applies only to certification fields held in another state. Georgia will issue the comparable field. Additional fields require meeting Georgia’s certification requirements.

How do I apply for Georgia certification through the SCRA?

If you meet SCRA requirements, you may submit an application through the following steps:

• Begin the application process through the Applications link within your MyPSC account.
• Affirm “Yes” when prompted regarding being a military member or spouse.
• Ensure the documentation outlined above is attached to your application.

For more information, please contact our Military Support Unit team at military.support@gapsc.com

What if the SCRA applies to me and I have been denied Georgia certification?

If you relocated to Georgia due to military orders and applied to the GaPSC through reciprocity with professional out-of-state licensure on or after January 5, 2023, and were denied Georgia certification, you may be entitled to compensation subject to the settlement agreement between the United States and the "Georgia Boards". To file a claim, please contact the United States Department of Justice.

Educators Authorized to Practice in the State of Georgia through SCRA

Certification ID	First Name	Last Name	SCRA Fields	Begin Validity	End Validity
2006556	Ashley	Gettler	Art P-12, Ed. Leadership Tier II	7/1/26	6/30/31
2004493	Andrea	Cure	Elementary Education P-5, Special Education General Curriculum P-12, SP ED Language Arts P-5, SP ED Math P-5, SP ED Science P-5, and SP ED Social Science P-5	7/1/26	6/30/31