The GaPSC recognizes only those colleges and universities that have attained accreditation from specific, GaPSC-accepted accreditation agencies. Please note that this is only a minimum standard. In order to qualify for renewable professional educator certification, you must complete a state-approved educator preparation program. In order to upgrade the level of an existing Georgia certificate, you must complete a degree that meets several other requirements, which can be found here.

If you are using a degree to meet the minimum educational requirements for a non-renewable or non-professional certificate (such as a Provisional certificate or Permit), the minimum accreditation requirements outlined below will apply. Bachelor’s degrees earned at institutions not accredited by a GaPSC-accepted agency may be validated by graduate study at a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution. Advanced degrees earned at institutions not accredited by a GaPSC-accepted agency will not be recognized by the GaPSC.

GaPSC-accepted accredited institutions must be accredited by an organization recognized by one of the following:

• The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA):
  • From the homepage, click “Browse Directories” then “Search Institutions” to confirm the accreditation of a specific institution.
• The U.S. Department of Education (U.S. DOE):
  • From the page linked above, enter the name of the college in the “Search” box to confirm the accreditation of a specific institution.

Please note: Meeting the accreditation requirements outlined above does not make a college/university or degree program “GaPSC-approved.” These are minimum requirements and degrees that lead to renewable certification or certificate upgrade need to meet other, higher standards.