The Upgrade Advisor is a database of pre-reviewed degrees that may be referenced prior to enrolling in a program to upgrade your certificate level. The Upgrade Advisor is not an application. If you have completed a degree requiring an official review, see application instructions on Upgrade Your Certificate Level.

The Upgrade Advisor may be used to view:

In-state and out-of-state in-field programs that will lead to a level increase.

And:

GaPSC-approved in-state programs leading to a level increase and a new field of certification.

For out-of-state programs leading to a new field, consult the DOE/approval body in the institution’s home state to confirm the program will lead to certification while also ensuring the degree meets requirements outlined on Upgrade Your Certificate Level.

To qualify for certification that will allow you to hold leadership positions such as assistant principal, principal, superintendent, etc., see Educational Leadership.

Quick View found below the 'ATTENTION' notification near the top of this page may be used to browse programs without the ability to review customized results or save confirmation to your MyPSC account. This may be useful in reviewing hypothetical approvals should you add an additional certification field through a program, testing, or combination of the two (e.g., which programs lead to an upgrade if you add History 6-12 through GACE testing).

The following certificates may be upgraded:

• Renewable, professional certificates:
  • Standard Professional
  • Performance-Based Professional
  • Advanced and Lead Professional
• 5-year Induction certificates

If you hold any other type of certificate or license, you do not qualify for an upgrade and the Upgrade Advisor will not assist you.

See How to Become a Teacher for routes to achieve upgradable certification.

For a program to be applied towards a level increase to eligible certification, it must meet the following:

The university must hold specific accreditation at the time of your enrollment.

And:

The degree must be in-field to one of your current fields of certification.

Or:

The degree must lead to a new field being added to your certificate.

For full degree requirements, see Upgrade Your Certificate Level.

To qualify for certification that will allow you to hold leadership positions such as assistant principal, principal, superintendent, etc., see Educational Leadership.

Step 1

Decide if you wish to pursue a degree related to a field you already hold (in-field), or if you wish to complete a program that will add a new field to your certificate such as Curriculum and Instruction.

Note that a new field program will require passing the associated GACE assessment(s).


Step 2

Log into the Upgrade Advisor using the 'Login' link at the top of this page, or through the link in the lower left-hand menu of your MyPSC Dashboard. Once logged in, choose either of the following options.

For in-field programs:

1. Select “In-Field Upgrade”
2. Select “Show Degrees” under Upgrade Degree Options for the certificate field you wish to complete a related degree in
3. Select the degree by checking the box next to the degree title
4. Select “Add to List”
5. Select “Save List”

Degrees marked yes are approved to lead to an upgrade. Degrees marked no will not lead to an upgrade. In either case, some degrees may be accompanied by a note next to their approval status that may offer additional information.

Degrees approved for an upgrade in any certificate field except Educational Leadership result in a level increase that applies to any position requiring certification. For example, should you hold English and History certification, a level increase resulting from an approved program in-field with English would also apply to a History assignment.

For new field programs:

1. Select “New Field upgrade”
2. Select the degree level you are seeking to upgrade to
3. Select the certification field you want to add (Curriculum and Instruction, Media Specialist, etc.)
4. Once the program is displayed, add the program to your list and save the list as a confirmation of approval

New field degrees are not listed as yes or no. Any new field degree that appears in the Advisor is approved to lead to an upgrade should you also pass the associated GACE assessment. You may also view all GaPSC-approved in-state programs on Georgia Approved Programs.

New field upgrades with the exception of Educational Leadership apply to any position requiring certification. For example, should you complete an approved master’s program and testing to add School Counseling, the resulting level 5 would also apply should you remain in the classroom.

For either in-field or new field programs, saved verification of your approval may be viewed through the View Submitted Documents link in the left-hand menu of your MyPSC Dashboard.

Notes on saved approvals:

• Approval confirmations are honored regardless of loss of accreditation or other change applicable to the program should you enroll within 1 calendar year of saving approval. You may extend the 1 year period by re-saving approval at any time.
• No further approval confirmation is necessary. All information saved through the Advisor is considered an official response and additional approval will not be provided by phone or email.
• You may save as many in-field or new field approvals as desired, and you are not bound to complete one format or the other, or a specific program based on saving the information should you decide to complete another program meeting upgrade requirements.
• Saving a degree through the Upgrade Advisor is not an application. If you have completed a program, see application instructions on Upgrade Your Certificate Level.

If you are considering a degree that is not in the Advisor, first confirm the program meets accreditation and content requirements outlined on Upgrade Your Certificate Level.

Should the program meet upgrade criteria, you may submit the program for review using the upgrade/leadership inquiry option on our Contact Form.

If individual courses are not listed on the institution’s program page, or if the degree will rely heavily on transfer credit, you may be required to submit a personalized plan of study outlined by the university.