Georgia State Personnel Standards

Georgia State Personnel Standards

Audiologist

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Discipline Audiologist
License/Certificate Licensed Audiologist
State Department Georgia Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
State Department Hyperlink https://sos.ga.gov/board-speech-pathology-and-audiology
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Doctorate
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Must complete 12 months of full-time supervised clinical practicum. The required professional experience must be approved by an academic program. The students must obtain a variety of clinical practicum experiences in different work settings and with different populations so that the applicant can demonstrate skills across the scope of practice of audiology. Acceptable required professional experience includes clinical and administrative activities directly related to patient care. A calendar week of the clinical practicum is defined as a minimum of 35 hours per calendar week indirect patient/client contact, consultation, record keeping, and administrative duties relevant to audiology service delivery.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? National Praxis Examination in Audiology; 170
Additional requirements specific for schools? Initial Certificate Requirements include a Clear Renewable certificate (Georgia's full, professional educator certificate) in the field of Audiology. Master's degree required. State license not required.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist

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Discipline Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist
License/Certificate Special Education Deaf Education Endorsement
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/endorsements.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range PreK - Grade 12
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework The applicant must hold a level four (4) or higher Induction certificate in any teaching field or in the service field of Speech and Language Pathology and complete other requirements in endorsement area.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Must have field experiences in settings that provide opportunities to observe, practice, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions delineated in institutional, state, and national standards. The experiences must be systematically designed and sequenced to increase the complexity and levels of engagement with which candidates apply, reflect upon, and expand their knowledge and skills. Since observation is a less rigorous method of learning, emphasis should be on field experience sequences that require active professional practice or demonstration, and that include substantive work with P-12 students or P-12 personnel as appropriate depending upon the preparation program.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Basic Skills Assessments (or verification of meeting exemption requirements; passing score= 220
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy - GaTAPP: The GaTAPP non-traditional certification preparation program offers alternatives to traditional certification preparation. All program paths require employment in a Georgia school system.

Early Childhood Educator

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Discipline Early Childhood Educator
License/Certificate Birth through Kindergarten Certificate
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/teaching.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Unified/Blended License/Certificate
Age Range Birth to Kindergarten
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework Coursework in identifying and educating exceptional children
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Successful educator experience must be accompanied by satisfactory ratings on annual performance evaluations. Only full-time experience will be accepted: 1. One (1) year of full-time experience in a Birth through grade 12 (B-12) setting is defined as a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) days working full time in a GaPSC-accepted educational setting. No computations for partial-year experience will apply. 2. One (1) year of full-time experience in a government agency is defined as twelve (12) full months of employment, working forty (40) hours per week with the exception of standard leave or holidays. Non-consecutive full months of employment may be combined to constitute a full year of experience in a government agency, but no partial years of this type of experience may be combined with experience in a B-12 setting.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? 1. Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Basic Skills Assessments (or verification of meeting exemption requirements; passing score= 220 2. GACE Specialty Area Assessment Birth Through Five Tests I & II, passing score= 220
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy - GaTAPP: The GaTAPP non-traditional certification preparation program offers alternatives to traditional certification preparation. All program paths require employment in a Georgia school system.

Early Childhood Educator (P-5)

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Discipline Early Childhood Educator
License/Certificate Elementary Education (P-5)
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/teaching.aspx
Type of License/Certificate  Licensure/Certificate
Age Range 5 years - 5th Grade
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
  1. Understanding and Addressing Each Child’s Developmental and Learning Needs
  2. Working with Families and Communities
  3. Understanding and Applying Content and Curricular Knowledge for Teaching
  4. Assessing, Planning, and Designing Contexts for Learning
  5. Guidance, Classroom Management and Challenging Behaviors
  6. Supporting Each Child’s Learning Using Effective Instruction
  7. Developing as a Professional
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work?
The program shall assure field experiences and clinical practice are planned and sequenced so that candidates develop the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade children in all three age groups (PK-K, 1-3, and 4-5), and in a variety of settings that offer elementary education. The indicators are as follows:
  1. Observe and participate under supervision of qualified professionals in a variety of settings and grade levels in which children are served (such as public and private settings, centers, schools, and community agencies);
  2. Work effectively over time with P-5 students with varying abilities from a variety of family systems;
  3. Demonstrate ability to work effectively during full-time supervised residency (student teaching) and/or practica experiences in at least two different settings, serving children of three different age groups (PK-K, 1-3, and 4-5) and with varying abilities; and
  4. Analyze and evaluate field experiences, including supervised experiences working with parents, and supervised experiences working with interdisciplinary teams of professionals.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? 1. Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Basic Skills Assessments (or verification of meeting exemption requirements; passing score= 220 2. GACE Specialty Area Assessment Birth Through Five Tests I & II, passing score= 220
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy - GaTAPP: The GaTAPP non-traditional certification preparation program offers alternatives to traditional certification preparation. All program paths require employment in a Georgia school system.

Early Childhood Educator, Montessori Infant

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Discipline Early Childhood Educator
License/Certificate Montessori Infant Toddler (ages birth - 3)
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/teaching.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Age 3
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Pass the GaPSC Program Admission Assessment or meet exemption criteria outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.26 CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE ASSESSMENTS.
Pass the GACE content assessment. Pass the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment

Early Childhood Educator, Montessori Preschool

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Discipline Early Childhood Educator
License/Certificate Montessori Preschool-K (ages 2.5 - 6)
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Rules/Current/Certification/505-2-.45.pdf
Type of License/Certificate License/Certificate
Age Range Age 2.5 to 6
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Pass the GaPSC Program Admission Assessment or meet exemption criteria outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.26 CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE ASSESSMENTS.
Pass the GACE content assessment. Pass the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment

Early Childhood Special Educator

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Discipline Early Childhood Special Educator
License/Certificate Special Educator General Curriculum/Elementary Education (PreK-Grade 5)
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/teaching.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range PreK to Grade 5
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework Coursework in identifying and educating exceptional children
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Must have field experiences in settings that provide opportunities to observe, practice, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions delineated in institutional, state, and national standards. The experiences must be systematically designed and sequenced to increase the complexity and levels of engagement with which candidates apply, reflect upon, and expand their knowledge and skills. Since observation is a less rigorous method of learning, emphasis should be on field experience sequences that require active professional practice or demonstration, and that include substantive work with P-12 students or P-12 personnel as appropriate depending upon the preparation program.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? 1. Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Basic Skills Assessments (or verification of meeting exemption requirement); passing score= 220 2. GACE Specialty Area Assessment Early Childhood Education Test I passing score= 22; Early Childhood Education Test II passing score= 220
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy - GaTAPP: The GaTAPP non-traditional certification preparation program offers alternatives to traditional certification preparation. All program paths require employment in a Georgia school system.

Family Therapist

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Discipline Family Therapist
License/Certificate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
State Department Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists
State Department Hyperlink https://sos.ga.gov/board-professional-counselors-social-workers-and-marriage-family-therapists
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Master's degree in a program in marriage and family therapy or a program including master's degree and additional post-master's degree coursework.
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework Qualifying master’s degrees include counseling, pastoral counseling, social work, applied psychology, applied sociology, applied child and family development, medicine, and psychiatric nursing. Three courses in marriage and family studies, three courses in marriage and family therapy, three courses in human development, one course in marriage and family therapy ethics, and one course in research, or from any program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, which degree shall have been granted by a recognized educational institution.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work?
Practicum/Internship must meet the requirements set out in Board Rule. [Graduate level course over 9 - 12 consecutive months, under supervision, minimum 500 hours MFT clinical contact.]
Licensure Dependent on an Exam?
All applicants are required to pass the Marriage & Family Therapy Examination/PES exam.

Nurse

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Discipline Nurse
License/Certificate Licensed Registered Professional Nurse
State Department Georgia Board of Nursing
State Department Hyperlink https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-board-nursing
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Graduate from a Board Approved Nursing Program
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Successful completion of NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examination.

Occupational Therapist

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Discipline Occupational Therapist
License/Certificate Licensed Occupational Therapist
State Department Georgia Board of Occupational Therapy
State Department Hyperlink https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-occupational-therapy
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Receive a degree from a school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? 320 hours of clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Pass the nationally recognized examination administered by National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Physical Therapist

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Discipline Physical Therapist
License/Certificate Licensed Physical Therapist
State Department Georgia Board of Physical Therapy
State Department Hyperlink https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-physical-therapy
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Master's
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? A 480 hour traineeship must be completed within three (3) months of initiation. A 1000 hour traineeship must be completed in no less than 6 months or no more than 1 year if approved by the Board.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE, NPTAE); and, pass the Georgia Jurisprudence (Georgia Law) exam.

Psychologist

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Discipline Psychologist
License/Certificate Licensed Psychologist
State Department Georgia State Board of Psychology
State Department Hyperlink https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-examiners-psychologists
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement A doctoral degree from an American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited doctoral program in applied psychology.
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework Transcripts submitted to the Georgia Board should reflect a sequential psychology curriculum that develops competency in the core areas: 1) Theoretical, scientific, and methodological foundations. 2) Breadth of scientific psychology assessment. 3) Assessment and measurement. and 4) Treatment and intervention.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? As part of earning the doctorate, a licensure candidate will have completed a supervised internship, or predoctoral practicum, of at least 2,000 hours. Following completion of the doctoral program, a further internship is required. This is the postdoctoral survised work experience (SWE). The SWE consist of 1,500 hours of work ad must include at least 500 hours of client contact. the SWE must be individually supervised by a qualified professional, a current board-licensed psychologist.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Once the application is completed and submitted for approval to the Georgia Board by ASPPB, and approval is granted, applicants will be notified to begin the exam process. Georgia Board approved applicants will be required to take and pass the following examinations, in the following order:
1) The first examination is a two-part national licensing exam developed & owned by the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) designed to measure knowledge and skills of psychology relevant to practice. The Board will accept the standard passing score set by ASPPB for each administration of the Examination of the Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP). EPPP Part 1 is a computer-based examination that assesses the knowledge needed for entry-level licensure. Part 1 may be taken after all course work has been completed (prior to internship and post-doctoral supervised work experience). EPPP Part 2 is a computer-based examination that assesses the skills needed for entry-level licensure. Part 2 may be taken after all requirements for the doctoral degree including the internship have been completed. (i) After three unsuccessful attempts to pass either part of the two-part national examination, the applicant will be required to earn, in person, a minimum of three semester hours of Board approved graduate-level coursework in psychology at a regionally accredited institution, or 15 hours of Board-approved APA, CPA or GPA approved continuing education prior to retaking the failed examinations. Documentation of attendance must be by letter from the instructor or by official APA, CPA, or GPA certificate. (ii) After six unsuccessful attempts to pass either part of the two-part national examination, the applicant will be required to earn, in person, a minimum of 9 semester hours of Board approved graduate-level course work in psychology at a regionally accredited institution or 45 hours of Board-approved APA, CPA or GPA approved continuing education prior to retaking the failed examinations. Documentation of attendance must be by letter from the instructor or by APA, CPA, or GPA official certificate.
2) The second examination, prepared by the Georgia Board of Examiners of Psychologists, consists of a timed, multiple-choice, closed book Jurisprudence Examination covering current law, rules & regulations, and general provisions. A licensure candidate can be scheduled to take this exam after the two-part national licensing exam has been passed and while the SWE is being completed. The Board shall set a passing score for this exam.

School Psychologist

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Discipline School Psychologist
License/Certificate School Psychologist Standard Professional Certificate
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/service.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Pre-K to Grade 12
Degree Level Requirement Ed.S. in School Psychology or higher.
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework An applicant must meet the Special Georgia Requirements (See Rule 505-2.20) applicable to the field of School Psychology: (i) Content Knowledge Assessment; (ii) Recency of Study; and (iii) Standards of Conduct.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? In order to receive the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential, the candidate must have completed 1,200 hours of internship.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? A passing score on the GACE School Psychology assessment.

Social Worker – Licensed Master’s

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Discipline Social Worker
License/Certificate Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
State Department Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/service.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Master's
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? The Social Work Licensing Exam (Association of Social Work Boards): Passing score depends on the level of exam you're taking, and which version (form) of the exam you get. Generally, passing scores range from 93-106 correct of the 150 scored items.
Additional requirements specific for schools? A school social worker must have at least a T5 certification (Basic Teacher Level).

Social Worker – School

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Discipline School Social Worker
License/Certificate School Social Work Standard Professional Certificate
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/service.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Pre-k to Grade 12
Degree Level Requirement One of the following:
  • Completion of a Master’s of Social Work (M.S.W) degree from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution;
  • Complete a state-approved certification preparation program in School Social Work at the master’s degree – level five (5) or higher;
  • Hold a valid State of Georgia Master of Social Worker’s or Clinical Social Worker’s license issued by the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the Secretary of State

Speech-Language Pathologist – Licensed

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Discipline Speech-Language Pathologist
License/Certificate Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
State Department Georgia Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
State Department Hyperlink https://sos.ga.gov/board-speech-pathology-and-audiology
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Pre-K to Grade 12
Degree Level Requirement Master's degree from Speech and Language approved program.
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework The applicant should submit certified evidence of the completion of 60 semester hours of academic credit from one or more accredited colleges or universities constituting a well-integrated program that includes 12 semester hours in courses that provide fundamental information applicable to the normal development and use of speech, hearing and language and 30 semester hours in courses that provide information about, and training in, the management of speech, hearing and language disorders or that provide information supplementary to these fields. Of these 30 semester hours, no fewer than six must be in audiology for the speech-language pathologist, or in speech language pathology for the audiologist; no more than six of these 30 semester hours may be in courses that provide academic credit for clinical practice. Of these 30 semester hours, at least 24, not including credit for thesis or dissertation, must be in courses in their field in which the license is requested. Furthermore, 30 of these 60 semester hours must be in courses acceptable toward a graduate degree by the accredited or approved college or university in which these courses are taken.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work?
Supervised Clinical Practicum.
The applicant shall submit certified evidence of direct clinical experiences in both diagnosis and treatment with children and adults. The supervised practicum must include experience in a variety of settings with client populations across the life span from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds, and with various types and severities of communication problems and related disorders, differences and disabilities. The applicant shall submit certified evidence that of the required 300 clock hours, a minimum of 25 clock hours must be with adults (person 18 years of age and older) and a minimum of 25 clock hours must be with children (persons under the age of 18).The experience must be obtained within an accredited academic institution or in one of its cooperating programs.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Praxis II exam in Speech-Language Pathology
Additional requirements specific for schools? Must have a Clear Renewable certificate (Georgia's full, professional educator certificate) in the field of Speech and Language Pathology issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. State licensure is not required.

Speech Language Pathologist – School

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Discipline Speech-Language Pathologist
License/Certificate Speech and Language Pathology certificate
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/service.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Pre-K to Grade 12
Degree Level Requirement One of the following:
  • Completion of a Speech and Language approved program at the Master’s degree level;
  • Completion of an American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA)-approved program at the master’s degree level from an accredited institution;
  • Submission of a valid ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech and Language Pathology;
  • Submission of a valid State of Georgia Speech and Language Pathology license issued by the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Secretary State or higher;
  • Submission of a professional Speech and Language Pathologist certificate at the master’s level issued by another state.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? A passing score on the Praxis Speech & Language Pathology assessment or verification of 5 years of acceptable experience in the field earned while holding the professional out-of-state certificate.

Vision Specialist

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Discipline Vision Specialist
License/Certificate Special Education Visual Impairment Endorsement
State Department Georgia Professional Standards Commission
State Department Hyperlink https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertFieldsAndEndorsements/teaching.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Pre-K - Grade 12
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework Coursework in identifying and educating exceptional children.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Must have field experiences in settings that provide opportunities to observe, practice, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions delineated in institutional, state, and national standards. The experiences must be systematically designed and sequenced to increase the complexity and levels of engagement with which candidates apply, reflect upon, and expand their knowledge and skills. Since observation is a less rigorous method of learning, emphasis should be on field experience sequences that require active professional practice or demonstration, and that include substantive work with P-12 students or P-12 personnel as appropriate depending upon the preparation program.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Basic Skills Assessments (or verification of meeting exemption requirements; passing score= 220.
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy - GaTAPP: The GaTAPP non-traditional certification preparation program offers alternatives to traditional certification preparation. All program paths require employment in a Georgia school system.