Georgia Teacher Certification Renewal
Learn how to renew a Professional Educator Certification or reinstate a Professional Educator Certification in Georgia
Teaching Certification Renewal
Once you receive a Clear Renewable Certificate in Georgia, it is valid for five years. During that five-year period, in order to be eligible for renewal you must:
- Complete 6 semester hours of college course work from accredited Georgia colleges/universities; or
- 10 credits of Georgia Professional Learning Units; or
- 10 credits of U.S. Department of Education Teacher-to-Teacher Workshops; or
- 10 credits of continuing education units under the International Association for Continuing Education Units (IACET)
Additionally, if you are employed in a Georgia public school, you must have an individual professional development plan, coordinated with your school system.
You must also have another criminal record background check completed prior to certification renewal. If you have not had an FBI background check/fingerprinting completed while under the employment of your current school system, this must be completed now. If you have completed the FBI background/fingerprinting process, a Georgia criminal history check will suffice.
Your school system will initiate the certificate renewal process. Submit official transcripts documenting completion of the continuing education requirements described above to your district’s office.
Reinstatement of Certification
If you are not working in a Georgia school system, you may submit a paper application for renewal six months prior to the certificate expiration date. You must include official transcripts showing completion of the continuing education requirements above, as well as any necessary fees. Send them to Georgia PSC Certification Section, Two Peachtree Street, Suite 6000, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3141.
If your teaching certificate in a field has expired, you may request a Non-Renewable certificate in that field while you complete all necessary requirements to receive a Clear Certificate. Contact the Certification Section at 404-232-2500 for more information.
