All Teacher Applicants must complete the following items to be considered for a position at Houston County Board of Education:

1. Complete an on-line application. Enter data on each tab, click the Save option at the bottom of each tab. You MUST complete the Submit App tab which requires you to respond to background/disclosure information and release your application;

2. Record three (3) Professional References in your online application (References tab);

3. Apply for an open position (Within your application, Click Open Jobs in the Menu);

AND

4. Meet the following requirements:

• Have a Bachelor level or higher degree;

• Hold a valid Professional Teaching Certificate issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) in the assigned teaching field (applicants may be considered if they have a certificate pending with the Commission), and

• Have met the Content Knowledge requirement (either through the appropriate content assessment or coursework). 

Out-of-State Professional (not Provisional) certificates are usually transferrable to Georgia through reciprocity.  If you did not pass a content assessment, or your state did not require a content assessment, you may be required to pass Georgia’s assessment for specific teaching field(s).  Georgia currently uses GACE testing (information and registration may be found at www.gace.nesinc.com).  It is possible to exempt the assessment by submitting proof of recent out-of-state teaching experience (three years within the most current five-year period) as part of the Georgia teacher application, http://www.gapsc.com/Certification/CertificationFormsandApplications.asp.  

 Information regarding Georgia certification may be found at www.gapsc.com.

Other Ways to Become a Teacher

In lieu of Professional Certification, applicants interested in seeking teaching positions may be interested in one of the following alternate routes to certification (in summary).

 Teacher Alternative Preparation Program (TAPP): 

• Bachelors Degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA (or higher Degree) from an accredited institution recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC).  PSC accepts institutions listed on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) site:  http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp.  GPA requirement may be waived if the degree was awarded more than 10 years prior, or if the applicant holds a Masters or higher degree. 
• GACE Basic Skills Assessment (Test #’s 200, 201, & 202) or exemption.

GACE information and registration may be found at www.gace.nesinc.com.

Exemptions may be found at http://www.gapsc.com/documentation/basicskillsinfo.asp.  

• GACE Content Assessment in the subject area/field to be certified.  If the Degree Major matches the subject area/field to be taught, the assessment could be waived as an entrance requirement, then taken during the first year of TAPP; however, it is preferred that the assessment be passed prior to employment.
• An offer of a full-time teaching position from an employing GA school system.

 TAPP is a two-year program that requires various coursework, seminars, and assessments (fee applicable).  Not all certification areas are provided through the TAPP program. 

For further information, please contact our system’s provider, Middle GA RESA, at (478) 475-8630 or visit www.mgresa.org.  RESA has a Screening Application process that candidates should complete (the application is available on their website).  Screening will provide valuable information regarding subject area eligibility.

 State-Approved College Program:   

• Degree requirements (same as above for TAPP)
• GACE Basic Skills Assessment (same as above for TAPP)
• GACE Content Assessment in the subject area/field to be certified.  To be eligible for the five-year Non-Renewable certificate while completing a state-approved college program, the Content Assessment is required prior to employment. 
• An offer of a full-time teaching position from an employing GA School System.

If the above requirements are met, the candidate may be hired and a five-year Non-Renewable certificate could be requested by the employing school system.  Soon after employment (or before) the teacher candidate would need to seek enrollment into a state-approved certificate program through the college/university of their choice (tuition and fees applicable). 

Test-Based Route (One-Year Internship/Practicum):

• Degree requirements (same as above for TAPP), AND
• Degree Major must match the Certificate Field (according to PSC):  https://www.gapsc.com/Application/majorsandfields.pdf. 

            There are NO exceptions to the Degree Major Match requirement for this program. 

• GACE Basic Skills Assessment (same as above for TAPP)
• GACE Content Assessment in the subject area/field to be certified AND it must match the Degree Major
• GACE Professional Pedagogy Assessment
• An offer of a full-time teaching position from an employing GA School System

If the above requirements are met, the employing school system would request a five-year Non-Renewable certificate.  This option requires completion of a one-year Internship/Practicum.  Middle GA RESA is our system’s provider of the one-year Internship/Practicum (fees applicable).