Teacher Certification Procedures

for Non Teacher Education Majors

Two options: for working teachers and for full time students

Prerequisites: (necessary for a provisional certificate (NT certificate) and/or to enter the ACT-MAT program)

Minimum 2.5 GPA
Bachelor’s content degree that aligns with GA public school curriculum (or content course work as determined by the transcript evaluation)
Pass GACE Basic Skills tests (or have the exemption, SAT 1000+, ACT-43+, GRE 1130+) and GACE Content Assessments

STEPS FOR ENTRY INTO ACT/MAT PROGRAM (either the June or January cohort)
Inquiring about the process (2 parallel processes) Contact Mr. Scott Grubbs 229-333-5611 or stgrubbs@valdosta.edu
College Education (Middle & Secondary)	Graduate School
Transcript evaluation (Submit to the Dean’s Office); and submit transcripts Apply for admission to the University as a certification student or non-degree seeking student Meet with an advisor and complete prerequisite content courses (identified by transcript evaluation) Pass or exempt GACE Basic Skills test Pass GACE Content Assessment (in area that you are seeking certification)	Apply to Graduate School (online application) Submit all official transcripts to the graduate school Submit to graduate school acceptable scores on MAT or GRE (minimum MAT 375, minimum GRE 750) Meet admission deadline (mid-April for June cohort and mid-November for January cohort) Graduate school sends completed file to department for final admission
When both COE and graduate school requirements are completed you will be invited for a departmental group interview and on-site writing exercise
When all above listed requirements are completed letters of acceptance will be sent from the Graduate School and from the Department

Two options exist in the ACT program for teacher certification:

The working teacher option – Upon completion of the first 18 hours of the program and SPEC 3000, working teachers are eligible to be recommended for certification. Completion of the master’s degree will be an additional 18 hours.
Full-time student option – This is a 4 semester, 36 hour degree program requiring 5 hours daily in the schools and evening classes two or three nights a week.

Contact information: Mr. Scott Grubbs stgrubbs@valdosta.edu 229-333-5611