1. What is Georgia TAPP? Georgia TAPP is an acronym for The Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy.

Provides various paths to Clear Renewable Certification based on an assessment of the Teacher-Candidate's credentials, experience, knowledge, skills, and disposition

Is utilized by the State of Georgia to help reduce Georgia's teacher shortage

Enables individual with a Bachelor's degree or higher (who meet eligibility requirements for the program) to teach elementary, middle grades, or secondary education

Is delivered by various PSC-approved program providers throughout Georgia

2. What are the Georgia TAPP eligibility requirements for candidates?

Candidates must have:

A Bachelor's degree or higher that supports the teaching field from an accredited college or university (unless

certifying in Early Childhood or Special Education)

A cumulative GPA of 2.5 on the Bachelor's Degree

A passing score on GACE Program Admissions Assessment (All three parts: reading, writing, and math) or

exempt by one of the following:

SAT, ACT, or GRE scores high enough to exempt this requirement. (View GACE Program Admissions

requirements for exemption.) To obtain SAT or GRE scores, you can contact the Educational Testing

Service at www.ETS.org. ACT scores can be obtained at www.ACT.org. SAT and ACT scores are also

available on some high school transcripts.

Passed the Praxis I test prior to September 1, 2006

A passing score on GACE Content Assessment

Certificate of Achievement from the GACE Georgia Educator Ethics - Program Entry (350)

A satisfactory criminal background check (conducted by the employing system)

Must have an offer of a full-time teaching position by a participating school system.

3. What is a program provider?

Program providers are colleges, universities, Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs), or Local Education Agencies (LEAs) approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) to offer a Georgia TAPP program.

4. How does one secure a job offer to participate in GA TAPP?

You must complete an application with a member NEGA RESA school district (Please see systems served tab on home page). Also the PSC has a Recruitment Services Division for teachers. Please visit www.teachgeorgia.org for additional information. Systems served: Barrow, Clarke, Commerce City, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson City, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Social Circle and Walton.

5. Can a previously certified teacher with two years of teaching experience be Georgia TAPP candidate?

No, the Georgia TAPP Program is designed for individuals who have no formal preparation in teaching, little or no teaching experience, and no state certification (in any state).

6. Can a GA TAPP teacher-candidate change school system and continue in the program?

This is handled on a case by case basis. Teacher-Candidates should contact the GA TAPP Director for approval.

7. How should the candidate register for the GACE Program Admissions or Content Assessment?

GACE registration information is listed on their website http://gace.ets.org/

8. What scores may be accepted in lieu of passing GACE Program Admissions?

GACE Program Admissions may be exempted if high enough scores are obtained on the SAT, ACT, or GRE:

SAT exemption: minimum score of 1000 (with no minimum verbal score or math score required)

ACT exemption: minimum score 43 (with no minimum English score or Math score required)

GRE exemption: minimum score of 1030 (with no minimum Verbal score or Quantitative score required)

To obtain SAT or GRE scores, you can contact the Educational Testing Service at www.ETS.org. ACT scores can be obtained at www.ACT.org.

It is also possible to exempt the GACE Program Admissions Assessment if you passed the Praxis I test prior to September 1, 2006.

9. Is the GACE Content Assessment a pre-requisite requirement?

Yes. A passing score is required in order to be employed by the 13 systems we serve. The Content Assessment must be taken in the content subject area that is related to your degree (or in Early Childhood or Special Education). Systems served: Barrow, Clarke, Commerce City, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson City, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Social Circle, and Walton.

10. Must the candidate's degree be from an accredited college or university?

A candidate must have a Bachelor's Degree or higher with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 from a PSC-approved accredited institution.

11. Does GaTAPP involve my going back to school full-time?

No. Teacher-Candidates will teach during the day and attend seminars and required classes in summer or evening while in the GaTAPP Program. The instruction candidates take is individualized and determined by the Candidate Support Team (A school-based administrator, school-based mentor/coach, and a RESA Supervisor)

12. What can I teach with my degree?

Please visit the Professional Standards Commission's website to see if your degree is a related field for the subject you would like to teach. www.gapsc.org

NEGA RESA currently serves candidates in Early Childhood Education and Special Education without a related in degree; however, supporting coursework is required for these two certification fields.

13. What are the advantages of GA TAPP over the traditional route to certification for individuals seeking to make the transition into teaching from other careers?

GA TAPP retains the quality, but is much more convenient and less costly than the traditional route. Before GA TAPP, a person with minimum qualifications seeking to become a teacher affiliated with a college or university and enrolled in a preparation program which could take up to two years of full-time work to complete. The length of the program was a disadvantage for persons with family obligations that may have precluded them from leaving remunerative employment.

With GA TAPP, individuals seeking certification may teach full-time while completing a program of teacher preparation provided locally through NEGA RESA, the local school system, and the Professional Standards Commission. Candidates are enrolled in Essentials of Effective Teaching and are closely supervised and supported by a mentor teacher, a school administrator, a central office contact, and a RESA supervisor. Teacher-Candidates receive quality on-the-job training.

14. Will I be paid for teaching while participating in GATAPP?

Yes. A GaTAPP Teacher-Candidate’s pay is determined by the employing school system.

15. What is the cost of the program?

Cost of Program (Paid to Northeast Georgia RESA)

$4500 First Year

$1500 Second Year **

Additional Costs (Paid to Other Agencies):

GACE Content Assessment Fees http://gace.ets.org

GACE Ethics Exit Assessment 360 - $30

edTPA Submission - $300

All fees are subject to change based on enrollment and are non-refundable

** The need to continue for a second year will be determined by the Teacher-Candidate’s support team and will be based on their progress in the GaTAPP Program and level of proficiency of the key assignments.