1.2 Georgia Educator Certification Pathways, Tiers & GACE Ethics for Teachers

Georgia Educator Certification Pathways, Tiers & GACE Ethics for Teachers

Quick Answer: Georgia's tiered teacher certification system uses named certificate levels, not numbered tiers: Pre-Service, Induction (standard validity five years), Professional (five-year renewable, issued as Standard Professional or Performance-Based Professional), Advanced Professional, and Lead Professional. Tier I and Tier II apply only to Educational Leadership. Candidates must pass GACE Ethics for Teachers (351): nine interactive online modules, a 30-question summative assessment in Module 9, a 77% (23 of 30) passing standard, five attempts, a $30 fee, and a 90-day completion window. The Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators (GaPSC Rule 505-6-.01) contains ten standards. It requires reporting suspected child abuse within 24 hours (O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5), reporting an alleged or proven Code of Ethics or legal violation within 90 days, and reporting a felony conviction, a misdemeanor conviction involving moral turpitude, or a controlled-substance conviction to the GaPSC within 10 days of the conviction.

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1. Georgia's Tiered Certification Structure

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) manages a performance-based, tiered certification continuum. This framework supports early-career educators through intensive mentoring, rewards exemplary classroom teaching, and establishes clear pathways for professional growth.

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|                         GEORGIA TIERED CERTIFICATION CONTINUUM                          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                                         |
|  [Pre-Service]  -->  [Induction]  -->  [Professional]  -->  [Advanced Prof.]            |
|  EPP Field Work      5-Year Standard   5-Year Renewable     -->  [Lead Prof.]           |
|  GCIC Check          Content + Ethics  3 Yrs Experience     10 Yrs + Adv Degree         |
|  Ethics 351 Passed   + Literacy GACE   + Special Ed Req     Teacher Leadership GACE     |
|                                                                                         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Georgia's Certificate Levels

1. Pre-Service Certificate (GaPSC Rule 505-2-.03):

   • Eligibility & Purpose: Required for anyone participating in field experiences, clinical practice, student teaching, or residency work in Georgia schools, including candidates enrolled in out-of-state programs.
   • Prerequisites: Admission to a program leading to a Five (5)-Year Induction certificate in a teaching field, a successful Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) criminal record check, and a passing score on GACE Ethics for Teachers.
   • Validity: Five (5) years, but it is invalidated upon program completion and if the candidate withdraws, transfers, or is removed from the program. Holding it does not automatically move a candidate to the Induction level.

2. Induction Certificate (GaPSC Rule 505-2-.04):

   • Eligibility & Purpose: The entry credential for early career educators — defined in the rule as those with fewer than three (3) years of experience — and for educators new to Georgia.
   • Prerequisites (Five-Year Induction): Program completion plus the Special Georgia Requirements in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24: a passing score on the GACE content knowledge assessment for the field, the GACE Ethics for Teachers assessment, the GACE literacy assessment aligned with the field of preparation if enrolled on or after June 1, 2025, the special education coursework requirement with a grade of B or better, and Standards of Conduct.
   • Shorter Variants: A One (1)-Year Induction certificate is issued when the content and/or literacy assessment is still outstanding; a Three (3)-Year Induction certificate covers out-of-field assignments in specified service fields.
   • Conversion: Three (3) full years of successful educator experience while holding the Induction certificate, plus the special education requirement, converts it to a Professional certificate.

3. Professional Certificate (GaPSC Rule 505-2-.05):

   • Eligibility & Purpose: Georgia's standard renewable teaching credential. Georgia issues two renewable types: the Standard Professional certificate for educators not evaluated on the statewide evaluation system, and the Performance-Based Professional certificate for educators who are.
   • Requirements: Three (3) full years of successful experience while holding the Induction certificate; the GACE content, ethics, and applicable literacy assessments; the special education requirement with a grade of B or better; and Standards of Conduct. The Performance-Based Professional certificate additionally requires all three years to be earned in a Georgia school with a summative performance rating of “Proficient” or “Exemplary” on the Teacher Assessment on Performance Standards (TAPS) component of the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES).
   • Validity: Five (5) years, renewed under GaPSC Rule 505-2-.36. Two or more “Unsatisfactory,” “Ineffective,” or “Needs Development” annual summative evaluations in the prior five-year period block a renewable certificate until the deficiency is remediated.

4. Advanced Professional Certificate (GaPSC Rule 505-2-.06):

   • Criteria: Ten (10) years of successful educator experience while holding a Georgia and/or out-of-state professional teaching certificate (no more than three of which may be earned on an Induction or Permit certificate); three (3) of those years earned in Georgia within the five years preceding application; Georgia's Standards of Conduct; and one of the following — an advanced degree in a teaching field held, a valid professional certificate in Curriculum and Instruction or Instructional Technology, or valid National Board (NBPTS) certification.
   • Validity: Five (5) years.

5. Lead Professional Certificate (GaPSC Rule 505-2-.07):

   • Criteria: Either the Advanced Professional certificate or five (5) years of professional teaching experience (three in Georgia within the preceding five years); ratings of satisfactory, proficient, or exemplary on annual summative evaluations; Standards of Conduct; a Teacher Leadership certificate or an advanced degree/Curriculum and Instruction certificate plus a Teacher Leader, Coaching, or Teacher Support and Coaching endorsement; and a passing score on the Teacher Leadership GACE.

[!WARNING] Do not confuse certificate levels with leadership “Tiers.” Georgia reserves Tier I and Tier II for Educational Leadership certification. Teaching credentials are named by level — Pre-Service, Induction, Professional, Advanced Professional, Lead Professional — and a GACE distractor that labels the Induction certificate “Tier 1” or the Professional certificate “Tier 2” is using the wrong vocabulary.

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2. GACE Ethics for Teachers (351) and GACE Ethics for Leaders (352)

Georgia requires educators to demonstrate ethical competence through an online training-and-assessment program delivered by Evaluation Systems. Note the current assessment codes: 351 for teachers and 352 for leaders. (The ETS-era Georgia Educator Ethics assessment numbers, including 350 Program Entry and 360 Program Exit, were retired when the program moved to Evaluation Systems on July 1, 2025.)

[!IMPORTANT] Ethics scores are reported as a percentage, not on the 100–300 scaled-score metric used for GACE selected-response content and literacy assessments. A GACE item that attaches a “220 scaled score” to the ethics assessment is using the wrong scoring model.

Official Reference Materials Built Into the Ethics Program

Evaluation Systems supplies these resources inside the 351 and 352 modules, and they are the best free study material for Georgia ethics questions:

• The Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators (GaPSC Rule 505-6-.01)
• Core Ethical Concepts — principles educators should weigh when making ethical decisions
• Common Missteps — GaPSC's list of the most frequent violations of each Code of Ethics standard, with compliance takeaways
• Moral Turpitude — GaPSC's definition of the term used in Standard 1
• Module transcripts, reflection journals, and a glossary of terms

Who Must Pass GACE Ethics for Teachers (GaPSC Rule 505-2-.26)

A passing score on GACE Ethics for Teachers is required for issuance of a Pre-Service certificate; an initial Clearance certificate for individuals not required to hold an in-field certificate; a Provisional teaching certificate, including the Military Support Provisional; a Five (5)-Year Induction certificate in a teaching field; an International Exchange certificate; an initial three (3)-year Permit; conversion to the five-year Permit if the initial Permit was issued on or after October 15, 2017; and conversion of a Provisional or Induction Pathway 4 teaching certificate to a Professional certificate. Applicants by reciprocity with three (3) or more years of successful educator experience may exempt it.

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3. Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators: GaPSC Rule 505-6-.01

The Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators (GaPSC Rule 505-6-.01) defines professional behavior, values, and ethical standards expected of all certified educators, paraprofessionals, and student teachers in Georgia. The Code is enforced by the GaPSC Educator Ethics Division, which investigates alleged violations and possesses the legal authority to issue formal sanctions: Warning, Reprimand, Suspension of Certificate (temporary revocation), or Permanent Revocation.

The Ten Standards (Rule 505-6-.01, effective January 1, 2024)

The Code lists Standards 1 through 10. Memorize the numbering — GACE ethics items routinely name a standard by number, and Georgia's own guidance refers to “Standards 1-10.”

• Standard 1: Legal Compliance An educator shall abide by federal, state, and local laws and statutes. Unethical conduct includes the commission or conviction of a felony or of any crime involving moral turpitude; any criminal offense involving the manufacture, distribution, trafficking, sale, or possession of a controlled substance or marijuana; any sexual offense listed in the rule; or violation of any other laws applicable to the profession. “Conviction” includes a guilty verdict, a plea of nolo contendere, and first offender treatment without adjudication of guilt.

• Standard 2: Conduct with Students An educator shall always maintain a professional relationship with all students, both in and outside the classroom. Unethical conduct includes child abuse (physical or verbal), cruelty or child endangerment, any sexual act with or solicitation of a student, harassment of or misconduct toward a student, soliciting or consummating an inappropriate written, verbal, electronic, or physical relationship with a student, furnishing tobacco, alcohol, or unauthorized drugs to a student, and failing to prevent student use of alcohol or drugs under the educator's supervision.

• Standard 3: Alcohol or Drugs An educator shall refrain from the use of alcohol or illegal or unauthorized drugs during the course of professional practice — on school or district premises and at school-related activities, which include booster clubs, parent-teacher organizations, and curriculum-enhancing trips. The rule lists observable indicators of being “under the influence,” such as slurred speech, enlarged pupils, bloodshot eyes, lack of coordination, and memory or concentration problems.

• Standard 4: Honesty An educator shall exemplify honesty and integrity. Unethical conduct includes falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting professional qualifications, criminal history, credit or degrees, employment history, information submitted to government agencies, information about student or personnel evaluation, reasons for absences or leaves, and information submitted during an official inquiry. Answering Personal Affirmation Questions (PAQs) dishonestly violates this standard.

• Standard 5: Public Funds and Property An educator entrusted with public funds and property shall honor that trust with a high level of honesty, accuracy, and responsibility. Unethical conduct includes misusing funds, failing to account for money collected from students or parents, fraudulent reimbursement requests, co-mingling public and personal funds, and using school property without board or designee approval. GaPSC guidance specifically flags the use of personal peer-to-peer payment apps for school money.

• Standard 6: Remunerative Conduct An educator shall maintain integrity with students, colleagues, parents, patrons, or businesses when accepting gifts, gratuities, favors, and additional compensation. Unethical conduct includes soliciting students, parents, or staff to buy from the educator; accepting vendor gifts where a conflict of interest may appear; tutoring assigned students for remuneration without board approval; and running paid camps or leagues involving the educator's own district students without approval.

• Standard 7: Confidential Information An educator shall comply with state and federal laws and state board policies on the confidentiality of student and personnel records, standardized test material, and other information. Unethical conduct includes sharing confidential academic, disciplinary, health, family-status, or assessment information without legal authority, and violating standardized-testing confidentiality agreements by copying, teaching, publishing, or discussing secure test items.

• Standard 8: Required Reports An educator shall file with the GaPSC reports of a breach of one or more Code standards, child abuse (O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5), or any other required report. Unethical conduct includes failing to supply requested information when applying for or renewing a certificate, and failing to report an alleged or proven violation of a Code standard, or of state or federal law, as soon as possible but no later than ninety (90) days from the date the educator became aware of it, unless law or local procedure requires sooner reporting.

• Standard 9: Professional Conduct An educator shall demonstrate conduct that follows generally recognized professional standards and preserves the dignity and integrity of the education profession. Unethical conduct includes a resignation that equates to a breach of contract, conduct that impairs the certificate holder's ability to function professionally, behavior detrimental to the health, welfare, discipline, or morals of students, and failure to supervise students. GaPSC identifies Standard 9 as historically the most-violated standard.

• Standard 10: Testing An educator shall administer state-mandated assessments fairly and ethically. Unethical conduct includes any act that breaches test security and anything that compromises the integrity of the assessment — intentional errors in the testing process, cheating to influence outcomes, and paraphrasing or prompting students' responses.

Sanctions the GaPSC May Impose (Rule 505-6-.01(6))

Georgia's Code lists six sanctions, not four: Denial, Monitoring (quarterly appraisal of conduct, which may require periodic GCIC background checks), Reprimand, Revocation (permanent invalidation of any certificate; a Voluntary Surrender has the same effect), Suspension (temporary invalidation for a specified period), and Warning. An individual whose certificate is revoked, denied, or suspended may not serve as a volunteer or be employed as an educator, paraprofessional, aide, or substitute during that period, and the superintendent is responsible for enforcing that.

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4. High-Stakes Reporting Mandates

Two reporting mandates carry immediate, severe civil, criminal, and professional licensure consequences under Georgia law.

Child Abuse Reporting: O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5

Under Georgia Code § 19-7-5, all certified educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, and school counselors are designated as statutory mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect.

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|                    O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5 MANDATORY CHILD ABUSE PROTOCOL                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  [OBSERVATION]                                                                          |
|  Educator observes physical signs, behavioral indicators, or receives student disclosure|
|                                   |                                                     |
|                                   v                                                     |
|  [LEGAL STANDARD: REASONABLE SUSPICION]                                                 |
|  Absolute proof is NOT required; internal investigation is STRICTLY PROHIBITED          |
|                                   |                                                     |
|                                   v                                                     |
|  [IMMEDIATE REPORTING MANDATE]                                                          |
|  Oral report made IMMEDIATELY (within 24 hours maximum) to:                             |
|  1. Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS)                             |
|  2. Local Law Enforcement (Police / Sheriff)                                            |
|  3. School Principal or Designated Site Administrator                                   |
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[!CAUTION] The "No Investigation" Rule: Educators often commit a severe violation by attempting to interrogate the child, contact the parents to verify suspicions, or collect corroborating physical evidence before filing a report. Under Georgia law, the educator's sole duty is to report reasonable cause to suspect. Investigating is the exclusive statutory domain of DFCS caseworkers and law enforcement officers.

Criminal-Charge and Conviction Reporting: Standard 8 Timelines

Standard 8 (Required Reports) — not Standard 9 — governs what an educator must report to the GaPSC and when. GaPSC's Common Missteps guidance, which Evaluation Systems distributes inside the GACE Ethics for Teachers modules, sets out three distinct timelines:

• Local policy can be stricter. The Code repeatedly says “unless the law or local procedures require reporting sooner,” and GaPSC's guidance under Standard 3 tells educators to “know and understand your local policy about disclosing drug and alcohol arrests.” Many districts require prompt notification of the superintendent; that obligation comes from district policy, not from Rule 505-6-.01.
• Personal Affirmation Questions (PAQs). Every educator answers PAQs when applying for or renewing a certificate. Failure to disclose past convictions — no matter how old, including shoplifting or misdemeanor marijuana — is investigated under Standard 1 and also violates Standard 4 (Honesty). Failure to respond to GaPSC's requests for more information results in revocation.
• Breach of contract. GaPSC will not sanction an educator who breaks a contract for the upcoming school year on or before June 1. After June 1, the educator must show an approved GaPSC guideline was met: spousal transfer creating an unreasonable commute, documented illness of the educator or an immediate family member, or a promotion in the education field with increased responsibility, prestige, and reasonable pay increase. Breaches typically result in a 90-contract-day suspension under Standard 9.

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5. Realistic Ethical Dilemma & Boundary Scenario

The Case of Jordan Campbell

The Dilemma: Jordan Campbell is a second-year middle school English teacher on an Induction Certificate in Cobb County, Georgia. Jordan wants to connect with students and builds rapport with a 7th-grade student, Mason, who is struggling academically and emotionally at home.

To provide support, Jordan gives Mason his personal cellular phone number and begins exchanging direct text messages on weekend evenings discussing Mason's personal troubles and anime interests. Over several weeks, Jordan buys Mason new sneakers using personal funds and invites Mason to ride home in Jordan's personal vehicle after an away track meet without administrative knowledge or written parental consent.

When Mason shares on a Sunday text that his step-father physically struck him across the face leaving a dark bruise, Jordan texts back: "I will check on you tomorrow at school before deciding if we should tell anyone." On Monday morning, Jordan examines the bruise in an empty classroom, questions Mason about what provoked the father, and decides not to contact DFCS because Mason pleads: "Please don't call anyone, my dad will hurt me worse."

Analysis of Violations:

1. Violation of Standard 2 (Conduct with Students): Jordan engaged in extensive boundary violations—private unmonitored texting on personal devices, gift-giving using personal funds, and transporting an unchaperoned student in a personal vehicle without district authorization.
2. Violation of Standard 8 & O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5 (Required Reports / Mandatory Reporting): Jordan delayed reporting suspected child abuse to "investigate" the claim personally. Under Georgia law, Jordan was obligated to report the disclosure immediately to DFCS and school leadership. A student's plea not to report never vacates an educator's statutory duty.
3. Consequences: The GaPSC Ethics Division initiated an investigation that could result in any of the six sanctions in Rule 505-6-.01(6) — here, suspension of Jordan's Induction certificate — together with referral to local child protection authorities.