The Ga TAPP® is a classroom-based teacher preparation option for individuals who have the basic qualifications to teach early childhood, middle-grades, secondary or P-12 education but have not completed a teacher preparation program. The program is not intended to replace regular college teacher education programs. It is, instead, an alternative option for individuals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institute, but who did not complete teacher education preparation requirements as part of their degree programs. Georgia TAPP seeks to equip teacher-candidates with the skills to ensure a reasonable expectation of initial success in their classrooms, and to put in place a supervised internship/induction program that will help them move toward subsequent mastery of teaching.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What are the Georgia TAPP eligibility requirements for candidates?
• How do I get an application for the Georgia TAPP program?
• Where can I find out which subjects I am qualified to teach with my specific Bachelor's Degree?
• What if I want to teach a different subject than the one I am qualified to teach based on my degree?
• What is the cost to participate in GA TAPP?
• Is there any type of financial aid available for TAPP candidates?
• Are there other routes to initial certification besides TAPP?
• I took a few education courses in my undergraduate degree program.  Will any of those courses count toward TAPP requirements?

  What are the Georgia TAPP eligibility requirements for candidates?

• A bachelor's degree or higher in an appropriate field, with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 (no rounding will be accepted) in all college-level work completed.  If no, have you been accepted into a Master's degree program in an accredited college or university? If no, is the date on which your highest degree was awarded 10 years or more?
• A passing score on the GACE Basic Skills Assessment (or SAT, ACT, or GRE scores high enough to exempt this requirement) ACT - 21 English & 22 Mathematics or 43 Combined;
  GRE - 490 Verbal & 540 Quantitative or 1030 Combined; SAT - 480 Verbal & 520 Mathematics or 1000 Combined
• To secure SAT or GRE scores, contact Educational Testing Service at www.ETS.org. ACT scores can be obtained at www.ACT.or
• You can retake the SAT instead of taking the GACE to obtain qualifying scores
• A satisfactory criminal background check
• An offer of a full-time teaching position by a participating school system
  • Program providers are colleges, universities, Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs), or Local Education Agencies (LEAs) approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) to offer a Georgia TAPP program.  The PSC has a Recruitment Services Division for teachers. Please visit www.teachgeorgia.org for additional information.
  • If you have not secured a job offer please contact your local school system(s) to determine if they currently have positions available for Georgia TAPP participants or visit www.teachgeorgia.org for a listing of available job openings.

  * Please note that all applicants are not selected for program consideration. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission does not select Georgia TAPP candidates. Selection of Georgia TAPP candidates is determined by program providers. If you are selected for Georgia TAPP consideration, a Georgia TAPP program provider representative will contact you with further instructions/details. Please be patient during the selection process.

   

   How do I get an application for the Georgia TAPP program? The PSC approves the programs offered by the program providers. It does not provide applications or select candidates for the Georgia TAPP program. The program providers supply prospective program candidates applications for consideration into their program. Please contact your chosen  Program Provider for application information. 

     Where can I find out which subjects I am qualified to teach with my specific Bachelor’s Degree?  Go to www.gapsc.com and on the right side of the page are “Steps to Teach”.  Go to question number seven to pull up a list of degrees and related content areas.

       What if I want to teach a different subject than the one I am qualified to teach based on my degree?  You must take and pass the appropriate GACE content area test(s) for the subject and grade level that you wish to teach PRIOR to enrolling in TAPP. The GACE registration website is www.gace.nesinc.com.

      What is the cost to participate in GA TAPP?   The tuition costs for candidates will be determined by the type of program the candidate completes. If college credit is awarded, the candidate is responsible for tuition.

      Is there any type of financial aid available for TAPP candidates?  There is no organized financial aid for TAPP itself.  Former members of the military and their spouses should contact Bill Kirkland with Troops to Teachers to investigate possible financial help for the fees.  Special Education candidates living in Georgia should check on HOPE scholarships that assist in paying for college work (not TAPP) for those teaching in this critical shortage field.

    Are there other routes to initial certification besides TAPP?  Yes.  Read the additional material provided on this page or you can view a list of all Certification Program Providers at www.gapsc.com.  Go to the Educator Prep tab and click on GA TAPP for more information.  This will be the State GA TAPP website.

     I took a few education courses in my undergraduate degree program.  Will any of those courses count toward TAPP requirements?  Each candidate’s transcripts will be evaluated and an individualized program of study will be developed, taking into consideration all college coursework that has been completed.

Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree or higher (except for vocational fields) from a PSC-accepted accredited college or university
• 2.5 GPA minimum (unless holding a masters degree or higher from PSC-accepted accredited college or university OR accepted into an approved masters program OR admitted to a traditional approved educator preparation program)
• PRAXIS I passed or exempted by SAT minimum 1000 OR GRE minimum 1030 OR ACT minimum 43
• **Praxis II passed for field of certification (except for Special Education fields)
• Mentor assigned AND accepted into approved educator preparation program (Special Education fields only);
• Employment in a Georgia school system.

The new test-out route to initial certification will require a degree or closely related degree in the field, and the one-year supervised practicum must be initiated within the first year of certification. The Commission voted to require the 2.5 GPA for all certificate applicants except those whose highest degree is a bachelor’s degree that is more than ten years old. In addition, the requirement for 3 years of teaching experience to be eligible to become a building principal will be continued.

The final version of rules will be posted on the PSC web site following completion of the State of Georgia Administrative Procedures Act requirements. The effective date of the rules is March 15, 2004, with the in-field portion (Certification/Curriculum Assignment Policies -- CAPs) to be effective July 1, 2004.