Rule 505-2-.21 - Certification by Interstate Reciprocity(1)Summary: Reciprocity is a term commonly used when individuals certified in one state or jurisdiction seek certification in another. Unfortunately, many individuals assume the term guarantees that they will automatically receive a professional certificate in the new state without having to satisfy any additional requirements. This is not always the case, since each receiving state may impose special state requirements, which must be met within a specified period of time.(2)NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) offers member states the opportunity to participate in the Interstate Agreement, which governs the details of interstate reciprocity. This agreement enables a state to review the preparation and certification standards of all other states and jurisdictions for specific certificate types (teacher, administrator, support and CTAE). Each state may then sign the agreement with other state certificate types that meet its own minimum standards for preparation and certification. Some states may choose not to sign with another state because of significant differences in standards. Others may sign with another state to accept their teaching certificates, but to not accept their leadership or support certificates. Specific information on the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, including which states have signed with other states and in what certificate areas, may be found on the NASDTEC website at www.nasdtec.org.(3)Requirements. An out-of-state educator meeting the requirements outlined below may qualify for a Georgia educator certificate. An out-of-state educator is defined as an individual who holds or has held a professional certificate issued by another state, country or jurisdiction that has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. An out-of-state educator is not an individual who has completed clinical practice in a Georgia school as part of a state-approved educator preparation program or used experience on a Georgia non-professional certificate to obtain professional certification in another state. An out-of-state professional certificate is defined as an educator certificate for which the individual has met all requirements in the state or jurisdiction of issuance. If employment or experience is required for issuance of an out-of-state professional certificate, a letter of eligibility for a professional certificate will be accepted as long as the only outstanding requirements are employment and/or experience. (a) An out-of-state educator who meets the following conditions will be eligible for a Georgia professional certificate: 1. Hold a valid or expired professional certificate issued based on completion of a state-approved educator preparation program to include pedagogy and clinical practice in the base field of certification.2. Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution, unless Georgia requires a differed degree level for the comparable certificate type.3. Have a minimum of three (3) years of successful full-time out-of-state experience (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.25 EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS).4. Meet or exempt all applicable Special Georgia Requirements, as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS: (i) An out-of-state educator who does not meet the Special Education requirement may still qualify for an initial Georgia Professional certificate. This requirement must be completed as part of professional learning requirements before the educator may renew the initial Georgia certificate.(ii) An out-of-state educator who does not meet the content assessment may still qualify for an initial Georgia one (1)-year Non-Renewable certificate. This requirement must be completed during the validity of the certificate before the educator may extend the Non-Renewable certificate for an additional four (4) years.5. Apply for the certificate following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(b) An out-of-state educator who meets the following conditions will be eligible for a Georgia Induction certificate: 1. Hold a valid or expired professional certificate issued based on completion of a state-approved educator preparation program to include pedagogy and clinical practice in the base field of certification.2. Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution, unless Georgia requires a different degree level for the comparable certificate type.3. Meet or exempt all applicable Special Georgia Requirements, as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS. (i) An out-of-state educator who does not meet the Special Education requirement may still qualify for an initial Georgia five (5)-year Induction certificate. This requirement must be completed as part of professional learning requirements before the educator may convert the certificate.(ii) An out-of-state educator who does not meet the content assessment may still qualify for an initial Georgia one (1)-year Induction certificate. This requirement must be completed during the validity of the certificate before the educator may extend the Induction certificate for an additional four (4) years.4. Apply for the certificate following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(4)Comparability. The Georgia certificate to be issued must be comparable to the certificate held in the other state or jurisdiction. (a) Individuals holding certification in fields not recognized as comparable for certification in Georgia must meet minimum standards for a recognized Georgia field. For example, while some states certify individuals in "Journalism", Georgia has no comparable educator certificate. Out-of-state journalism teachers may apply for a Georgia Non-Renewable Professional certificate in English and must satisfy all requirements for that field. During that time period, they are in-field to teach Journalism as well as English.(b) Individuals holding out-of-state certification in areas recognized as endorsements in Georgia will be issued an endorsement if all requirements are met.(5)Certification Level. The level assigned to a certificate indicates the highest degree level recognized by the GaPSC that has been awarded to the certificate holder. Georgia does not issue a certificate level based on college hours beyond a degree. Example: A Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study or Masters + does not lead to a higher certificate level. Certificate levels seldom mean the same among different states; therefore, the level is not considered part of the Interstate Agreement. Information on initial Georgia certificate levels is found in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.02 CLASSIFICATION.(6)Educational Leadership. Georgia has modified portions of the Interstate Agreement (Reciprocity) procedures for the field of Educational Leadership. Please see GaPSC Rule 505-2-.153 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP. Educators working in Georgia schools who choose to attend non-GaPSC-approved leadership programs will not be processed under full reciprocity procedures. Georgia educators who attend non-GaPSC-approved leadership programs will not be eligible for Professional Educational Leadership certificates.(7)Restrictions.(a) Educators applying by reciprocity do not qualify for Provisional certification in their field of certification or in a new field of certification.(b) Educators who complete clinical practice in a Georgia school as part of a state-approved educator preparation program without satisfying all special Georgia requirements may not apply for Georgia certification based on reciprocity unless three or more years of successful experience is earned out of state while holding a Professional certificate in the state.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.21
O.C.G.A. § 20-2-200.
Original Rule entitled "Foreign Credentials" adopted. F. Dec. 18, 1991; eff. Jan. 7, 1992.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Evaluation of Credit Earned Outside of the United States" adopted. F. Dec. 16, 1992; eff. July 1, 1993, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Evaluation of Credit Earned Outside of the U.S." adopted. F. Feb. 20, 2004; eff. Mar. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Aug. 20, 2004; eff. Sept. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Dec. 14, 2004; eff. Jan. 15, 2005, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Feb. 16, 2009; eff. Mar. 15, 2009, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Certification by Interstate Reciprocity" adopted. F. Jun. 11, 2014; eff. July 1, 2014, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Dec. 13, 2019; eff. Jan. 1, 2020, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. June 15, 2021; eff. July 1, 2021, as specified by the Agency.