Admission to VSU and Teacher Education Certification Issues and Questions

Q: What should I do if I am interested in getting a teaching certificate?

Students with a bachelor's degree seeking certification must have at least a 2.5 GPA for most programs (3.0 for COMD; 2.75 for ARED; 2.75 for ECE) and have passed the GACE Basic Skills Assessment (all three tests) for admission into Teacher Education. The passing score for all GACE tests is 220. Admission into Teacher Education is required before enrolling in selected professional education classes. Note: Passing scores on the Praxis I exam may be used if the test was taken prior to September 1, 2006.

Note: You may be admitted to VSU but not be admitted into Teacher Education. Needed core courses or specific content courses may be taken without being admitted to Teacher Education and will be used in the GPA calculation.

Q: How do I get started?

The student should review his/her GPA and decide on the desired teaching field and then meet with an advisor to discuss the GPA, GACE Basic Skills, specific certification requirements, jobs outlook, and other factors that may impact this important decision before applying for admission.

Q: What if I'm seeking my first teaching certificate?

Degree holders--You must apply as a second undergraduate degree student if you choose to complete a degree program which leads to initial teacher certification at the bachelor's level. You must apply with the Graduate School if you are seeking certification only in either a bachelor's or master's level program which leads to initial teacher or service certification. The student should check with the appropriate department of his/her major for information on certification plans. However, both routes require that you pass GACE Basic Skills (or exempt) and GACE Content Assessment.

Q: How much difference is there between a second degree program and the certification plan?

It depends on the first degree program and the desired teaching certificate. For example, the difference between an applied math degree and a secondary mathematics teaching certificate is primarily the professional education component; but if the first degree was in accounting, then the difference (and needed credit hours) would be much greater.

Q: Can I work on an initial teaching certificate and a master's degree at the same time?

All of the Special Education fields require that the M.Ed. degree be completed before being recommended for certification. Also, the ACT (Alternative Certification for Teachers) program in the Department of Middle Grades and Secondary Education results in the M.Ed. degree and teacher certification. Other programs, however, require a B.S.Ed. degree or certification in the same field before admission into a Master's degree program.

Q: If I have a teaching certificate already and wish to add another field, must I do it as a second undergraduate degree student?

It depends on the field you wish to add. For example, counseling must be at the graduate level, but to add early childhood would be at the undergraduate level.

Q: I have a teaching certificate (professional type) and want to renew my certificate, should I be admitted as an undergraduate or graduate?

Graduate or undergraduate credits are acceptable for renewal; BUT if you are considering a master's degree later, then the graduate status is recommended.

Q: Which teaching area is the quickest for me to get certified?

This is a frequent question, but it cannot be answered without a review of your completed degree and any subsequent course work.

Q: What is the difference between a nonrenewable teaching certificate and a clear renewable teaching certificate?

The nonrenewable certificate requires you to have a bachelor's degree, an overall grade point average of at least 2.5, and GACE Basic Skills and GACE Content Assessment. This certificate can only be requested by a school system that wishes to employ you, and it will be issued based on the conditions stated in the first sentence. It is valid for five years; and at the end of that time, you must have completed all of the requirements for the clear renewable certificate.

NOTE: Professional teaching certificates are issued to the student after completing an approved teacher education program or a certification plan and the appropriate certification tests. It is good for five years and can be renewed with six semester hours of appropriate credit.

General Information

Questions about program or transfer credits, accepting work experiences, schedules, cycle programs, etc. should be directed to the College of Education Dean's Office or the specific department of that major. A frequent question is how many hours will I need? A specific answer requires a transcript review, but most programs will require at least one year of study for the professional education plus any hours needed in for content area. The first and most critical problem for certification cases is -- admission into Teacher Education! Certification students need to know about the GPA requirement and the GACE Basic Skills Assessment. (The GPA must be a 2.5 for most programs (3.0 for Communication Disorders; 2.75 for Art Education; 2.75 for Early Childhood Education). The GACE Basic Skills Assessment is given in a location near Valdosta three times a year, which requires the student to plan ahead to have it completed prior to starting certification course work. Check SAT, GRE, and ACT scores for exemption to GACE Basic Skills .