College Recommendation

Students who graduate from or complete any of the approved education programs at VSU,submit a completed PSC Certification Application ( Application For Certification) , and pass all of the required assessments (GACE Basic Skills and GACE Content or Praxis II for COMD), as well as meet all state requirements for certification (minimum overall 2.5 GPA, special education requirement, computer competency requirement) will be recommended to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for a clear renewable certificate. The Approved Program Recommendation Form, an official transcript, and all supporting documentation is submitted by the Certification Office following receipt of the completed PSC Certification Application. Students should submit this application by fax (Attn: Renee Whitmer 229-333-5439) or by mail to:

Julia M. Lee
Dewar College of Education
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31698

Certification Plans

Students who have a bachelor’s degree NOT in education but who are interested in teacher certification may enroll as a “certification only” student, rather than pursue a second bachelor’s degree in education. By pursuing “certification only,” students will take only the coursework needed to be recommended for a clear renewable teaching certificate in Georgia. The “certification only” process is begun by evaluating a student’s previous coursework in order to determine what further coursework is needed to complete the certification requirements in a particular area. Students who wish to be evaluated for certification must complete a Certification Evaluation Request form (available in the Dean’s Office) and provide copies of transcripts in order for a certification plan to be developed. There is a $35 fee for this process.

Non-Renewable Professional Certification

The non-renewable professional certificate is a temporary certificate issued only at the request of an employing Georgia school system. Minimum standards for being awarded a non-renewable professional certificate include: hold a bachelor’s degree, have an overall grade-point average of at least 2.5, pass GACE Basic Skills (or exempt it), and pass GACE Content or for COMD, pass Praxis II. Non-renewable certificates are issued for a five-year validity period and may not be renewed or extended.

To convert from the non-renewable to the clear renewable certificate, a degree program or a certification plan must be completed.

The advantage of the non-renewable certificate is that it allows a student to begin teaching while completing certification requirements. The pay for the non-renewable certificate is less than for the clear renewable certificate. However, several of the departments within the Dewar College of Education offer required coursework only during the day; it may not be possible for a student to work full time and complete the required coursework.