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The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) has established clear guidelines for the renewal of the Standard Professional Certificate for school counselors.
Initial Certification Period:
Renewal Requirements:
To renew your certification, you must fulfill the following requirements:
Renewal Certification Fee: Pay a $20 renewal certification fee.
Certain individuals may be exempt from meeting professional learning requirements. These include:
Educators employed by a Georgia LUA must meet professional learning requirements unless exempted. Exemptions include NBPTS certification and specific service fields’ optional requirements.
For educators not employed in Georgia, renewal requirements must have been completed within the five years preceding the renewal application. This can include college coursework, Professional Learning Units (PLUs), Continuing Education Units (CEUs), BFTS-approved training, or successful educator experience in another state.
Renewal Cycle:
Georgia certificates typically have a validity period from July 1 to June 30. Renewal applications can be submitted from December 1 of the preceding calendar year to June 30 of the calendar year in which the certificate expires.
Renewal applications for individuals employed by a Georgia LUA must be submitted electronically by the LUA. Those not employed by a Georgia LUA can apply according to the outlined procedures on the GaPSC website.
For those whose most recent renewable certification expired between June 30, 2011, and June 30, 2017, renewal credit is not required for reinstatement.
Retired Georgia Educators not wishing to meet renewal requirements may apply for a Retired Educator Certificate as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.44.