Becoming a Spanish Teacher in Georgia
Schools are becoming increasingly aware of the positive impact the knowledge of a second language can have on student development and career prospects. This article will address how to become a Spanish teacher in the state of Georgia, including educational and exam requirements, as well as how to pursue initial certification.
How to Become a Spanish Teacher in Georgia
Those who are interested in teaching Spanish in the state of Georgia must satisfy the same criteria as a general educator as well as a few additional requirements. Check out the table below for some general information about these requirements.
<table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td> Bachelor's degree (minimum)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Exam Requirements </td><td> GACE// edTPA</td></tr>
<tr><td>Certification Renewal Period </td><td>Initial certificate cannot be renewed</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2019) </td><td> $47,973 (Spanish teachers in GA)*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td>8% (teachers nationally)**</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Sources: *Glassdoor.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---GeneralRequirements">General Requirements</h3><p>In order to become a Spanish teacher in Georgia, candidates must have a bachelor's degree at a minimum. This degree must be from a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) approved educator program at an accredited university. A university receives approval for its educator program once the GaPSC assesses the quality of the program and confirms that it is in line with the given GaPSC standards. It is recommended that interested candidates pay close attention to the details of the programs being offered before undertaking them.
</p><h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3><p>Persons applying for educator certification in Georgia must also meet certain Special Georgia Requirements in order to be certified. For Spanish teachers, this includes completing and passing the GACE Foreign Language - Spanish and Ethics assessments. The Ethics assessment will cover the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators as well as assess the candidate's ethical standing. Interested candidates are required to create an online account on the GaPSC website in order to confirm their eligibility to register for the GACE exams. They will also need to take and pass a GaPSC-approved content pedagogy assessment known as the edTPA.
</p><h3 id="section---PersonalAffirmationQuestionnaire">Personal Affirmation Questionnaire</h3><p>All candidates interested in obtaining an educator certificate in Georgia must answer a personal affirmation questionnaire. The questions are geared toward uncovering any previous disciplinary actions or ethically questionable behavior and so any answers in the affirmative will require further documentation. For example, one of the questions asks if the candidate was dishonorably discharged from any branch of the military. If the interested candidate is found to be deceptive, the application process will be stopped.
</p><h3 id="section---BackgroundClearance">Background Clearance</h3><p>All educators are required to be subjected to a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This will include fingerprint and criminal history checks. These checks will be conducted each time the applicant wishes to renew or upgrade a certificate.
</p><h3 id="section---ApplicationSubmission">Application Submission</h3><p>The complete application can either be submitted through the online portal on the GaPSC website or the documents can be sent to the Certification Division of the GaPSC. All the forms that are required can be downloaded from the GaPSC website. Once the relevant documents and fees are received, the application will be processed and if the requirements are met, the certificate will be issued to the applicant's online account.
</p><h3 id="section---InitialCertificate">Initial Certificate</h3><p>A new teacher will receive what is known as an induction certificate, which is valid for three years. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, an induction certificate cannot be renewed and the teacher is expected to undertake the necessary coursework and assessments that would allow an upgrade to a professional certificate after that three year period.</p>