How to Become a Principal in Georgia

<p>In Georgia, certifications are issued for educational leadership in two different tiers. Principals are required to obtain the second-tier certification to be able to work in all school levels; from kindergarten through to 12th Grade. Detailed below are education and testing requirements, and how to move from a Tier I certificate to a Tier II certificate. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Education Required </td><td>Master's Degree, <br />Completion of a leadership certification program*</td></tr> <tr><td>Certification Required </td><td>Tier II Georgia Education Leadership Certificate, <br />Standard Professional or Performance-Based Professional*</td></tr> <tr><td>Exams/Additional Training Required </td><td> GACE, <br />Ethics for Educational Leadership, <br />Special Education requirement*</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Validity Period </td><td>5 years (standard), <br />3 years (non-renewable) *</td></tr> <tr><td>Renewal Requirements </td><td>Vary depending on current certificate expiration and employment; see the section below.<br />Renewal certificates are valid for 5 years</td></tr> <tr><td>Mean Salary (2018) </td><td>$96,330 (state)</td></tr> <tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026, nationwide) </td><td>7.9%**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), **Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---GettingStartedCompleteAnEducationalLeadershipProgram">Getting Started: Complete an Educational Leadership Program</h3> <p>In addition to a graduate degree, certifications require an educator to complete an educational leadership certification program to first become a Tier I certificate holder. The program will include classroom learning as well as fieldwork in the educator's current school, or a partner school. Some schools do offer a direct to the Tier II program, bypassing the Tier I certificate. </p> <h3 id="section---NextPassExams">Next: Pass Exams</h3> <p>In order to become a principal in Georgia, an educational leader will need to pass several exams and complete a special education requirement. The two exams required are the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) and the Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment. Certificates are issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, or GaPSC. If an educator is not currently employed at a Georgia LUA (Local Unit of Administration), then they may receive a Certificate of Eligibility until they become employed; at which time the certificate would become a Professional Certification. </p> <h3 id="section---TierIToTierII">Tier I to Tier II</h3> <p>A Tier I certificate allows educators to work in assistant principal level roles, while a Tier II enables an educator to hold a head principal role. Once an educator has acquired a Tier I Certificate, they can complete additional coursework to earn a Tier II certification. This coursework will include classroom learning and more residency style learning. If an educational leader is on the path for a Performance-Based Certification (rather than the Standard Professional Certificate), they may also need to complete and pass the Performance-Based Assessment for School Leaders. </p> <h3 id="section---RenewalRequirements">Renewal Requirements</h3> <p>Certificates are valid for five years, and their requirements vary based on when the most recent certificate was issued and the employment of the teacher. However, any educator who has had two or more unsatisfactory performance reviews during their five-year certificate period may not receive a renewed certificate until their performance issues have been satisfactorily corrected. </p> <p>Educators whose certificate expired in 2018 or later, who are currently working for a public LUA, will need to complete the following requirements: </p> <ul><li>Ask the HR department to initiate the renewal </li><li>Complete a Professional Learning Plan or a Professional Learning Goal with their supervisor and employing school </li></ul><h3 id="section---ApplyingForRenewal">Applying for Renewal</h3> <p>Educators employed in the Georgia public school system will have the school apply electronically for renewal. Those employed by another type of LUA will need to send in the documentation of their renewal requirements (except for 2011 to 2017 expiration) along with the following completed forms: Certification Update Application, Employer Assurance Form, and Verification of Lawful Presence. </p> <p>Unemployed educators will be required to send in the Certificate Update Application, $20 processing fee, and a Verification of Lawful presence. They may receive a Certification of Eligibility until they gain employment, at which point their certificate can be converted to a professional certificate.</p>