Complete guide to Georgia's PLU requirements, TKES evaluation alignment, and GaPSC certification renewal through the MyPSC portal.
Georgia educators holding a Clear Renewable Certificate must renew every five years. Certificates typically have validity dates from July 1 to June 30, and renewal applications can be submitted through the MyPSC portal starting December 1 of the expiration year.
Requirements differ based on employment status. Teachers employed in Georgia public schools must also have an Individual Professional Development Plan coordinated with their school system and complete a criminal background check.
Georgia offers multiple pathways to meet certificate renewal requirements. Choose one of the following options:
Six semester hours from an accredited Georgia college or university with an official transcript.
Ten Georgia Professional Learning Units from approved providers (100 contact hours total).
Ten CEUs from IACET-accredited providers or other approved sources (100 contact hours total).
U.S. Department of Education Teacher-to-Teacher Workshop credits.
100 hours of Bright from the Start (BFTS) approved training (primarily for early childhood educators).
Georgia uses the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES) to evaluate teachers in public schools. TKES ratings are important for certain certificate types and professional learning alignment.
Requires three years of successful experience within the last five years in a Georgia public school with summative TKES ratings of "Proficient" or "Exemplary".
10 performance standards evaluated through observations and documentation.
Student achievement growth data contributing to overall effectiveness.
Student perception surveys on classroom instruction quality.
Individual goals aligned with TKES performance standards.
PLUs must be awarded by approved Georgia education entities. Ensure your professional learning comes from one of these sources:
Finish your required PLUs, CEUs, or college coursework during your 5-year certificate validity period.
Submit fingerprints for a criminal record background check prior to certification renewal.
Access the MyPSC portal (mypsc.gapsc.org) starting December 1 of your certificate's expiration year.
Complete the online renewal application and submit required documentation by June 30 of the expiration year.
Applications accepted from December 1 (year before expiration) through June 30 (expiration year). Don't wait until the last minute!
Both equal 10 contact hours per unit. PLUs are Georgia-specific units from Georgia-approved providers, while CEUs follow national IACET standards. Either can be used for renewal.
Yes, if the provider is IACET-accredited. You can use 10 CEUs from any IACET-accredited provider to meet renewal requirements.
For certificates expired 2018 or later, you must earn 10 PLUs or 6 semester hours or 10 CEUs within 5 years of the renewal date. Contact GaPSC for specific reinstatement guidance.
TKES applies to Georgia public school teachers. Private school teachers are issued Standard Professional certificates and have different requirements. Contact GaPSC for private school renewal guidance.
Background checks typically take 2-4 weeks. Submit your fingerprints early in the renewal window to avoid delays in certificate issuance.
Classroom Walkthroughs helps Georgia educators track PLUs, align professional learning with TKES, and prepare for MyPSC renewal.
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