Alternative Certification

Alternative certification in Southeast Georgia

GATAPP, professional endorsements, and APEL leadership certification — routes into and up through the classroom for career changers and experienced educators alike.

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Three routes

Which route fits you?

Start from where you are today. Each route has its own page with the full requirements, dates and application.

GATAPP
I have a degree and a teaching job offer, but no certificate
Earn your Clear Renewable Teaching Certificate while you work as the teacher of record in your own classroom.
Next deadline: early December, winter cohort
Endorsements
I’m certified and want to add a field
Add a specialized field — dyslexia, gifted, ESOL, reading and more — to the Georgia certificate you already hold.
3 endorsements enrolling · next starts Jan 11, 2027
APEL
I’m in a leadership role and need the certification
A one-year, job-embedded route to Tier I or Tier II P-12 Educational Leadership certification.
Applications closed for 2026–27 · next dates not posted yet

Side by side

Compare the routes

The deciding facts in one place. Each route’s page has the exact requirements.

The three alternative certification routes compared
	GATAPPGeorgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy	EndorsementsAdd-on fields for a certificate you hold	APELAlternative Preparation for Educational Leadership
Who it’s for	Degree holders hired to teach in a First District RESA school system	Educators who already hold a Georgia certificate	Educators in a leadership role in their district
You’ll need	A teaching job offer in the region, a bachelor’s degree and a passing content-area GACE	The base certificate the endorsement requires, and your district’s approval	A master’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, proficient evaluations and the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership
Format	Job-embedded: you teach full time while you certify	Coursework built around a working teacher’s schedule	Job-embedded, with monthly seminars (virtual or in person), a leadership coach and a district mentor
Timing	Cohorts begin in June (summer) and January (winter)	28–48 weeks per cohort, on set start dates	One year: July residency, then seminars September to May
Cost	$55 application fee, non-refundable; ask the team about program costs	$825 in a member district, $1,000–$1,100 otherwise	$5,000 in a member system, $6,000 out of district
Leads to	Clear Renewable Teaching Certificate	An endorsement added to your certificate	Tier I or Tier II P-12 Educational Leadership certification