Teaching endorsements in Southeast Georgia

Endorsements are additional certifications added to your base teaching certificate to recognize specialized expertise in specific areas. In Georgia, endorsements serve two important purposes: some are required to be considered in-field in designated areas (such as ESOL, Gifted Education, and Reading), while others are optional but strengthen your competency levels and make you more competitive and versatile in the job market.

Required endorsements must be obtained to be considered in-field in certain designated teaching areas. These include endorsements like ESOL, Gifted Education, and Reading. Optional endorsements are not required but can enhance your teaching credentials, increase your salary potential, and make you more marketable to school districts. Both types are added to your existing certificate.

Georgia offers three main types of endorsements: (1) Renewable Professional - the standard endorsement for fully certified educators that renews with your base certificate every 5 years; (2) Non-Renewable Professional - a 3-year endorsement for educators requested by their employing school system; and (3) Induction Endorsement - for new teachers holding an Induction certificate who are requested by their school system. Each type has different requirements and renewal periods.

To earn a Renewable Professional endorsement, you must complete a state-approved endorsement program or hold a comparable out-of-state certificate. Once earned, it renews automatically with your base teaching certificate on its 5-year renewal cycle. This is the most common type of endorsement for experienced, fully certified teachers.

A Non-Renewable Professional endorsement is valid for 3 years and must be requested by your employing school system (district). You must hold a valid professional or permit certificate to qualify. After the 3-year period expires, you would need to pursue a different type of endorsement if you want to continue teaching in that specialty area.

Induction Endorsements are designed for new teachers who hold an Induction certificate and are requested by their school system. Like Renewable Professional endorsements, they renew with your Induction certificate. This type of endorsement helps new teachers expand their teaching credentials while still in their initial certification period.

Each endorsement specifies which type of base certificate field you must hold - teaching, service, or leadership. For example, most classroom teaching endorsements require a valid teaching certificate. Endorsements are added to your existing certificate, and you must maintain the base certificate field that the endorsement requires. The validity period of your endorsement aligns with your base certificate.

Endorsement program length varies by program. Our programs are typically designed for working teachers and offer flexible scheduling with evening and weekend classes. Most programs range from a few weeks to several months depending on the specific endorsement and your prior background. Check the program details for specific duration information.

Program costs vary by endorsement, and each program lists a member and a non-member price. Teachers in First District RESA member systems pay the member price; CourseConnect applies it automatically from the district on your profile. The program is billed in full after Course 1’s add/drop date, two weeks after it starts.

Yes, you can pursue multiple endorsements. Many educators take several endorsements throughout their careers to expand their expertise and increase their career opportunities and earning potential. We can help you plan a sequence of endorsements that make sense for your career goals.

Apply in CourseConnect at events.fdresa.org: choose the cohort, complete the application and its required forms, and name your district approver. Once your district approves, First District RESA confirms your seat and emails you. Our Alternative Certification team is also available to answer questions and help guide you through the application process.

Your district decides when it approves your application. If it covers tuition, the district is invoiced for the whole program after Course 1’s add/drop date. If it doesn’t, you pay by card on your endorsement page in CourseConnect once your seat is confirmed.

Yes. Your approver gets an email with a secure link and signs in to CourseConnect to approve. If they don’t have an account, they create one with the email address the request was sent to.

Yes. Withdraw from your endorsement page in CourseConnect at any time until your tuition is paid; after that, contact First District RESA. Leave before Course 1’s add/drop date and nothing is billed. Leave later, and every course you leave before its add/drop date comes back as a refund or credit when the courses end, while a course you leave after its add/drop date is still owed.

When your final grade in Brightspace is 70% or higher. Completions are recorded after the course ends, and each course’s transcript appears on your endorsement page in CourseConnect.

After completing a state-approved endorsement program, you will be eligible to apply for your endorsement from the Georgia Department of Education. The endorsement will be added to your existing teaching certificate. For Renewable Professional endorsements, it will renew automatically with your base certificate. We provide guidance and support throughout this process.

First District RESA member systems are: Appling County, Bryan County, Bulloch County, Camden County, Candler County, Effingham County, Emanuel County, Evans County, Glynn County, Jeff Davis County, Liberty County, Long County, McIntosh County, Savannah-Chatham County, Screven County, Tattnall County, Toombs County, Vidalia City, Wayne County, Cedarwood GNETS, and Coastal Academy GNETS. School systems that are members of First District RESA receive membership pricing for most endorsement programs.