GACE

GACE ASSESSMENTS

In addition to an appropriate degree and coursework, individuals wishing to obtain certification in Georgia must take the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE). Only Praxis or TCT tests passed prior to March 6, 2007 in certification content fields are still considered valid.

Assessments can have multiple tests, and you must pass all tests to pass the assessment.  You may retake an individual test if necessary.

GACE scores do not expire.

Assessment FAQs

REQUIRED GACE ASSESSMENTS

Program Admission (basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics)

You may exempt the GACE Program Admission if you meet the following criteria using your SAT, ACT or GRE scores.

  • SAT –  For score reports dated prior to July 1, 2019: 1000 on Critical Reading and Math  (for re-centered scores prior to April 1995, click here.) For score reports on or after July 1, 2019:1080 on Evidence based Reading/Writing and Math.  Only official (English version) SAT score reports can be accepted. Official SAT score reports can be obtained for a fee from the SAT.

Scores from the two test administrations may be combined.

  • ACT – 43 on English and Math combined   (for re-centered scores prior to October 28, 1989, click here.) – Only official scores are accepted. Official ACT score reports can be obtained for a fee from the ACT.
  • GRE – composite score of 1030 on Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning (before August 1, 2011) or composite score of 297 on Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning (on or after August 1, 2011) – Only official scores are accepted. Official GRE score reports can be obtained for a fee from the GRE.
  • If you cannot exempt, you can retake the SAT or ACT for less money than taking the Program Admission assessment. The GRE is more expensive than the GACE Program Admission.
  • ​Tests from two different administrations can be combined to meet the exemption requirement. Example, Verbal from one SAT test combined with the Math from another. Different overall scores cannot be combined from different types of tests, e.g. a SAT score cannot be combined with a GRE score. If one score is dated on or after July 1, 2019, the minimum combined score needed is 1080.

Full details of exemption requirements

Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment
The Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment measures your understanding and knowledge of compliance obligations of the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators as well as your capacity and disposition to act ethically as a teaching professional. If you are entering a state-approved traditional or non-traditional educator preparation/certification program for an initial teaching field certificate, you must take and complete the the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment prior to admission into a certification/preparation program (traditional or alternate route).  The assessment is not pass/fail and is not scored but is a certification requirement.

You must take the Georgia Educators Ethics Assesment prior to or upon completing an educator preparation program (traditional or alternate) and must pass the assessment (scores are given) in order to receive an induction certificate and to begin employment.

Content Area

Georgia certification fields and required content assessments

You must pass the GACE in the content area that you wish to teach. For example, if you want to teach Biology, you must take the GACE Biology or GACE Science (broad-field) and pursue certification in teaching Biology or Broad-Field Science. Your degree can be in or closely related to the content area. For example, Literature, Media & Communication is related to teaching English.   Some content areas are exempt from the GACE, but most require it. You cannot exempt the content area GACE even if you have a degree beyond a bachelors in a field that requires the assessment.

REGISTRATION, SCORES, FEES & RESOURCES

To register for a GACE:

  • Create a MyPSC through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GPSC)
  • Create an ETS GACE testing account.  By registering with the GPSC, your scores will be on record with the GPSC certification office automatically.

The GACE is a computer-delivered assessment. Test centers are located throughout Georgia, across the country, and in various parts of the world.

Georgia certification fields and required content assessments

Testing centers and dates

Testing windows for all assessments

Scores & Fees

  • The passing standard for the Program Admission is 250 on a scale of 100-300.
  • A passing score on a GACE content is marked on the score report as induction (235) or professional (250 or above).  As of July 1, 2017, educators who do not achieve a professional level score on the content area GACE may get an induction certificate with an induction level score but will have to obtain a professional level score – or an exemption if available – before receiving a professional certificate.

See the list of fees.

Preparation Resources

ETS has full-length interactive practice tests available at the ETS Store. Other resources may be available from online sellers and local bookstores.

You can also use Khan Academy Offical Praxis ® Corp Prep as a tool to prepare for the Georgia GACE Program Admission. Test takers using this tool can now select Georgia in the drop-down menu to see the passing threshold scores for each subject. Note that the GACE 100-300 score scale has been converted to the Praxis® Core 100-200 score scale. That is, a score of 250 on the GACE Program Admission Reading, Mathematics, and Writing tests would equal a score of 156, 142, and 154, respectively on the Praxis Core score scale. As long as goal scores are set at or above the given passing threshold, prep users will be on the right track to pass the GACE assessment.