Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification
Alternative routes to teacher certification are generally “on the job training programs” lasting approximately two years. The most common programs are offered through the Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program (TAPP). The TAPP web site, which is comprehensive, provides details on requirements, program providers and contacts for information, and useful FAQ pages.
TAPP programs are usually offered through school districts, Regional Educational Services Agencies (RESA), and some colleges/universities. The basic requirements for entering a TAPP program are to have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in a field closely related to the desired teaching field, to have passed or exempted the GACE Basic Skills test, and, in many cases, to have taken and passed the GACE Content Assessment exams for the teaching field. Some programs also require the TAPP candidate first secure a job offer from a school district, whereas others admit the candidate and then place them in a job.
TAPP candidates usually complete some training during the summer before they enter the classroom, and then begin teaching full-time with the support of one or more supervising teachers, who serve as mentors. Their TAPP coordinators will determine the remaining certification requirements and design a program to complete them. Some TAPP candidates will need to enroll in additional for-credit courses, but many will not. During the first couple of years of teaching, TAPP candidates complete modules/courses to meet initial state certification requirements. The cost of completing certification varies depending on the specific program. At the end of the program, TAPP candidates will earn full teacher certification.
TAPP is generally an option for students who are prepared to teach in “critical needs” fields—the teaching fields where there are significant shortages of certified teachers. It is therefore relatively easy to find alternative certification programs in the areas of math, science, and special education. Other teaching fields may or may not be available in all districts.