Georgia educators who actively participate in coursework and then complete an advanced degree program at the
same institution with the same concentration by certain dates, may qualify for a legacy upgrade regardless of
the program’s state approval status. Institutions must only be accredited by an agency recognized by
CHEA or the
U.S. DOE.
Any Major:
Georgia educators enrolled in advanced degree programs with any major by
July 15, 2011, may qualify for
a legacy upgrade as long as they complete the program by the date specified for each degree level:
-
Master's or Specialist degree programs must be completed by December 15, 2014.
-
Doctoral degree programs must be completed by December 15, 2016.
Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Technology, and Teacher Leadership:
Georgia educators enrolled in advanced degree programs in Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Technology,
and Teacher Leadership by
January 15, 2013, may qualify for a legacy upgrade as long as they complete
the program by the date specified for each degree level:
-
Master's or Specialist degree programs must be completed by September 1, 2015.
-
Doctoral degree programs must be completed by September 1, 2017.
Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Technology, and Teacher Leadership programs may offered with
alternative titles:
-
Instructional Technology: Specialization in Classroom Integration of Technology, Educational
Technology, Technology in Education, Technology Integration, Instructional Technology and Distance
Learning, Technology in Schools;
-
Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching and Learning, Accomplished Teaching, Curriculum,
Instruction and Assessment, Curriculum and Teaching, Curriculum Instruction Management and
Administration;
-
Teacher Leadership: Instructional Leadership.
However, course content must align with the field in question, and the degree title alone cannot be relied
upon to determine legacy eligibility.
Georgia educators who began a program prior to receiving upgradeable certification and employment
in Georgia:
Georgia educators enrolled in a program prior to becoming both professionally certified and employed in
Georgia may qualify for legacy upgrade as long as they complete the program by the date specified for each
degree level:
-
Master's and Specialist degree programs must be completed within 3 years of becoming a Georgia
educator.
-
Doctoral degree programs must be completed within 5 years of becoming a Georgia educator.
Georgia educators who began a program while holding non-upgradable certification:
Georgia educators who enroll in a program while holding certification that is ineligible for an upgrade
(Permits, Provisional certificates, International Exchange Certificates) may qualify for a legacy upgrade
once they achieve an upgradable certificate if the degree is completed within the following:
-
Master's and Specialist degree programs must be completed within 3 years of achieving upgradeable
certification.
-
Doctoral degree programs must be completed within 5 years of achieving upgradeable certification.
Notes about legacy upgrades:
-
The award of a level increase based on an unapproved program qualifying as a legacy will not result
in the addition of a new certification field (e.g. an unapproved Curriculum and Instruction program
applied towards a level increase as a legacy will not qualify the educator for the Curriculum and
Instruction certification field).
-
Breaks in course completion are permitted as long as the program is completed by an above deadline,
and is the same major/concentration at the same institution.