Details of the Program

The Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program (Georgia TAPP) is a classroom-based teacher preparation option for individuals who have the basic qualifications to teach early childhood, middle-grades, secondary or P-12 education but have not completed a teacher preparation program. The program is not intended to replace regular college teacher education programs. It is, instead, an alternative option for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher but who did not complete teacher education requirements as part of their degree programs. Georgia TAPP seeks to equip teacher-candidates with the skills to ensure a reasonable expectation of initial success in their classrooms, and to put in place a supervised internship/induction program that will help them move toward subsequent mastery of teaching.

Step by Step Requirements:

1. Have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
2. Have at least a 2.5 GPA (no rounding will be accepted) or be accepted into an approved provider program
3. Obtain official transcript(s) from your college or university
4. Must have a minimum score on the SAT (1000), ACT (43), or GRE (1030) or pass the GACE Basic Skills Assessment or Praxis I. (Praxis I passing scores prior to September 1, 2006 will be accepted)
5. Secure a job offer as a full-time teacher with a local school system
6. Obtain a Georgia Criminal History Report
7. Have the school system contact Oconee RESA for an application.

Oconee RESA Pre-TAPP Application

Oconee RESA is approved to offer training leading to certification in the following areas:

 

Early Childhood (P-5)

Middle Grades (4-8): Language Arts, Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies

Secondary (6-12): English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies
Art (P-12)
Health/PE (P-12)
Business Education (6-12)
Interrelated Special Education (P-12)
Spanish (P-12)
Technology Education
Music (P-12)

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Upcoming TAPP Saturday Seminars:

TBA

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One-Year Practicum

The one-year supervised practicum is for individuals getting certification through the test-based option in order to receive a clear renewable certificate to teach.  An individual getting certification through this option should:

1. hold a PSC-accepted college degree in the certificate field or a PSC-designated related field;
2. have passed the Georgia Required Basic Skills Assessment (GACE Basic Skills);
3. have passed the Georgia Required Subject Content Assessment (GACE); and
4. have passed the Georgia approved professional pedagogy assessment (GACE Professional Pedagogy).

The One-Year Supervised Practicum involves teaching in one's content area or related field under the guidance and supervision of a qualified mentor and program supervisor.  The beginning teacher receives a five-year non-renewable certificate and must begin the one-year practicum as soon as he/she is hired by the school system.