Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (GaTAPP)

GaTAPP Program Overview:

Oconee RESA is a Georgia Professional Standards Commission approved Educator Preparation Provider. Our alternative teacher preparation program is approved to offer GaTAPP for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher but have not met the requirements for renewable teacher certification. Candidates are served through a blended (face-to-face/electronic model) to minimize teacher candidate travel and to minimize absences from the schools in which they teach. This program does not replace traditional teacher education programs offered by universities and colleges; instead, Georgia TAPP seeks to equip teacher candidates with skills that ensure a reasonable expectation of initial success in the classroom and to provide a supervised internship/induction program that will enable intern teachers to move toward subsequent mastery of teaching.
We offer training which will lead to professional renewable certification in the following fields.

Early Childhood (P-5)
Middle Grades (4-8) – All Content Areas including CTAE (Career Technical and Agriculture Education)
Math
ELA
Reading
Science
Social Studies
Secondary (6-12)
All Content Areas including CTAE (Career Technical and Agriculture Education)
All Core Content Areas
P-12
- Art (P-12)
- Health/PE (P-12)
- Special Education (P-12)
- Foreign Languages (P-12)
- Technology Education (P-12)
- Music (P-12)
- Dance (P-12)

Oconee RESA also offers the One Year Add-On Elementary Education.
* This is ONLY for teachers who are already certified and wish to change fields.

Application Requirements:

Step 1 - Submit Candidate Application (Form 1)

The first step to our admission process is to submit a Candidate Application for admission.

Step 2 - Submit Official College Transcripts

Candidates must have received a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university in a related field of study (minimum 2.5 GPA).

Check GaPSC-Accreditation

Please make sure that you submit all transcripts needed from each institution you have previously attended. Failure to submit all transcripts can delay the processing of your admission application.

Step 3 – Submit Copy of Certificate of Completion after taken Georgia Educator Ethics Exit Assessment 360

If Candidates do not have a copy of certificate of completion, it must state on your certificate that you have taken and passed assessment.

Step 4 - Submit District Assurance (Form 2)

Candidates must have secured a job offer for a teaching position in a local system in a district served by Oconee RESA.

GaTAPP candidates must be employed by a regionally accredited local unit of administration (school district or private school), a charter school approved by the Georgia State Charter School Commission, or a charter school approved by the Georgia Department of Education as a classroom teacher full-time or part-time for at least a half day.

Application Checklist:

GaTAPP Program:

Candidate Application (Form 1)
Official College Transcripts (Electronic transcripts are acceptable)
Documentation taken Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (360).
District Assurance Form with all appropriate signatures (Form 2)
Submit all forms and documents to: Georgia TAPP Admission
Submit application fee to:
Oconee RESA
Attn: GaTAPP Admission
P. O. Box 387
Tennille, Georgia 31089

Elementary Education Alternative Practicum (Elementary Add-On) Program:

Completed Elementary Add -On Candidate Application (Form 3)
MOU with Principal (Form 4)
District Assurance Form with all appropriate signatures (Form 2)
Submit all documents to: Georgia TAPP Admission
To submit fees online: Click Here or
Mail to:
Oconee RESA
Attn: GaTAPP Admission
P. O. Box 387
Tennille, Georgia 31089

GaTAPP Forms:

Tuition and Fees:

Oconee RESA has received GaDOE TLSD Grant funding and will pay partial GaTAPP fees for member systems for the 2023-2024 Oconee RESA GaTAPP Program. Oconee RESA is not allowed to use the grant funding for nonmember systems/private schools.

Oconee RESA accepts GaTAPP payments from employing school systems and candidates who wish to pay fees. Repayment policies are at the sole discretion of each individual system. You may contact your Human Resource Director for additional information regarding GaTAPP tuition repayment policies.

Tuition for Candidates Employed by Oconee RESA Member Systems:
- Year 1: $3,500.00
- Year 2: $500.00
Tuition for Candidates Oconee RESA Non-Member Systems/Private Schools:
- Year 1: $5,000.00
- Year 2: $1,000.00
Tuition for One-Year Elementary Education Add-On Candidates
- Oconee RESA Member Systems: $1,000
- Oconee RESA Non-Member Systems: $1,500

Additional Fees - Not included in tuition
Required GACE Content Assessments.