Alternative Certification Information

For individuals who already hold bachelor’s degrees or above:

We get many requests for information about teacher certification from people who already hold bachelors degrees and above.  It would be very helpful if you would read through the information before requesting an appointment to meet with someone. (Note: Be sure to include your official transcripts with your application and/or put a request in for them when applying.)

College of Coastal Georgia

The Alternative Certification program at NGCSU is working in collaboration with CCGA to offer the certification program to students in the Brunswick area.  If you would like more information about the CCGA/NGCSU Post Baccalaureate Certification program, please contact Barbara Dixon at 706-864-1600.

Areas of Certification:
NGCSU currently provides initial certification through the Post-Baccalaureate Program in all middle grades and secondary education areas excluding special education and early childhood education.  Examples of certifying areas are as follows:
 

Length of Program:
 

The Alternative Certification Program for students, who hold a bachelors degree or above, is a one year commitment. Students are required to be in face to face class typically taught three sessions every 8 weeks. In addition, students also participate in online classes that run concurrently with the face to face classes. All students will participate in a 3 week practicum and a 15 week internship during the program. Post-Baccalaureate students will receive Professional Learning Unit credit for classes taken except those taken for additional content.
 

Additional Content:
 

Please check the Professional Standards Commission website to find a teaching field to match your major (http://www.gapsc.com/Application/majorsandfields.pdf). Please check the major listed on your diploma to the major listed in the document. If you have a match, no transcript evaluation is needed. (Note: NGCSU can only certify in middle grades and secondary education areas excluding all special education and early childhood education areas.)
 

Cost of the Program:
 

The cost of the program is $7,000 which includes all books and technology fees as well as program fees. This cost does not include additional content classes if needed. There is no financial aid available for this Post-Baccalaureate program.
 

Admission to Program: 

• A passing score on the GACE Basic Skills Test. This test may be exempted with a score of 1,000 or higher on the SAT, a score of 43 or higher on the ACT (mathematics and language total), a score of 1030 or higher on the GRE, or a masters degree or above from a PSC-accepted accredited institution (http://www.chea.org/search/search.asp).
• GACE Content exam(s) taken and passed in the area in which initial certification is being sought.
• GPA of 2.5 or higher

(Note: The basic skills GACE (also referred to as GACE Basic Skills exam) must be passed
or exempted prior to applying to the program.)
 

Start Dates:
 

The program runs in cohort form. New cohorts begin in February, July and November.
 

Contact:
 

If you have questions, please;contact Barbara A. Dixon, Coordinator Post-Baccalaureate Studies, or Deborah Hartman, Post-Baccalaureate/MAT Instructor:
 

For appointments and information contact:
 

Because our program is school-based and also taught in the evening, it is not always easy to reach faculty by phone or by dropping in.  Some of the contacts above have school supervision appointments in the morning, and at least one night class.

You can also visit the Post-Baccalaureate blog: http://barbaradixonblog.blogspot.com/.