GACE Testing Information--Frequently Asked Questions

http://www.gace.nesinc.com/   This is the official link to the GACE Testing Information from the Professional Standards Commission.

The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) is a two-layer examination process.

A. The GACE Basic Skills Assessment must be passed (or exempted) in order to be admitted to a teacher education program.
B. The GACE Content Assessment(s) must be passed in order for the GCSU certification officer to recommend the candidate for certification and for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to grant a certificate to teach in Georgia public schools. These assessments are usually taken toward the end of a program.

The certification officer in the John H. Lounsbury School of Education can recommend certification only for those candidates who have successfully completed programs at GCSU.

1. Can I exempt the GACE Basic Skills Assessment ?
You will be will able to exempt the GACE Basic Skills Assessment if you meet any of the following criteria:

    1. hold or have held clear renewable certification or
    2. meet one of the following test scores:

a. SAT--minimum required score = 1000 (with no minimum verbal score or math score required).  The composite score is obtained by adding the Verbal and the Math scores.  Candidates must take both the Verbal and the Math sections of the test.

b. ACT--minimum score = 43 (with no minimum English score or Math score required)  The composite score is obtained by adding the English and Math scores.  Candidates must take both the English and Math sections of the test.

c. GRE--minimum score = 1030 (with no minimum Verbal score or Quantitative score required)  The Composite score is obtained by adding the Verbal and Quantitative scores.  Candidates must take both the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the test.

(*source:  September 24, 2003 Memo from F.D. Toth, PSC)

d. CBEST, CLAST, FTCE **

CBEST – Passing Scores indicated on score report (Used in California and Oregon) http://www.ctc.ca.gov/profserv/examinfo/cbest.html

CLAST – Passing Scores indicated on score report (Used in Florida) http://www.firn.edu/doe/sas/clast/clstpscr.htm

FTCE – General Knowledge – Passing Scores indicated on score report (Used in Florida) http://www.cefe.usf.edu/TestDescGK.aspx

If you have questions regarding these changes or other testing issues, please contact Cathy Smiley at the Professional Standards Commission:  cathy.smiley@gapsc.com.

(**source:  June 10, 2004 Memo from F. D. Toth, PSC)

Note: You can use the Verbal portion of the SAT from one testing session and add it to the Math portion from another testing session in order to exempt .. (Source: phone call to PSC January 23, 2004)

If you meet any of the exemption criteria, please contact your advisor for verifying these scores and putting a form in your folder.

2.  Where can I get a Registration Bulletin for GACE?
Limited numbers are in Kilpatrick 220.  Others are in the testing center.  You can download copies from http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_toc.asp

3.  What are this academic year's test dates? Available at a http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testdates.asp)

4.  What is the Test Center closest to Milledgeville?
Macon  (Test Code 116)  Other test centers with their codes are on page 8 of the Registration Booklet or at http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testsites.asp

5.  What are the GACE Fees? Available at http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testfees.asp 

6.  What is the Georgia College & State University Code?
The Georgia College code is (416)

7.  In addition to passing or exempting the GACE Basic Skills Assessment, what other GACE tests do I need to take before GCSU can recommend me for certification or endorsement? 
GCSU Programs and tests needed for those programs
GCSU can recommend you for certification or endorsement only for degrees and programs that you have successfully completed at GCSU.

8. What tests should I take if I am interested in being certified in areas for which GCSU cannot recommend me?http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherTesting/passingscores.asp  Here is the link for the tests you need to pass by subject areas.  We can recommend degree or endorsement certification only for students who were enrolled in and successfully completed the programs offered at GCSU.  For questions about certification in other areas or programs, please contact your county school board office or the Professional Standards Commission.

9.  Is there alternative testing available for GACE?
Yes, alternative testing arrangements that are reasonable in the context of this certification test and supported by documentation may be provided for the following examinees who would not be able to take the test under standard conditions:

For more information on this topic, please see pages 20-23 in the GACE Registration booklet or go to http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_altarrangements.asp

10. What tests do I need to take for certification?
    1.  Here is the link to PSC's table of degrees and tests http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testselection.asp
    2.  Here is a link to the programs at GCSU and the tests associated with those programs.  We can recommend students for certification only those programs which students have successfully completed at GCSU. GACE Test Selection for GCSU Programs   

11.  Is there any test preparation material to help me study for these tests?
Yes, material may be downloaded free of charge from http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_prepare.asp

12.  Points to Remember from the PSC

  • Certification field content assessments passed in either the Praxis II or the former TCT testing program are still “good” – educators will not need to take them again. 
  • For several certification fields, applicants are currently required to pass two separate Praxis II tests. If an applicant has passed one part of such a pair by September 1, 2006, he or she will have until March 1, 2007 to pass the other test in the pair. If a test taker is unable to successfully pass the second test in the requirement by March 1, 2007, that educator will need to pass the appropriate GACE assessment. 
  • A person who has passed neither part of a two-test Praxis II requirement by September 1, 2006 will need to take the GACE assessment (with exceptions as described above).
  • Educators who are required to pass a basic skills test and who have not achieved a passing composite score on the Praxis I test as of September 1, 2006 will still need to complete the basic skills requirement. There are two circumstances for basic skills test takers:
    1. The test taker has passed no parts of Praxis I by September 1, 2006.
         In this case the test taker will need to pass all three parts of the GACE basic skills test.
    2. The test taker has passed one or two parts of Praxis I by September 1, 2006.
         In this case the test taker may submit a passing score for the remaining one or two parts of the
         Praxis I before March 1, 2007,
            or
         the test taker may submit passing scores for all three parts of the GACE basic skills test.
       
    The PSC will not accept a "mix" of passing subtests from Praxis I and passing subtests of GACE Basic Skills. Example: if a candidate has passed Praxis I Reading and Writing, the PSC will not accept a passing Mathematics portion of the GACE Basic Skills assessment to join with the two Praxis I parts.
  • In the GACE program there will be no broad field social studies test. Instead separate tests will be available for History, Economics, Geography, and Political Science. However the GACE program will include a middle grades social studies test to support Middle Grades Social Studies (4-8) certification.

  • Almost all Georgia educators are required to pass a rigorous test covering the subject matter content in their field(s) of certification. Click here to see the full list of tests required and the related certification fields. 
    (from http://www.gapsc.com/msgc_gacetoreplacepraxis.asp)
 
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