Pathways to Become a Teacher
We have created four main pathways to become a teacher with us. We hire high quality teachers who have years of experience, have changed careers, successfully completed an alternative teacher preparation program, or graduated from an accredited College of Education. If you are committed to enhancing the lives of children and contributing to their academic success, then you are the ideal teacher for Fulton!
To apply for a teaching position you MUST meet the following initial eligibility requirements:
- Hold a bachelor's degree
- Have a passing score on a GACE content assessment for area/subjects taught or hold a degree in a relevant 6 -12 subject area
- Pass the Georgia Professional Standards Commission Educator Ethics Program Exam (GACE Test Code 360); OR
- Garner a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) Certification
In addition, as Georgia's largest Charter System, Fulton County Schools has developed several flexible pathways to teaching in Fulton which increases the ways you can tap into your deep prior experience to change the lives of our students. Read more below about Fulton's four main pathways to an exciting and fulfilling teaching career.
Click here to join our team of highly effective teachers!
Three Career Pathways
Recent College of Education Graduates or Veteran Teachers with Certification
Recent graduates who have completed a Teacher Preparation Program are on a traditional pathway to teacher certification. These candidates hold or are eligible to hold a clear renewable certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
Career Changers without Certification
Career changers who bring their talents from other fields to the classroom are on an alternative pathway to teacher certification.
Non-certified candidates who meet the above eligibility requirements MUST complete the following within 3 years of being hired.
Enroll in a university based program, approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), leading to a clear/renewable certificationin the content area for which the employee has been hired.
Prospective S.T.E.M., Career Tech, or Other Specialized Content Teachers without Certification
Non-certified candidates with degrees in Science, Technology, Mathematics, Engineering, (S.T.E.M), other advanced math and science fields, or backgrounds in specialized career fields (including World Languages and Fine Arts) are strongly encouraged to join our team of teachers. If you meet the first 3 eligibility requirements but DO NOT desire certification you can teach in Fulton.
The following will be required to maintain employment as a non-certified hire:
Complete Fulton's Empowering Teachers Program, our year-long special induction program, which includes:
- Professional Development Coursework and Seminars
- Clinical Supervision and Job-Embed
- A Culminating Assessment
Progressively positive performance observations and evaluations
Meet or exceed annual professional development targets in each year of ongoing employment
NOTE: One may "opt out" of the (Non Certification) pathway into the alternative certification pathway at any point in their career progression.