Substitution List

1. Courses in Selection AND Reference are needed to substitute for EDIT 6340.
2. EPSY 6800 or other graduate-level courses in Cognition and/or Educational Psychology may be substituted for EDIT 6400.
3. Other graduate-level Research Methods classes may be substituted for EDIT 6900.
4. (a)Most Children's Literature courses may substitute for ELAN 6310 provided that the course is graduate level and taken within the past 5 years. The list of acceptable substitutes includes ELAN 7312, 7318, 7016, 7310, and 7410.

   (b) Sometimes students feel that they already have a thorough knowledge of Children' Literature. Specifically, we expect students to have three competencies in this area:

   1. breadth of knowledge over the range of children's literature (age levels, authors, titles);
   2. currency (knowledgeable about recent developments in the field); and
   3. critical perspective (knows how to judge quality in children's literature from a variety of perspectives).

   
   Students who feel they meet these criteria may submit a portfolio demonstrating evidence of these competencies. Evidence may include (but is not limited to) lesson plans or units, reading logs and journals, work from undergraduate children's literature classes, and formal reviews of books. The portfolio will be reviewed and a decision made by the School Library Management Team as to whether the student may omit Children's Literature from his/her Program of Study.

5. Other curriculum courses may substitute for EDUL 7010. Acceptable substitutes include EDUL 8020 and 9040. Beginning in spring of 2003, EDIT 7500 will meet the curriculum requirement for certification candidates. In addition, a student who successfully completed EDIT 6320 AND EDIT 6360 (beginning in Fall of 2002) has satisfied this requirement (due to Curriculum Mapping and Collaborative Unit experiences).

6. There are many avenues for satisfying the Exceptional Child requirement, including Continuing Education credit, Staff Development, and RESA courses. These courses need not be graduate level.

7. Students who have worked as professional (paid) media specialists for one year or more may waive the Internship requirement. Students interested in doing so should obtain a letter certifying this employment signed by their school principal. If enrolled in a degree program, a substitute elective course must be taken.

1. Successfully complete all the coursework needed according to the list above.  For most people, this means you must wait until Graduation to be eligible for certification (although there are exceptions).
2. Take the PRAXIS II in Library Media and achieve a passing score.   (If not previously certified, you will need the PRAXIS I as well.)  Find out all about the PRAXIS at ETS.
3. Download the application forms from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.  If you are already employed by a school system, it's best that you work through the certification official employed by your system (although not necessary).
4. Send the completed forms to Kate Character, 122 Aderhold Hall, Athens, GA, 30602.  It helps to include a copy of your PRAXIS scores along with your application.  It can take several weeks for your papers to route their way through the College. Once we have finished with them, they are sent straight to the PSC.
5. If there seems to be a hold-up somewhere, call me at 706-542-4030.
6. More complete and detailed instructions and rules for becoming certified as an educator in Georgia can be found at the PSC site. 
   

School Library | Fitzgerald home | IT Home

Originally posted 10-8-01 by M. Fitzgerald. Updated 5-24-05. Expires 5-31-05.

All rights reserved
http://it.coe.uga.edu/~mfitzger/certification-checklist.html