The GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators) is the official licensing exam required for anyone seeking teacher certification in Georgia. Whether you're entering the classroom for the first time or adding a new endorsement to your license, this guide covers everything you need to know about the GACE exam — from test series and structure to scoring levels and proven preparation strategies.
The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) is a suite of standardized tests developed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) in partnership with ETS (Educational Testing Service). These assessments measure whether prospective and current educators have the content knowledge and pedagogical skills required to teach effectively in Georgia's public schools.
The GACE program replaced the Praxis II as the primary certification assessment in Georgia. It is specifically aligned to Georgia's educator preparation standards and covers a wide range of subject areas and grade levels. Unlike more general national exams, the GACE is tailored to the specific requirements of the Georgia educator workforce.
Anyone pursuing an initial Georgia teaching certificate through a traditional or alternative preparation program must pass the appropriate GACE content assessment. This includes:
Georgia also requires the GACE Program Admission Assessment (formerly the GACE Basic Skills) for candidates admitted to state-approved educator preparation programs, though many candidates can fulfill this requirement through qualifying SAT, ACT, or GRE scores. Similar educator certification frameworks exist in other fields — for instance, professionals in HR pursue the SPHR certification, and those in behavioral health often hold the BCBA certification — reflecting how each profession maintains its own standards-based credentialing pathway.
The GACE program includes more than 80 different assessments organized into several major categories:
Candidates select the specific assessment(s) aligned to the certification field and grade level they are pursuing. Each assessment is delivered via computer at approved testing centers statewide.
The GACE uses a performance level system rather than a simple pass/fail label. Scores are classified into four levels: Level 1 (Does Not Meet), Level 2 — Induction (Meets), Level 3 — Professional (Exceeds), and Level 4 — Distinguished (Highly Exceeds). You must reach at least Level 2 (a scaled score of 250 or higher) to satisfy Georgia's initial certification requirement. Aiming for Level 3 or above not only ensures you pass but also demonstrates strong subject-area mastery to potential employers reviewing your score report.
GACE scores are reported on a scale of 100 to 300. Rather than simply reporting a numeric score, ETS categorizes performance into four distinct levels to give candidates and institutions a clearer picture of proficiency:
Score reports are sent directly to the GaPSC and are also accessible through your ETS account. If you are pursuing certification in a multi-test subject area, you must pass both Test I and Test II separately; your scores are not averaged across tests.
Effective GACE preparation combines content review with deliberate practice under realistic test conditions. Here is a proven preparation framework:
Consistent, structured practice is the most reliable path to a passing score. Candidates who attempt the exam with minimal preparation tend to need costly and time-consuming retakes, so investing in thorough review before test day pays off significantly.