Charter Systems and Schools: Understanding the Clearance Certificate

 Verifies that an educator employed in Georgia has successfully completed fingerprint and criminal background check requirements  Makes sure the educator does not have convictions of any felony; any crime involving moral turpitude; any other criminal offense involving the manufacture, distribution, trafficking, sale or possession of a controlled substance or marijuana; or any sexual offense  Verifies the educator does not have a certificate or license that is currently revoked or suspended in Georgia or any other state

 There are no academic requirements necessary to qualify for this certificate and it does not authorize the holder to be considered in- field for any position.  All educators employed by charter schools, charter systems, and strategic waiver systems must hold a Clearance certificate even if not required to hold any other certification.  All holders of this certificate are subject to the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators (See GaPSC Rule THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR EDUCATORS).

To qualify for the Clearance certificate, the educator must:  Be employed by a Georgia Local Unit of Administration (LUA)  Have satisfactorily completed fingerprint and criminal background check requirements  Not hold an educator certificate that is currently revoked or suspended in Georgia or any other state  Have the Clearance certificate requested by the LUA

1.Educator must register for a MyPSC Account on gapsc.com 2.Educator must complete the GaPSC CLAIMS application to be kept on file in the HR office (This application may be printed from gapsc.org by Account Manager) 3.LUA must have a designated Account Manager who is registered for an account on gapsc.org 4.LUA must have completed fingerprinting and the criminal background check 5.If fingerprinting or the background check returns any reportable problems, a Clearance certificate will not be issued. Documentation must be sent to the GaPSC Ethics Division for investigation. 6.If educator’s GCIC and fingerprints are clear, the Account Manager may apply for the Clearance certificate by logging in to gapsc.org and clicking on the CLAIMS button

The Clearance certificate is valid for five years. It may be renewed by the LUA upon completion of a Georgia (GCIC) criminal background check and following procedures in CLAIMS to request the renewal. If an educator checks “yes” to any of the application Personal Affirmation Questions or has any reportable problems on the fingerprint or GCIC, you must follow procedures for submitting documentation to the GaPSC Ethics Division.

Although the LUA may not require certification, educators will continue to pursue certification or hold certification that will require support for transactions such as renewal.  Renewal for professionally certified educators is submitted through gapsc.org by selecting the Expresslane button.  After July 1, 2017, renewal will require educators to complete new Professional Learning requirements rather than standard renewal requirements. HR personnel may contact our office for assistance with certification by or by phone at Please do not give this contact information to educators. Educators contact our office by ing or

Kelli Young Asst. Division Director for Certification