Contact Us • Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What if I am fluently bilingual in English and another language OTHER THAN SPANISH. Am I still eligible for TELL Support?
Question 2: Where and when can I take the Praxis exam?
Question 3: What is the TOEFL?
Question 4: Do I have to take the TOEFL?
Question 5: When should I take TOEFL?
Question 6: Should I choose the Institutional (TOEFL-ITP) or International TOEFL?
Question 7: How do I sign up for the TOEFL?
Question 7a: How do I prepare for the TOEFL?
Question 8: I am a provisionally certified teacher. How do I get permanent certification?
Question 9: What tests do I need to obtain a Georgia certificate?
Question 10: I have a teaching degree from another place. How do I find out if any of my credits will count toward a Georgia teaching certificate?
Question 11: How do I qualify for a Provisional teaching certificate in Georgia?
Question 12: How much is graduate school tuition at the University of Georgia?
Question 13: Is it easy to qualify for Tell?
Question 14: Do I have to attend UGA?
Question 15: How about languages other than Spanish?
Question 16: How good does my Spanish (or English) have to be?
Question 17: Can I go to university/college as a part-time student?
Question 18: What do you mean by "qualified for admission"?
Question 19: Is TELL a shortcut to getting me admitted to the university?
Question 20: Is this for graduate or undergraduate study?
Question 21: Does the school I teach at after the program have to be officially "high need"?
Question 22: What if I am already attending university?
Question 23: What if I am not yet a permanent resident or citizen?
Question 1: What if I am fluently bilingual in English and another language OTHER THAN SPANISH. Am I still eligible for TELL Support?Answer 1: If you are fluently bilingual in English and another language other than Spanish you MAY be eligible for TELL support if the languages you speak are high-need languages in the participating schools districts. At this time, however, Spanish/English bilingualism is the TELL priority.
Question 2: Where and when can I take the Praxis exam? Answer 2: The Praxis exam can be taken at a test center (UGA and other colleges and universities are likely locations) on six dates during the academic year. Registration is about one month prior to the test date and scores come back about six weeks after it. Realistically, Praxis II needs to be taken no later than the April test date for fall employment. Praxis I can be taken on the computer on other dates by appointment and the scores come back much more rapidly. Visit the PRAXIS site, www.ets.org/teachingandlearning/index.html, for a list of test centers. PRAXIS II is not available as a computerized test.
Question 3: What is the TOEFL? Answer 3:The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL) measures your ability to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings. Visit the official TOEFL web site. Be sure you type .org and not .com.
Question 4: Do I have to take the TOEFL?Answer 4: It depends on which institution you plan to attend. Visit the web site of your chosen college or university.
However, whether you “have to” or not, it is a good idea to take the TOEFL if you think you might do well and English is not your primary language. Why?
1. TOEFL is required for admission into many colleges and universities if English is not your primary language, even if you were born in the United States of America. Check “international admissions” on the website of the college of your choice.
2. Some universities that do not require the TOEFL will let you substitute a high TOEFL score for the verbal portion of the SAT or ACT. For most people, the TOEFL is much easier than the SAT or ACT. Sometimes even UGA will allow this substitution.
3. Some government licensing and certification agencies, and many scholarship programs require TOEFL. Even if they do not require it, a good TOEFL score is a plus for your application.
4. Many employers will ask for a TOEFL score. Question 5: When should I take TOEFL?Answer 5: Don’t wait until the last minute! Sometimes it is hard to get a reservation. Take the TOEFL several weeks or months before your application is due. The upcoming iBT (Internet Based Test)TOEFL test dates at UGA are January 6, 2006, February 3, 2006, March 3, 2006, and March 17, 2006. Go to the University Testing Center site and click on TOEFL for dates and information.
Question 6: Should I choose the Institutional (TOEFL-ITP) or International TOEFL?Answer 6: Most people should take the new iBT (Internet Based
Most of the other old forms of the TOEFL are no longer available. The “paper-based international” TOEFL is no longer given in the U.S.A. The old CBT (Computer Based TOEFL) is being phased out.
The I-TOEFL (Institutional TOEFL) is still given at some universities. I-TOEFL usually does not include an essay. I-TOEFL scores are usually accepted only at the institution where you take the test. Some colleges in Georgia have accepted I-TOEFL scores from UGA; however, there is no guarantee that this practice will continue. Beginning in fall 2005, UGA will offer I-TOEFL only if there are more than 10 people registered at the same time
Question 7: How do I sign up for the TOEFL?Answer 7:Register early! Testing dates fill up fast. For the iBT you will need to go to the iBT site and follow the registration instructions listed there.
If you want to take the TOEFL at UGA, also read the instructions located on UGA’s TOEFL web site. This information changes often. Note these changes: Right now, only the iBT is available; UGA no longer offers the CBT. Also, the test is currently available ONLY on Fridays, not Saturdays. You can phone the UGA testing staff at 706.542.3183 if you still have questions after reading the page.
Question 7a: How do I prepare for the TOEFL?
Answer 7a: 1. Take an official practice test at the Educational Testing Service website. Just type in your email address to get started.
2. Read the test-taking rules. Click on the tabs to learn about registration, what to bring to the test, acceptable identification, etc.
3. Register
Question 8: I am a provisionally certified teacher. How do I get permanent certification?
Answer 8: Permanent certification in Georgia is referred to as Professional Clear Renewable certification. To qualify for a Professional Clear Renewable Georgia educator certificate, you must affiliate with a regionally accredited college or university that offers an approved educator preparation program for initial certification in your field, complete that program, and obtain the professional recommendation from the designated college certification official verifying program completion.
There are several types of preparation programs in Georgia colleges and universities leading to initial certification, including initial undergraduate degree programs, post-baccalaureate programs, and masters degree level programs. Please contact the college of university you plan to attend for options available to you as well as specific program requirements. If you already have academic credits that you think may count towards your teaching certificate, you will need to contact the Georgia Professional Standard Commission (PSC) for an evaluation of your transcripts. You may call the PSC Certification Section at you may (800) 869-7775 or contact them by mail at the following address: Certification Section
Two Peachtree Street
Suite 6000
Atlanta, GA 30303
Question 9: What tests do I need to obtain a Georgia certificate?
Answer 9: All applicants for Provisional certification (excluding Special Education fields) must satisfy the GACE I and GACE II assessments applicable to their field of certification. Individuals applying for Professional Clear Renewable certification may be required to pass the GACE II assessment(s) in their field. The Professional Standards Commission will determine this requirement after submission of the complete application package. You may view Georgia's GACE requirements at http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherTesting.asp.
Question 10: I have a teaching degree from another place. How do I find out if any of my credits will count toward a Georgia teaching certificate?
Answer 10: You will need to contact the Georgia Professional Standard Commission (PSC) for an evaluation of your transcripts. You may call the PSC Certification Section at you may (800) 869-7775 or contact them by mail at the following address:
Two Peachtree Street
Suite 6000
Atlanta, GA 30303
Question 11: How do I qualify for a Provisional teaching certificate in Georgia?Answer 11: Provisional certification is based upon having a Bachelor's Degree or above in a content field that was not designed for classroom teaching in the elementary and secondary schools. The degree must have been earned at a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The college major must be in the field of certification or the degree must include all course work that meets minimum content requirements identified by the PSC for provisional eligibility in the field. If you do not have the appropriate content, an evaluation can be prepared by the PSC outlining deficient credits for provisional eligibility. You will need to contact them at (800) 869-7775 or by mail at the following address:
Certification Section
Two Peachtree Street
Suite 6000
Atlanta, GA 30303
Question 12: How much is graduate school tuition at the University of Georgia?Answer 12: The University of Georgia tuition and fees for graduate students are listed in the following site: http://www.gradsch.uga.edu/Financial/Tuition_and_Fees.html.
Question 13: Is it easy to qualify for TELL?Answer 13: It was VERY easy to qualify if you met five conditions: English/Spanish bilingual, US permanent resident or citizen, able to teach 3 years in an officially "high need" school in Georgia after completion, able to complete a certification program within the life of the program (so you should have already completed at least two years of transferable university/college study), eligible for admission to a university or college in Georgia that has a teacher education program. More about each of these conditions is below.
Question 14: Do I have to attend UGA?Answer 14: No. See above.
Question 15: What about languages other than Spanish?Answer 15: Spanish is preferred. As you can see on the web site, TELL scholars do include speakers of other languages. However, it would be your responsibility to prove that there is a school officially designated as high need for that language and that this school wants to hire you when you complete the program. Start your research from the "Census Map" link on the TELL home page.
Question16: How good does my Spanish (or English) have to be?Answer 16: You need to be able to use both languages to teach academic content; manage a classroom; discuss academic issues with parents and administrators; write notes, memos and reports to colleagues and parents; and succeed in your university studies.
Question 17: Can I go to university/college as a part-time student? Answer 17: Yes, if you can complete all your certification classes within approximately three years.
Question 18: What do you mean by "qualified for admission"? Answer 18:Your previous coursework and GPA should be sufficient for admission. We can help you cram for TOEFL, GRE, MAT, GACE I if you still need to take those exams. You need to meet all other requirements for the program you choose.
Question 19: IS TELL a shortcut to getting me admitted to the university?Answer 19: No, you have to qualify and apply just as anyone else would. We can help you with the paperwork.
Question 20: Is this for graduate or undergraduate study? Answer 20: TELL is for teacher certification study, which can be done at either the graduate or undergraduate level depending on the individual.
Question 21: Does the school I teach at after the program have to be officially "high need"?Answer 21: Yes.
Question 22: What if I am already attending university?
Answer 22: We are not currently accepting applications.
Question 23: What if I am not yet a permanent resident or citizen? Answer 23: TELL scholars need to be a permanent resident or U.S. citizen to qualify. We are not currently accepting applications.
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