Application Procedures

Applications for certification should be forwarded to Human Resources, Columbia County School System, 205 Johns Street, Grovetown, GA 30813. The HR Director is designated representative of the Superintendent of Schools to sign all certification papers, to verify employment and to record the date each package is forwarded to the certification office. IMPORTANT: If the application is sent directly to the Professional Standards Commission by the applicant without verification of employment by the school system, the applicant will be charged the $20 certification fee even if the applicant should exempt the fee based on employment status. In such cases, the system does not receive a copy of the certificate.

Application forms are available in each local school principal’s office or at the Human Resource office in Grovetown.

The Professional Standards Commission operates on a “complete package” application process. This means that the application for certification should contain each piece of information which will be required to determine eligibility for the certificate. Due to the huge quantity of paperwork that the Professional Standards Commission processes daily, transcripts or college recommendation forms which arrive at times different than the application form may never reach the appropriate certification evaluator. Thus, it is vital that all information is assembled and stapled together prior to sending to the Human Resource office.

Should a college refuse to send an official transcript directly to an individual, you may request that the transcript be mailed directly to Human Resources and forward the incomplete certification application to the office with directions to hold the package until the transcript is received.