Specialist in Education in Educational Leadership

The 30-hour Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership degree is an accelerated, performance-based program for educators. You must hold a Tier I Standard Educational Leadership certificate but do not have a specialist or doctoral degree and are pursuing clear, renewable leadership certification in Georgia (Tier II).

The program offers extensive opportunities for you to apply your knowledge and skills in educational leadership settings. Following the successful completion of the program and state assessments, you will be eligible for the Tier II Educational Leadership certification in Georgia. You can complete the Educational Leadership degree in as few as three semesters.

Educational Leadership Tier II Certification Only

The 18-hour Tier II Certification Only program is an accelerated, performance-based program for educators, and you must hold a specialist or  doctoral degree. Following the successful completion of the program and state assessments, you will be eligible for the Tier II Educational Leadership certification in Georgia. The “Certification Only” program can be completed in as few as two semesters.

GaPSC Requirements

You must complete assessments prior to enrollment and completion in programs that lead to certification (M.Ed., Tier I Certification Only, Ed.S., Tier II Certification Only). The Ethics Entrance Exam must be taken prior to enrollment in certification programs, and the Ethics Exit Exam and GACE or PASL (Tier I and Tier II, respectively) must be taken prior to completion. If you have taken the Ethics Exams in a M.Ed./Tier I program, you do not need to re-take for enrollment into the Ed.S./Tier II.

Graduate Admission Requirements

Graduate admissions criteria varies based on enrollment type. Please visit the Graduate Admissions Requirements site for more details.

Program Admission Requirements

The following are program-specific criteria beyond the general Graduate Admissions requirements: 

• Master’s degree or higher in education or a related field
• Resume - Must demonstrate a minimum of four (4) years of teaching or administrative experience
• Leadership Mentor Form - Mentor must hold GaPSC Tier II Leadership Certificate
• Superintendent & District Agreement Form - Completed by the superintendent or a proxy, indicating system-level support for entry and progression through the program
• GACE Leadership Ethics Assessment Completion Certificate
• Valid GaPSC-issued PRL Tier I or SRL Tier II Leadership Certificate
• Partnership Agreement - This agreement shall be established with the employing LUA, agency, or organization of each enrolled candidate to ensure candidates can meet Tier II level residency requirements. Candidates must serve in a leadership position at either the P-12 school or local education agency or a regional educational service agency that will enable the candidate to fully meet the program’s residency requirements. 

The Specialist in Education in Educational Leadership program leads to Professional Licensure.

Not all programs are available to residents in all states. Please check the institution's State Authorization and Professional Licensure website(s) to ensure you reside in an authorized state. The Professional License Disclosure link opens in a new tab. 's Professional License Disclosure

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Georgia Professional Standards Commission