Applicants must be full time, practicing educators and be employed in a leadership position or leadership role (as defined by the school system). Additionally, applicants must also be employed in a partnering institution. Because leadership certification is no longer a self-select program in the state of Georgia, applicants must receive written permission from their employers in order to participate. Applicants must hold a master's degree or higher in any education field or in other Georgia Professional Standards Commission accepted non-education fields.

GSU collaborates closely with its partner districts to help assure that students are being properly prepared to successfully address the school and district needs.

The Performance-Based Specialist (Ed.S. Degree) and the Performance-Based Add-on Programs prepare candidates in the appropriate building or system-level leadership certification track.
Online Application
Application Fee of $50
Goals Statement (upload with application)
Resume (upload with application)
Two Letters of Recommendation (one from immediate supervisor, identify recommenders on your application)
Must be employed in leadership position in partnering school system and must hold Educational Leadership Tier I Add-On
Official Transcript: minimum 3.25 graduate GPA required for admission
In addition, if English is not the primary language, official TOEFL or IETLS scores must be submitted to Georgia State University. TOEFL scores should be submitted using school code 5251 and IETLS scores can be submitted by selecting Georgia State University Graduate Admissions. Applicants must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 79 or a minimum IETLS score of 6.5 for graduate admission. Applicants who completed a degree within the United States, will not be required to take the English proficiency exam. For additional questions regarding international credentials, please contact your college admission advisor directly.