Standard Three: Faculty and Staff (i.e., Personnel)  

Statutory Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 20-3-250.5(b)(2); 20-3-250.6(a)(1)(C) 

The faculty and staff must be qualified, based on previous education and experience, to fulfill the responsibilities of each of their institutional roles. Credentials reported must be earned from an institution with accreditation recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, licensure recognized by the State of Georgia, or equivalent based on supporting documentation, as determined acceptable by the GNPEC in its sole discretion. For those educated outside the United States, additional documentation of education must be provided, including evaluation by a certified credential evaluation service at the expense of the institution. If applicable, active state licensure or certification relevant to the specific field of instruction must be maintained. 

Faculty (Instructor) Qualifications 

1. A certificate-granting institution must employ faculty (instructors) who demonstrate competency in the field for which training is offered, as evidenced by at least one of the following:  

• A bachelor's degree with a major in the field of instruction from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education; or 

• At least two years of teaching experience and/or work experience in the field for which training is offered. 

2. A degree-granting institution must employ faculty (instructors) who demonstrate competency in the field for which training is offered, as evidenced by the following:  

• A degree in the field of instruction, at least one degree level higher than the program being taught, from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.  

  • A reasonable number of faculty must have earned a doctorate or terminal degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. 
  • In some instances, as approved by the Executive Director, experience and professional recognition may be an acceptable substitute for the degree requirement. 
  • At least two years of teaching experience and/or work experience in the field for which training is offered. 

3. A graduate degree-granting institution must employ faculty (instructors) who demonstrate competency in the field for which training is offered, as evidenced by the following: 

• A doctorate or terminal degree in the field of instruction from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. 

  • In some instances, as approved by the Executive Director, experience and professional recognition may be an acceptable substitute for the degree requirement. 

• At least two years of teaching experience and/or work experience in the field for which training is offered. 

4. The institutional organization chart must reflect adequate personnel necessary to support programming scope. 

5. The institution must provide programmed orientation to familiarize new hires with institutional policies and procedures along with job requirements. 

• Faculty and staff must be provided with an employee handbook with confirming attestation of receipt to be documented in employee file. 

Staff Qualifications 

6. A certificate-granting institution has designated a director who meets at least two of the following requirements: 

• A bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education; 

• At least one year of administrative or supervisory experience; and/or 

• At least two years of teaching experience and/or work experience in the specific field for which training is offered. 

7. A degree-granting institution must have a designated director who meets the following requirements: 

• A bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by United States Department of Education; 

  • In some instances, as approved by the Executive Director, experience and professional recognition may be an acceptable substitute for the degree requirement. 

• At least two years of administrative or supervisory experience; and 

• At least two years of teaching experience and/or work experience in the specific field for which training is offered. 

8. Institutions with more than one (1) distinct occupational area that leads to an occupational or academic degree must have a program head (e.g., lead faculty, department chair, dean, etc.) who possesses an educational background equal to or exceeding the maximum credential offered in that program area, the requisite qualifications for technical faculty teaching in a degree program, and an ability to administer the occupational components of the program.  

• For an institution offering only one (1) program or group of programs in one distinct occupational area, a single individual may fulfill both the director of education and the program head requirements as long as the individual possesses the requisite qualifications for each position. 

9. Institutions must employ administrators and supervisors who meet the following requirements: 

• An earned degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education appropriate for the programming of the institution and/or area of responsibility; and/or 

• Adequate professional experience and education necessary to satisfy responsibilities of the position.  

10. Institutions who employ agents to recruit on behalf of an institution ensure the agents do not engage in advertising, sales, collection, credit, or other practices of any type that are false, deceptive, misleading, or unfair. 

Personnel Records 

Information on all owners, trustees, board members, faculty, and staff persons must be made available upon GNPEC request. 

11. Faculty records must, at a minimum, include the following: 

• Proof of employment; 

• Record of education and experience (i.e., resume/CV); 

• Proof of highest level of education (i.e., transcript/diploma); and 

• Proof of completion of orientation and notification of updated institutional policies.