---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-204. Paraprofessional and permitted personnel; classification of all certified or permitted personnel.
collection: code
id: 20-2-204
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-204 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-204
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-204.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-204/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch1-2a-(v17)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=9db936c6_0#page=364
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: EDUCATION / ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION / QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION / EMPLOYMENT / Certificated Professional Personnel
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-2-204. Paraprofessional and permitted personnel; classification of all certified or permitted personnel.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) “Paraprofessional” is defined as a person who may have less than professional-level certification, who relates in role and function to a professional and does a portion of the professional’s job or tasks under the supervision of the professional, and whose decision-making authority is limited and regulated by the professional. Such a paraprofessional shall possess the minimum of a high school diploma or a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma. If assigned to positions governed by federal regulations, the paraprofessional must meet specified federal hiring requirements.

(2) “Permitted personnel” is defined as persons who may not qualify for professional certificates, including retired teachers, but who function in the educational programs in the same manner as certificated personnel. Such personnel qualify for their positions on the basis of experience rather than formal education.

(b) The Professional Standards Commission shall provide for the classification of all certified and permitted personnel employed in the public schools of this state, and no such personnel shall be employed in the public schools of this state unless they meet such minimum criteria as developed by the commission; provided, however, that such classifications shall be based only upon academic, technical, and professional training and experience of such personnel. The commission is authorized to provide for revoking or denying a certificate or permit for good cause after an investigation is conducted and notice and hearing is provided the certificate or permit holder.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-2-204, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 1657, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1169, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1546, § 4; Ga. L. 2001, p. 4, § 20; Ga. L. 2003, p. 398, § 3; Ga. L. 2022, p. 168, § 2(3)/SB 397.

The 2022 amendment, effective July 1, 2022, substituted “state approved high school equivalency (HSE)” for “general educational development (GED)” in the second sentece of paragraph (a)(1).