Louisiana Teacher Certification GPA Requirements

The Two GPA Thresholds

Louisiana operates two distinct GPA requirements for teacher certification, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes applicants make.

2.20 cumulative entry GPA: This is the standard minimum undergraduate GPA required to enter a teacher preparation program — traditional or alternative. Approved programs may conditionally admit post-baccalaureate candidates below it under Act 392. It applies to your overall cumulative GPA across all post-secondary institutions, not just your major.

2.50 completion GPA: This is the minimum GPA required at the point of program completion. Traditional programs use this as a graduation standard. If you complete your preparation program but finish with a cumulative GPA below 2.50, you can't receive standard certification through the normal pathway (you'd need a TEP Option 4).

These two thresholds create different barriers at different stages. The entry GPA determines whether you can start. The completion GPA determines whether you can finish.

Act 392: The Below-2.20 Pathway

Recognizing that rigid GPA requirements excluded strong teaching candidates, the Louisiana legislature passed Act 392 to create flexibility. Under this act, BESE-approved preparation programs can conditionally admit post-baccalaureate candidates who fall below the 2.20 entry threshold.

The catch: conditional admission comes with strict academic performance requirements.

• You must earn a minimum 3.00 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) across your first 12 credit hours of coursework in the alternative preparation program
• If you fall below 3.00 during those first 12 hours, you're removed from the program
• The 3.00 threshold applies only to program coursework, not your undergraduate cumulative GPA

This means Act 392 doesn't waive the GPA requirement — it replaces it with a higher academic performance standard during the program itself. A candidate with a 2.05 undergraduate GPA who earns a 3.20 across their first 12 credit hours has demonstrated current academic capability, even if their undergraduate transcript from years ago tells a different story.

The TAT GPA Interview

If you're pursuing a Temporary Authority to Teach rather than entering a preparation program, the GPA rules are slightly different. TAT candidates need a minimum 2.20 GPA — but if they fall below that threshold, they can qualify by passing a formal personal interview conducted by the employing school system's leadership team.

This interview is not a rubber stamp. The school district's leadership evaluates whether the candidate demonstrates the content knowledge and professional readiness to serve as teacher of record, despite the lower GPA. The interview is documented and filed with the TAT application.

When GPA Calculations Get Complicated

Multiple institutions: LDOE requests official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. If you took courses at a community college before transferring to a university, ask your preparation program how those grades will be included in the cumulative-GPA calculation.

Graduate degrees: A graduate GPA doesn't replace your undergraduate GPA for initial certification purposes. However, if you hold a content-related graduate degree, you may qualify for TEP Option 2, which has different entry requirements than standard alternative certification.

Foreign degrees: International transcripts must go through a NACES credential evaluation, which includes converting your academic record to the U.S. 4.0 GPA scale. The conversion methodology varies by evaluation agency — minor differences in how credits are weighted can push you above or below the threshold.

Strategies for Candidates Below 2.20

Check Act 392 eligibility with your target program. Not every BESE-approved program exercises the Act 392 flexibility. Ask the program admissions office directly whether they accept conditional admits and what their specific requirements are for the first 12 credit hours.

Consider additional undergraduate coursework. Taking courses at a regionally accredited community college or university can raise your cumulative GPA. Focus on courses in your certification content area — they'll improve your GPA while strengthening your subject knowledge.

Explore the TAT interview pathway. If you've already been offered a position by a district that can't find a certified teacher, the formal interview process may be faster than raising your GPA through additional coursework.

Don't pay for a preparation program before verifying eligibility. Some alternative certification providers charge non-refundable registration fees ($250-$299 at certain programs). Getting a transcript evaluation and GPA calculation before enrolling prevents losing money on a program you can't complete.

The Louisiana Teacher Certification Guide includes a pathway selection worksheet that maps your current GPA to your available certification routes — including the Act 392 conditional admission criteria and the exact coursework strategies for raising a borderline GPA.

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