Does Georgia require autism training for school staff? What Georgia law asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
In the Georgia State Board of Education and Professional Standards Commission rules we reviewed, we found no requirement that school staff complete autism training. Georgia's State Board of Education rule on restraint requires public schools and educational programs that use physical restraint to ensure their staff and faculty are trained in it, within a program that covers positive behavioral intervention strategies, prevention and de-escalation. Georgia generally requires a course on children with special educational needs for teaching and leadership certificates, with exemptions and provisions for later completion, and offers an optional Autism Endorsement.
What we found
On October 29, 2026, we read the Georgia State Board of Education's seclusion and restraint rule and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) rules on special Georgia requirements, certificate renewal, the paraprofessional license and the Autism Endorsement. In these five rules, we found no general requirement for teachers, paraprofessionals or other school staff to complete autism training. The renewal rule and the paraprofessional license rule name no autism or behavior topic. We could not read the official text of the Georgia Code (Title 20, Education) online, so this page does not cover Georgia statutes. The nearest duties we found are below.
Related training rules for Georgia school staff
### Restraint training in schools that use restraint (Rule 160-5-1-.35) Georgia bans seclusion: "The use of seclusion is prohibited in Georgia public schools and educational programs." Under paragraph (2)(e), physical restraint is prohibited in Georgia public schools and educational programs except when a student is an immediate danger to himself or others and is not responsive to less intensive behavioral interventions. The same paragraph also prohibits restraint as a form of discipline or punishment, when the student cannot be safely restrained, and when it would be contraindicated by the student's psychiatric, medical or physical conditions as described in the student's educational records. For schools and programs that use it, the rule says:
"Schools and programs that use physical restraints in accordance with paragraph (2)(e) of this rule, must ensure that staff and faculty are trained in the use of physical restraint."
These schools and programs must also have written policies on restraint that include staff and faculty training on physical restraint and on the school's or program's policies and procedures. The training must be part of a program that addresses a full continuum of positive behavioral intervention strategies, along with prevention and de-escalation techniques. It also says: "Schools and programs must maintain written or electronic documentation on training provided and the list of participants in each training."
This duty applies to Georgia public schools and educational programs that use physical restraint under this rule. The rule requires that "staff and faculty" be trained but does not name particular job titles. Our course does not teach restraint, de-escalation or crisis intervention.
Source: Georgia State Board of Education Rule 160-5-1-.35, Seclusion and Restraint for All Students.
### A special education course for new certificates (GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24) Under the Special Georgia Requirements, GaPSC generally requires a GaPSC-accepted course in the identification and education of children who have special educational needs before it issues a certificate in teaching fields, leadership fields, and the service fields of School Librarian and School Counseling. Some certificates, such as those issued through interstate reciprocity, may be issued first, with the course due before the certificate is renewed or converted. The rule says the course may be satisfied by "Earning three (3) semester hours of college credit with a grade of "B" or better," or by "Earning five (5) Georgia professional learning units satisfied through a Georgia public school system or RESA," among other routes, including an out-of-state experience exemption. This is a certification requirement, not a yearly training duty, and it is about special educational needs generally, not autism alone.
Source: GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24, Special Georgia Requirements.
### Renewing a certificate or a paraprofessional license (GaPSC Rules 505-2-.36 and 505-2-.18) The renewable certificates and licenses listed in Rule 505-2-.36, including the Paraprofessional license, are valid for five years, except for the Life certificate. For certificate and license holders employed by a Georgia school system (a local unit of administration, or LUA) in a position requiring certification when they apply for renewal, the rule generally requires the following, with some exceptions:
"Engaging in professional learning on a continuing basis by fully participating in the LUA's professional learning community as documented by the individual's supervisor and described in GaPSC Guidelines accompanying this rule."
The renewal rule does not name autism, disability or behavior as a required topic. The paraprofessional license rule says "all Georgia Paraprofessionals must hold a valid state license issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)." The same rule lets holders of a valid renewable professional certificate in any teaching, service or leadership field perform assigned paraprofessional duties in grades P-12 without a Paraprofessional license. To qualify for the license, a paraprofessional needs one of the following: an associate's degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution; two years of college coursework (60 semester hours) above the remedial level, with grades of C or better, at such an institution; or a passing score on the GACE Paraprofessional Assessment with a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Applicants for the license must also meet the standards of conduct, and the employing school system must request the license. The rule sets no autism or behavior training.
Sources: GaPSC Rule 505-2-.36, Renewal Requirements; GaPSC Rule 505-2-.18, Paraprofessional License.
### The optional Autism Endorsement (GaPSC Rule 505-2-.185) Eligibility for Georgia's optional Autism Endorsement requires a level four or higher renewable Professional or Five-Year Induction certificate in a teaching or service field, plus the other requirements in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.14. The rule says:
"An individual with the optional Autism Endorsement has strengthened and enhanced competency levels for working with students with autism. This endorsement does not replace the certification requirement of holding the appropriate special education base-field certificate for working with students with autism."
Source: GaPSC Rule 505-2-.185, Autism Endorsement.
Where outside training fits
The restraint rule requires covered schools and programs to ensure staff and faculty are trained and sets what the training program must address; it does not name a training provider. Our course does not teach restraint and is not offered for that purpose. For educators employed by a Georgia school system in positions requiring certification, renewal generally includes taking part in the system's professional learning community, with some exceptions. We do not claim that our course meets the special education course requirement, counts toward certificate or license renewal, counts toward the Autism Endorsement, or earns Georgia professional learning units. Before buying outside training for a requirement, ask your district or GaPSC how it evaluates outside courses.
What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers
The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. We do not claim Georgia state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."
Two ways to start
- For one person: try the first two sessions free for 7 days; account creation is required, with no payment information requested. The full course costs $199, paid once, with no subscription or recurring charge. Activate your license code within 90 days of purchase; the published completion window is 10 weeks after activation. You may request a later start date, no later than three months after purchase. Start the free sessions
- For your district's staff: tell us how many people need training and when, and we will send a quote; each participant who completes the course and passes its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80% earns an individual certificate of completion. Ask for a school quote
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.