ATEEG ​Certification Program

Our Partners:

We are building a professional community in the field of environmental education and invite you to join us!

Advanced Training for Environmental Education in Georgia (ATEEG) is a nationally accredited, professional certification program for formal and non-formal educators, education administration, EE curriculum developers, interpreters, sustainability educators, environmental and/or conservation professionals, state and county agencies, extension office staff, EE non-profits, parks and recreation/outdoor education organizations, youth program leaders, citizen science programs, or other professionals working or volunteering in the environmental education field.  

Earning EE Certification can advance your career, promote environmental literacy, improve the quality of environmental education in your organization or local community, and support professionalism in the field of environmental education.  Georgia's EE certification is founded on the Professional Development of Environmental Educators:  Guidelines for Excellence established by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE).  The program is offered through the Environmental Education Alliance (EEA) in partnership with the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia. 

ATEEG: Why Get Certified?

ATEEG History

EE Certification Requirements:

The ATEEG program is comprised of three parts that provide participants instructional content, professional development, and independent work. Participants have three years to complete the certification requirements to graduate.   Your initial EE certification is valid for five (5) years.  

1.  Core Courses 
Core courses are offered yearly and usually more than once in a given year, based on demand.  Candidates must enroll, participate in, and successfully complete each course to earn credit.  If your schedule allows, ATEEG encourages, though not required, that candidates try to complete all three courses in the same year.  To provide flexibility, candidates can start with any of the core courses offered.  

For each of the three (3) core courses, participants complete online, asynchronous work FIRST, then attend a  1 - 1.5 day in-person workshop with instructors held at various locations across the state.  The core courses are:

• Introduction to Environmental Literacy:  Formerly referred to as CC1, this core course focuses on the foundations of environmental literacy all certified environmental educators need to know.  Environmental literacy concepts are based on EE strands, action civics, and professional principles.
• Fostering Learning:  This core course, formerly referred to as CC2, is designed to increase your understanding of how to implement environmental education programs that foster learning no matter where you teach or lead/work with audiences. 
• Assessment and Evaluation:  A & E is the third course in our ATEEG series.  Formerly referred to as CC3, we aim to increase participant's skills and knowledge associated with the program evaluation process that includes identifying outcomes, data collection methods, and data analysis.​​  

The 2025 schedule for the course offerings and other ATEEG events are listed in the blue column (on right) of this page.   Registrations and more details about these courses/events are linked to each of the course/event titles.   Just click on the purple titles to learn more.  

2.  Specialization Hours 
Specialization hours are earned when attending professional development opportunities (workshops, trainings, conferences, etc...) offered in the state that advances the candidate's EE content knowledge and skills.  You may begin accruing the required 30 hours once you are registered and participating in your first core course.  More details about the specialization hours requirement are covered in an ATEEG Orientation meeting all new ATEEG candidates attend with the Program Administrator once enrolled in their first core course.  

3.  Independent Study
The Independent Study is the culminating project that allows EE Certification candidates to apply and demonstrate their EE knowledge and skills in an area of interest.  The candidate starts the Independent Study process after having completed all three (3) core courses.   There will be a Zoom mini-workshop in June 2025 to talk specifically about this EE Certification requirement.   However, the Independent Study is always touched on in each of core courses to help participants understand how the course topics help set candidates up for success with the Independent Study.  In addition, more details about the Independent Study requirement are covered in an ATEEG Orientation meeting all new ATEEG candidates attend with the Program Administrator once enrolled in their first core course. 

More Details & Costs

Course & Event Offerings in 2025​

ATEEG's hybrid core courses consist of online, asynchronous module work AND in-person workshop time.   Click on the active link (in red) under each course title to learn more and access its registration form.   Whether you are new to the program or completing your course requirements,  note that candidates can take the ATEEG core courses in any order.   If interested, you can pay for all three (3) courses at a package price that protects you against course fee increases in the future.   Scroll down to the bottom of this pane for more information.    

Fostering Learning in EE Core Course:   ATEEG Jan 2024 FL in EE
Online module work opens at the beginning of January 2025 with the in-person workshop meeting Friday afternoon, January 24, at Phinizy Center for Water Sciences in Augusta, GA, then full-day Saturday, January 25, at GADNR McDuffie Environmental Education Center in Dearing, GA.  

EEA Annual Conference:
EEA 2025 Annual Conference details
ATEEG will be running a session at the 2025 EEA Conference in Jekyll Island, GA, that includes multiple ATEEG candidate and alumni presentations, plus a round-table discussion event regarding the certification program and future goal-setting/networking development for professional environmental educators.   Conference dates are February 28 - March 3, 2025.   

Introduction to Environmental Literacy Core Course: 
Online module work opens at the beginning of March 2025 with the in-person workshop meeting all-day Saturday, March 29, at Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, GA.  

​Assessment and Evaluation in EE Core Course:  
Online module work opens late March 2025 with the in-person workshop meeting all-day Thursday, April 17, at Flinchum's Phoenix in Whitehall Forest, UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources in Athens, GA.  

Focusing on the Independent Study:
Join us online to discuss the elements needed to execute the Independent Study.  Participants and ATEEG instructors will meet via Zoom in June 2025 for this interactive mini-workshop.  More details and the specific date TBA.  
​
Introduction to Environmental Literacy AND Fostering Learning in EE Combo Course:  
Complete two (2) of the three (3) core courses together in this unique combo course offering.  Online module work opens the beginning of August 2025 with the in-person workshop running for two (2) full days, Friday, September 19, and Saturday, September 20, at the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta, GA.   If you only need one (1) of the courses to compete your core course requirements, please reach out to the ATEEG Program Administrator to discuss options,  [email protected].

October/November Course: TBD
Depending on the need and interest of current and/or new candidates in the program, ATEEG is reserving space to host a late fall training in 2025.   Online module work will open late October with the in-person workshop meeting all-day Saturday, November 15 in the Conyers/Fayetteville, GA area.   Details TBA.  

 If interested in starting ATEEG and want to register for all three (3) Core Courses as a package now?  Click ATEEG Core Course Package for more information.

ATEEG Recertification
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