Opening a language school or certificate courses in Georgia generally requires no special licence or authorization in the education sector. The Law on General Education demands authorization only for general educational activity, and the law defines that activity precisely: it fully covers, in accordance with the national curriculum, at least one level of general education. This page draws the distinction — when a language course remains outside authorization and when it becomes general educational activity.
The criterion of general educational activity — Article 2
Under Article 2, general educational activity is activity that, in accordance with the national curriculum, fully covers at least one level of general education. Language teaching as such does not meet this criterion: separate courses and certificates do not fully cover a level of general education. Such activity does not require authorization.
The definitional article also fixes the scale of general education: in Georgia it spans at least 11 and at most 12 years, the outcomes of the basic level corresponding to the second level of the national qualifications framework and those of the secondary level to the fourth — which is why a language programme that genuinely delivers a level reaches far beyond ordinary language instruction.
When authorization is nevertheless required — Article 32
Authorization becomes necessary when the institution implements a general educational programme — including one in a foreign language. Sub-paragraph “d” of paragraph 4 of Article 32 includes among the independent authorization programmes a general educational programme implemented in a foreign language: if a language centre implements a study programme that, in accordance with the national curriculum, fully covers a level of general education, it is a general educational institution and needs authorization.
As a result of authorization the legal person obtains the status of a general educational institution and the right to issue a state-recognised document confirming general education; the term is 9 years; the standards are determined by the authorization statute; and the institution implements only the programme indicated in the application or a new programme the right to which is acquired during the authorization period.
State-language preparation — a special case
An interesting relief is contained in paragraph 6 of Article 32: a general educational institution may, without creating a separate legal person, implement, among others, a state-language preparation programme. This means that the direction of teaching Georgian as the state language, within an authorized school, needs no additional status. The same paragraph also admits basic and secondary vocational educational programmes and vocational training and retraining programmes — all these directions remain within one legal person of the authorized school.
Independent Authorization Programmes and the Protection of the Pupil
The law lists the independent authorization programmes precisely: general educational programmes of the primary, basic and secondary levels, a general educational programme implemented in a foreign language, and a general educational programme implemented in different municipalities. Each of them is a separate subject of authorization — a change or extension of a programme therefore leaves the bounds of the application and requires a newly acquired power.
An important rule of protection concerns the cancellation of authorization: in that case the pupil is credited the educational programme completed by the corresponding moment — the loss of the institution’s status does not annul the education the pupil has already received. A school founded in the form of a private-law legal person may also, without creating a separate legal person, acquire the right to implement a preschool education and upbringing programme.
The practical significance of classification
The distinction is tested in practice by three questions: does the institution implement the subjects and outcomes defined by the national curriculum; does the teaching fully cover a level, by grades; and does it issue a state-recognised document of general education. If all three answers are negative, it is an ordinary commercial course; if at least one is positive, a precise legal analysis is needed.
The outcome of such an analysis can cut both ways: some institutions try to avoid authorization while in fact covering a level — that is a risk; others, conversely, seek authorization unnecessarily for an ordinary language course — that is an unnecessary expense. Correct classification protects against both errors and rests only on the exact criteria of the law.
Finally, the document is another touchstone: a language centre operating without authorization cannot issue a state-recognised document of general education — its certificate is of a private character. In relations with pupils and parents this difference must be published and precise from the outset, since incorrect expectations may be assessed as an infringement of consumer rights.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently asked about opening language centres.
Does a language course need a licence?
No, if it does not carry out general educational activity — without a level fully implemented under the national curriculum, authorization is not required.
When does a language centre become a school?
When it implements a general educational programme — including in a foreign language; such a programme is an independent authorization unit and requires authorization.
What does authorization give?
The status of a general educational institution and the right to issue a state-recognised document, for 9 years.
And Georgian as the state language?
Implementing a state-language preparation programme requires no additional legal person for an authorized institution.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team will determine the exact legal classification of your planned activity — a language course or a general educational programme — assess the need for authorization and provide a plan of next steps. Contact us — a classification error is the most expensive mistake in this field.