A witness who qualifies as an expert because of knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify as an expert if scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the judge, jury, or other factfinder to understand the evidence or determine a contested fact issue.

But there is no rigid formula for determining whether a particular witness is qualified to testify as an expert. Generally there must be a fit between the subject matter at issue and the expert witness’s familiarity with the subject matter. And this determination is made by the judge, who acts as a gatekeeper to only allow reliable expert witness testimony to be heard and considered by the judge or jury.

In Georgia, the admissibility of expert witness testimony is governed by the Georgia Code and case law interpreting it. An individual may testify as an expert if they have specialized knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education that is pertinent to the case and can help the court understand the evidence or a disputed fact. The determination of whether a witness qualifies as an expert is not based on a strict formula but rather on the relevance and reliability of the witness's expertise in relation to the subject matter of the case. The judge serves as a gatekeeper, assessing whether the expert's testimony is sufficiently tied to the issue at hand and whether it is based on a reliable foundation. This gatekeeping role is crucial to ensure that only relevant and reliable expert testimony is presented to the jury or considered by the judge.