Photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy have been performed at 6 K on the 1540 nm $^4$I$\_$(13/2)/longrightarrow$^4$I$\_$(15/2)/ emission of Er$^$+3/ in in situ Er-doped GaN The PL and PLE spectra of in situ Er-doped GaN are compared with those of Er-implanted GaN in this study. The lineshapes of the broad PLE absorption bands and the broad PL bands in the spectra of the in situ Er-doped GaN are similar to those in Er-doped glass rather than in the Er-implanted GaN. The PL spectra of this in situ Er-doped GaN are independent of excitation wavelength and their features are significantly different from the site-selective PL spectra of the Er-implanted GaN. These PL and PLE studies reveal that a single type of Er$^$3+/ sites is present in the in situ Er-doped GaN and these Er sites are different from those observed in the Er-implanted GaN. In addition, the comparison of the PL single strength illustrates that the excitation of Er$^$3+/ sites through the energy absorption of defects in Er-implanted GaN.