Can I get a Virginia License if I hold a valid out-of-state teaching license or have completed an approved teaching program from a regionally accredited college or university?
If you hold a valid out‐of‐state license (full credential without deficiencies), you may qualify for a Virginia teaching license with comparable endorsement areas if you have completed a state‐approved teacher preparation program through a regionally accredited four‐year college or university or if you hold a valid out‐of‐state teaching license that must be in force at the time you apply for a Virginia license. If you are seeking licensure, you must establish a file with the Department of Education by submitting a complete application packet, which includes official transcripts.
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Are there Professional Teacher Assessments required to obtain a Virginia license?
Some endorsement areas require a content area test: Praxis. All applicants seeking endorsements in Early/Primary Education preK–3, Elementary Education preK–6, Special Education‐ General Curriculum, Special Education‐Hearing Impairments, and Special Education‐Visual Impairment, the required reading assessment is the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205). The required assessment for teachers seeking an endorsement as a Reading Specialist is the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205).
For information regarding registration, test administration, fees, etc, please visit:
It is preferable that applicants have taken and passed needed assessments upon hire. Teachers can apply and receive a provisional 3‐year license without them. However, if hired, teachers must apply for a license within 90 days of your start date.
Can I get a Virginia License if I am interested in becoming a school counselor, a school social worker, or a school psychologist?
You need a Pupil Personnel Services license. This is a ten‐year renewable license available to those who earned an appropriate graduate degree from an accredited institution with an endorsement as a school counselor, a school psychologist, or a school social worker. (This license does not require teaching experience or an assessment exam.)
I have an associate’s degree; can I become a teacher?
To be eligible for a Provisional license, a candidate needs a bachelor’s degree at minimum, along with other requirements, depending on the desired position. For a candidate with an associate’s degree, the suggestion is to complete their bachelor’s degree in a state-approved education program.
I am changing careers and have a bachelor’s degree? Can I become a teacher?
There are many alternative routes to licensure where experienced professionals from various occupations and life experiences can become classroom teachers, thereby increasing the quantity and diversity of applicants to the profession.
Provisional License Eligibility
People interested in education, but do not have an education degree, have the opportunity to become a teacher through alternate routes. The first step is obtaining a Provisional license, which allows a person three years to finish all requirements for a ten-year renewable license. Then, the teacher will enter an alternate program to finish their ten-year license requirements.
Provisional License Requirements:
- Entering the teaching field through the alternate route to licensure upon the recommendation of a school division;
- Hold a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university (with the exception of individuals seeking the Technical Professional License); and
- Have met the requirements for the endorsement area.
- For most secondary positions, such as a middle or high school math teacher, pass the math Praxis assessment.
- For most special education positions, pass the special education prerequisite course.
- For most elementary education positions, this can be difficult, but passing the Praxis 5001 multi-subject eliminates course requirements.
State-approved alternate routes to
licensure:
- Career Switcher, Alternative Route to Licensure - This program is designed to assist individuals from various occupational and life experiences become classroom teachers. Persons interested in this option must apply for admission to one of colleges and institutions around the state offering a certified program.
- iteach, Alternate Route to Licensure - This program is a competency-based preparation program for educators that combines the convenience of online learning with the support of face-to-face mentorship. Persons interested in this option must seek employment with an approved partnering school division and meet identified requirements prior to applying with iteach.
- Troops to Teachers (TTT) Virginia Center - TTT Virginia Center is Virginia's program for the Troops to Teachers National Office and is administered by William & Mary for the Virginia Department of Education.
Hanover specific alternate routes to licensure:
- Provisional Academy for Teachers in Hanover (PATH) - Secondary and special education Provisionally licensed teachers that need the professional studies courses participate in monthly cohort sessions where they learn the content of the professional studies with hands-on engagement from HCPS’ Professional Learning team. At the end of their Provisional license period, teachers will have met all the requirements for their ten-year, renewable license, at no cost.
- Provisional Academy for Adapted Curriculum Educators (PAACE) - Special Education- Adapted Curriculum K-12 Provisionally license teachers participate in learning that will complete their licensure requirements. This is provided by an iteach and HCPS partnership, at no cost to the teacher.
What is “professional studies coursework”?
Professional studies coursework is required coursework for those individuals who have not
completed a teacher preparation program. These requirements generally include courses in: Human Growth and Development, Curriculum and Instructional procedures, Classroom and Behavior Management, Foundations of Education, and Reading.
If I want to teach my trade or vocation, how do I become licensed?
The Technical Professional license is for teachers who are experienced in a technical trade to teach the content and skills from that vocation such as electricity, cosmetology, computer networking, and computer repair. It is a ten‐year renewable license and requires employment in the particular teaching assignment by a Virginia public or nonpublic school, a high school diploma or GED, technical competency, and occupational experience.
What do I need to do to get a Provisional license to teach Special Education?
- Have a planned program of study in the assigned endorsement area, make progress toward meeting the endorsement requirements each of the three years of the license and have completed the prerequisite coursework in the competencies of foundations for educating students with disabilities and understanding and application of the legal aspects and regulatory requirements associated with identification, education, and evaluation of students with disabilities. A survey course integrating these competencies would satisfy this requirement.
- Be employed by a Virginia public or nonpublic school as a special educator and have the recommendation of the employing school division.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have an assigned mentor endorsed in special education.
What is an endorsement area?
It is the subject area and grade level in which you are licensed to teach.
Do I need a master’s degree to teach in Virginia?
No, only certain endorsement areas require a master’s degree such as Reading Specialist, School Counselor, and Administration & Supervision, etc.
Do I need a Virginia teaching license to be offered a contract with Hanover County Public Schools?
No, but you must be eligible for licensure. If you are offered a contract, the HCPS licensure office will help you in the application process. Application must be made through the HCPS Human Resources office within 90 days of your start date.
Where can I get more licensure information?
For more information, go to Virginia Department of Education.