Options for Pursuing an Education Career
A variety of traditional and non-traditional methods are available for persons interested in pursuing a career in education.
Traditional Route
Colleges & Universities With Approved Educator Preparation Programs
Information on more than three dozen public and private colleges and universities throughout Virginia that provide programs of study for aspiring educators and continuing education opportunities for veteran teachers.
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.
Requirements:
Alternate Routes:
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.
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.