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Virginia Teacher Certification and Career Guide

Public K-12 teachers in the state of Virginia must meet the certification requirements set by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Virginia are:

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component.
  2. Complete a student teaching placement.
  3. Pass the required teacher certification exams.
  4. Apply for a teaching certificate or license.
  5. Upgrade your license, if desired.

Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in Virginia.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in Virginia

The following steps detail the traditional pathway to teacher licensure in Virginia. Virginia offers three licenses to prospective teachers:

  • Provisional License (3-year): Non-renewable, for new teachers with a bachelor’s degree who are hired by a school division, but do not yet qualify for full licensure.
  • Collegiate Professional License (10-year): For teachers who have satisfied all licensing requirements.
  • Postgraduate Professional License (10-year): For teachers with a Collegiate Professional License who have earned a graduate degree from an accredited school.

If you are a bachelor’s degree holder who has yet to complete a teacher preparation program, check out our guide to alternative teacher certification in Virginia.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program.

The first step to obtaining a teaching license in Virginia is to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The major of the bachelor’s degree will vary depending on the grade level and subject of the desired license. As part of the degree, teacher candidates must complete an educator preparation program (EPP) A list of VDOE-approved EPPs can be found on the website.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Virginia schools page. You can also read about two important accreditations to consider, institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation, on our teaching schools guide.

2. Complete a student teaching placement.

As part of your EPP, you will complete a student teaching placement of at least 10 weeks under the supervision of a cooperating teacher with demonstrated classroom effectiveness. This student teaching experience should include at least 150 clock hours of direct teaching at the grade level and endorsement area of your desired license.

3. Pass the required Virginia teacher exams.

Virginia State SealThe next step to licensure is to take the assessments required by the VDOE for initial licensure. Prospective teachers must pass assessments in two to three areas, depending on their target license:

More information on the assessments required for each license area can be found on the VDOE website.

4. Apply for Virginia teacher certification.

Once the above steps have been completed, you are ready to apply for a Collegiate Professional License. You can find a paper application on the VDOE website or apply via Virginia Licensure Online (VALO). Along with the application, candidates must submit:

  • College Verification form
  • Report on Experience form
  • Assessment scores
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Statutory requirements for initial licensure
  • Fingerprint based background check
  • Non-refundable application fee

Links to these forms and more information can be found on the VDOE website.

5. Upgrade your license, if desired.

Collegiate Professional License holders who obtain a graduate degree from an accredited college or university are eligible to upgrade their license to a Postgraduate Professional License. Teachers can apply to upgrade their license through VALO.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

Virginia Teacher Certification Renewal

The Collegiate Professional License is good for 10 years, expires on June 30, and can be renewed. You must complete 270 professional development points based on an individualized professional development plan. You can renew your license through VALO. More information about renewing a license can be found on the VDOE website.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Virginia teachers are only authorized to teach at the grade level and subject area listed on their certificate, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. To add an endorsement to an existing license, Virginia teachers have several options:

  • Complete a VDOE approved EPP
  • Pass the related Praxis academic subject test (not for early education, elementary education, special education, or reading specialist endorsements)
  • Course-by-course transcript review

More information about adding endorsements can be found on the VDOE website.

Virginia Teaching License Reciprocity

Teachers with valid out-of-state licenses can qualify for a comparable Virginia license by reciprocity if they have completed a state-approved teacher preparation program through an accredited four-year college or university. Those with active national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) also qualify. To apply, you will need to submit the same application either in paper form on the VDOE website or through VALO. You must include:

  • Copy of current license
  • College Verification form
  • Report on Experience form
  • Assessment scores
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Statutory requirements for initial licensure
  • Fingerprint based background check
  • Non-refundable application fee

You can learn more about transferring a teaching certificate or license between states on our guide to certification reciprocity.

The VDOE offers additional licenses and endorsements for candidates other than traditional classroom teachers:

  • Division Superintendent License: Requires at least a master’s degree with specific coursework from an accredited college or university and at least five years of educational experience or three years of senior leadership experience.
  • Pupil Personnel Services License: For endorsements in guidance counseling, school psychology, school social work, and vocational evaluators. Requires a graduate degree from an accredited school and no teaching experience.
  • Technical Professional License: Requires a high school diploma with at least nine semester hours of college-level specialized professional studies credit, a license for at least two years for those areas requiring one, and the completion of a registered apprenticeship program or four years of work experience at the management or supervisory level, and the recommendation of an employing education agency.

The VDOE also offers a School Manager License, an International Educator License, and an Online Teacher License. Advanced licenses and endorsements typically require a graduate degree and EPP in the area of endorsement and teaching licenses require passing the required assessments. For more information, visit the VDOE website.

Virginia Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

0.4%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in VA through 20322*

Virginia had an estimated 2,113 public schools during the 2017-2018 school year.3 With nearly 1.3 million students and around 85,936 teachers, the student-to-teacher ratio was about 15:1.3

Job growth for teachers in the state is expected to be slower than national projections. Job growth for elementary teachers is expected to be 0.1% compared to 0.7% nationally; for middle school teachers, 0.2% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for high school teachers, 0.5% compared to 1% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Virginia teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in VA4Average Annual Openings in VA2VA Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in VA425th Percentile Wages in VA575th Percentile Wages in VA5
Preschool Teachers, Special Education700——$74,990$52,120—
Kindergarten Teachers4,5504800.7%$64,830$48,350$94,890
Elementary School Teachers36,1402,3900.1%$72,600$49,630$76,960
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education6,060390-0.7%$69,480$50,500$83,360
Middle School Teachers18,5001,2300.2%$70,580$50,020$79,680
Middle School Teachers, Special Education2,900——$67,160$50,250$79,470
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education86060-1.2%$71,690$51,860$77,320
Secondary School Teachers28,3401,7400.5%$74,120$50,040$76,880
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education5,340——$72,860$51,170$84,460
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education3,610220-0.8%$70,630$51,670$83,350

*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.

Teacher Shortages in Virginia

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2023-2024, Virginia has designated the following deficit areas:

Virginia had 2,594 teacher vacancies during the 2022-2023 school year.7 In addition, 11,212 teachers were considered underqualified for their positions during the 2021-2022 school year, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification area on a temporary or emergency basis.7

Additional Resources

  • VDOE Teacher Licensure: Includes resources for new and current teachers in Virginia looking to become or stay licensed.
  • Virginia Education Association (VEA): The largest union of teachers and school support professionals in the state with the mission of bettering public education for all students.
  • Virginia Professional Educators (VPE): Nonprofit professional association of teachers with member benefits including liability insurance, legal assistance, and professional development.

Virginia Teacher Interviews

Related Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are the requirements to become a special education teacher in Virginia?

Answer: In order to become a special education teacher in Virginia you must complete a course of study at a state-approved teacher preparation program in special education. You must also pass the required assessments for Virginia educators.

Question: How do you become a substitute teacher in Virginia?

Answer: To become a substitute teacher in Virginia, you must apply to individual districts. Each district has its own requirements for substitutes. Common requirements are at least 60 credit hours of college study and completion of the Child Abuse and Neglect Training module. At the state level, substitute teachers must be at least 18 years old, have at least two years of postsecondary education or two years of experience with children, and have a high school diploma or GED.

Question: How do I become an elementary teacher in Virginia?

Answer: In order to become an elementary teacher in Virginia you must earn a bachelor’s degree with a major in education in conjunction with a teacher preparation program, complete an elementary student teaching experience, post passing scores on the state teacher certification exams for Elementary Education, and participate in a mentorship program.

Question: What are the requirements to become a high school teacher in Virginia?

Answer: To become a high school teacher in Virginia, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in the subject you want to teach as well as complete an approved teacher preparation program. You must also participate in student teaching and pass the state tests for educators.

Question: How many private schools and teachers are in Virginia?

Answer: There were 1,024 private schools in Virginia during the 2019-2020 school year.8 In those schools, there were around 111,000 students and 13,000 teachers.8 Private teachers in Virginia are not required to be licensed, but each school sets its own requirements.

References:
1. Virginia Department of Education: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/teaching-in-virginia/licensure
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Virginia: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_va.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
6. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports
7. Teacher Shortages in the United States, Tuan D. Nguyen et al.: https://teachershortages.com/
8. National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey, 2019-20: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/TABLE15fl1920.asp