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Earn your Virginia Teacher Certification!

Learn everything you need to know about Virginia Teacher Certification.

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Virginia Teacher Certification Requirements

To become a teacher in Virginia, you must complete the follow steps:

Meet Education Requirements

  • Unlike many other states, Virginia does not require a Bachelor’s degree to be completed in Education-related fields/majors- any Bachelor’s degree can work.
  • However, the state does require field experience hours and supervised student teaching, which are often easiest to accomplish through a college or university.

Student Teaching Requirements

  • You can expect to spend roughly 3-4 months as a student teacher before you can apply for your license.
  • If you are studying an education degree, you will likely get your student teaching experience as part of your degree program.

Pass Required Exams

  • The Basic Skills Test: : VCLA (Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment) is an exam all teachers must pass.
  • Subject Area Competence: Praxis II subject tests in your specialty area must be passed as well.

Apply for Certification

  • You will need to fill out an application for your license, which can be found on the Virginia Department of Education website.
  • You will also need to provide official transcripts and scores from your licensure assessment, as well as certifying you have completed mandatory training modules.

Apply for Teaching Jobs

  • Once you have your teacher certification you can now start applying for jobs.
  • You can use job boards and search engines like Google to find open teacher positions in your area.

How to Register Your Virginia Teacher Certifcation Exams?

You can follow the following steps to register for your teacher certification exams:

  • Identify Your Exams: Determine the specific teacher certification exams you need to take. If you are a part of a certification program you should talk to your program advisor to determine which exams you need to take.
  • Create an Account: Visit the official testing service website and create an account.
  • Select Exam and Date: Login, choose your exam, and select a convenient test date and location.
  • Complete Registration: Follow instructions, provide necessary information, and pay exam fees online.

How To Study for Your Teacher Certification Exam(s)

To become a certified teacher you must pass your required exam(s). Luckily, we offer a wide variety of study guides to help you pass your exams and get closer to getting that teacher certificate. Our study guides offer practice questions, video lessons, quizzes and full length practice tests to ensure you are ready come test day! Our curriculum team studies all of the standards and competencies for the exams and cross-references them with the current and previous questions released by the official testing company. We then work with content and teaching experts to distill down what test-takers need to know. No matter where you are in the study guide, you can always see how the concept you are learning is aligned to the test standards.

How Do I Maintain Teaching Certification in Virginia?

Once you have received your Virginia teaching license, it will be valid for five years. After this five-year period, you will need to prove that you have completed 180 “points” in the Virginia system to renew your license. These points can be earned through classroom teaching and professional development and training. This includes further academic study as well as teacher training programs.

As of 2018, you can renew your license for a ten-year period after your first five-year license expires.

Best Education Schools in Virginia

  • University of Virginia
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • William & Mary
  • George Mason University
  • Old Dominion University (Darden)
  • Virginia Tech
  • Liberty University
  • Regent University
  • Shenandoah University
  • Hampton University

Virginia Teacher Salary Information

The average Public School Teacher salary in Virginia is $58,121 as of March 26, 2024, but the range typically falls between $48,524 and $70,902.

Take the Next Step Towards Your Virginia Teacher Certification!

More Virginia Teacher Certification Resources

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Virginia Teacher Certification FAQs

How long does it take to get a teaching certification in Virginia?

During off-peak seasons, licenses are processed by the VDOE in approximately 4-6 weeks.

How do I become a teacher without a teaching degree in VA?

You can become a teacher without a traditional education degree through a Virginia alternative route to licensure program.

What are the requirements to be a teacher in Virginia?

All teachers in the State of Virginia must hold a Bachelor’s degree or specialized technical credential to be eligible for a teaching license.

Are teachers in demand in Virginia?

Yes. For all school positions, which include administrators, teachers, aides, paraprofessionals and non-instructional personnel, Virginia has about 9,000 vacancies this school year.

What tests are required for teaching in Virginia?

Virginia requires educators to pass two exams: the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and the Praxis Subject Assessment from the Praxis Series of exams.

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