Do They Re Run The Background Check When You Renew Your Teaching License In Virginia

Teacher licensure is required to teach in Virginia public schools as well equally in nearly individual schools in the state. The Virginia Section of Didactics oversees the teacher certification process, which is outlined in detail below for those who want to learn how to get a teacher in Virginia.

How to Go a Teacher in Virginia

Virginia has established specific requirements that must exist fulfilled in order for an individual to earn a Virginia teaching certificate. These requirements include property a bachelor's degree, completing an approved teacher education program, passing state-selected assessments, and completing the application process.

Virginia uses a tiered system for teacher licensure. The traditional route to licensure leads to the issuance of the Collegiate Professional License, which is a five-year renewable certificate for those who satisfy all licensure requirements to teach. Those who keep to consummate a graduate degree may become eligible for a Postgraduate Professional License.

Other licensing options are available for those who take a bachelor's degree merely did non complete a teacher preparation programme. For more information on pursuing teacher licensure through these pathways, visit our guide to alternative teacher certification in Virginia.

Finding Canonical Teacher Education Programs in Virginia

Projected Job Growth

11.half dozen%

Growth in Didactics Jobs in VA through 2026ⁱⁱ

In lodge to teach in Virginia, candidates must complete an approved teacher education programme from an accredited school. The Virginia Section of Educational activity provides a list of approved schools for the preparation of educators. Note that those who attend a teacher preparation program inside the state that is not approved will non be eligible for licensure. You can compare fundamental metrics for Virginia state-canonical instructor preparation programs by using the sortable table on our Virginia schools page.

Candidates who attend an out-of-state schoolhouse or an online program should be aware that any such program must exist approved by that state'southward Department of Educational activity as a teacher grooming programme in order to be eligible for Virginia licensure. Schools offering online teaching preparation should also exist accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies corresponding with their registered headquartered state.

Additionally, programs may concur accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Grooming (CAEP). Although CAEP accreditation is not mandatory, most schools utilize for its accreditation due to its distinguished reputation.

Virginia Instructor Education Requirements

The initial pace towards becoming a certified teacher in Virginia is to complete a available's degree that includes a land-approved instructor preparation programme. The Virginia Section of Education also requires that prospective educators consummate a child abuse recognition and intervention grooming form before becoming eligible for certification. The course is available online at no cost.

In add-on, every bidder seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license must consummate hands-on training in emergency first aid, CPR, and AED certification, preferably from a program recognized past the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Licensure candidates must also complete VDOE-approved dyslexia sensation training.

Virginia Instructor Testing Requirements

Virginia State Seal One time the educational requirements for becoming a teacher in Virginia take been met, instructor candidates must pass the examinations for initial licensure set by the Virginia Department of Education. The beginning is the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), a measure out of bookish skills that is required for teachers in all subject areas. Next, the Praxis subject assessments evaluate the teacher candidate's knowledge of his or her content area. Finally, the Reading Assessment is required for those pursuing endorsements in Uncomplicated and Special Teaching.

Additional Virginia Teacher Certification Requirements

Similar well-nigh states, Virginia requires that all public employees submit to a federal and state background check based on fingerprints. Therefore, starting time-fourth dimension instructor applicants must complete a fingerprint/background check as part of the initial application process. Virginia also checks the National Clan of State Directors of Teacher Instruction and Certification (NASDTEC) clearinghouse for disciplinary actions against teaching licenses held in other states, which may bear upon a candidate's eligibility to teach in Virginia.

Virginia Teachers Licensing Application Process

One time all basic requirements for Virginia teacher certification take been satisfied, candidates must utilize for a license. The candidate must provide the following documents to back up the awarding:

Verification of completion of a bachelor'south degree and state-approved teacher preparation program.
Proof of completed course in child corruption recognition and intervention.
Proof of Emergency Starting time Aid, CPR, and AED Preparation and Certification.
Passing scores on the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and Praxis content-surface area exams.
Submission of completed awarding.
Payment of not-refundable processing fees.

The awarding, which tin be downloaded from the Virginia Department of Education, must be sent to:

Virginia Section of Education
Division of Teacher Education and Licensure
PO Box 2120
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120

Visit the state's Department of Educational activity for further details on teacher certification in Virginia.

Virginia Instructor Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

During the 2016-2017 schoolhouse yr, there were 2,134 M-12 public schools in Virginia, with an estimated educatee population of 1.28 meg.ⁱⁱⁱ Based on an estimated 91,627 public school teachers, Virginia had a student-to-teacher ratio of fourteen:ane during this timeframe.³

Estimates are that at that place will exist 2,950 boilerplate annual chore openings for elementary schoolhouse teachers, 1,350 average annual job openings for middle school teachers, and 2,110 boilerplate annual job openings for secondary schoolhouse teachers in Virginia through 2026.^three Unproblematic schoolhouse teachers in the state earn an average annual salary of $67,610, middle school teachers earn an average annual salary of $66,870, and secondary school teachers earn an average annual salary of $68,770.⁴ Visit the Virginia Pedagogy Association, an affiliate of the National Education Clan, for updates on didactics policy, budget allocation and local employment opportunity across the country.

Blazon	Number Employed	Average Almanac Salary
Preschool Teachers	10,010	$37,880
Preschool Teachers, Special Teaching	600	$66,470
Kindergarten Teachers	4,010	$65,550
Unproblematic School Teachers	36,450	$67,610
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	5,870	$66,790
Middle School Teachers	17,130	$66,870
Middle School Teachers, Special Education	3,150	$72,960
Secondary School Teachers	26,830	$68,770
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education	4,110	$61,890
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Educational activity	2,690	$65,290

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2018.⁴

Instructor Shortages in Virginia

Co-ordinate to the United states of america Department of Education Instructor Shortage Surface area report for 2021-2022, Virginia broadly has the following shortages⁵:

Career and Technical Education (General)
Core Subjects (Uncomplicated Instruction), Pre-K-6
General Shortages (Education Full general), 6-8
Health and Concrete Fitness (General), Pre-K-12
Language Arts (English language), 6-12
Mathematics (General), half-dozen-12
Science (Full general), half-dozen-12
Special Instruction (General), Pre-M-12
Support Staff (Instructional Library Media), Pre-K-12
World Languages (Full general), Pre-Grand-12

Virginia Teacher Interview

Fifth Grade Teacher, Mimi Hager

Oft Asked Questions

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

Respond: In order to become a special instruction teacher in Virginia yous must complete a course of study at a state-approved program that offers special pedagogy teacher preparation programs. You must also pass the standard assessments for Virginia educators every bit well as the Praxis Series Reading for Virginia Educators: Uncomplicated and Special Education reading cess.

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

Answer: To become a substitute teacher in Virginia, you must apply to private districts. Each district has its ain requirements for substitutes. Common requirements are at least lx credit hours of college written report and completion of the Child Corruption and Fail Training module. At the state level, substitute teachers must be at least 18 years old, have at to the lowest degree two years of postsecondary teaching or 2 years of experience with children, and have a high school diploma or GED.

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

Answer: In order to become an elementary teacher in Virginia you must earn a bachelor's caste with a major in education in conjunction with a teacher preparation program, complete an simple educatee didactics experience, post passing scores on the state teacher certification exams for Uncomplicated Teaching, and participate in a mentorship program.

Question: What are the requirements to get a high school instructor in Virginia?

Answer: To become a high schoolhouse teacher in Virginia, you must earn a bachelor's degree in the subject you want to teach equally well as consummate an approved teacher preparation programme. Yous must besides participate in pupil education and a mentoring program, and laissez passer the state tests for educators.

References:
ane. Virginia State Department of Education: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/education/licensure/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
iii. National Center for Teaching Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2016-2017: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
four. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Virginia: https://www.bls.gov/oes/electric current/oes_va.htm
5. US Section of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports