Licensure Process
The VDOE issues a provisional license only upon hire in a contracted teaching position. Provisional licensure is a post-employment process that begins after an HR coordinator offers a teacher contract. (Please note the VDOE issues licenses effective July 1 of the school year you apply for the license; therefore, consideration should be made when applying for initial licensure mid-year.)
Process: applying for a provisional teaching license.
- Start: hired as a teacher.
- HR determines provisional license eligibility.
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If eligible for a provisional license:
- License eligible teacher.
- Complete requirements for full teacher license.
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If not eligible for a provisional license:
- Associate teacher.
- Complete eligibility requirements to become a full teacher.
- Prepare documentation and fees.
- End: apply for provisional license.
Licensure Process
The first step in obtaining a teaching license is establishing eligibility to teach the content area. You can establish eligibility by:
- Having a bachelor’s degree in the areas below or college credit hours in specific content area coursework (see the VDOE Endorsement Requirements)
- Passing the corresponding Praxis exam for your content area (see VDOE Assessments)
- Passing the Special Education requirement course covering the characteristics and legal aspects of teaching students with disabilities (course name varies)
Eligibility for teacher licensure:
- Eligibility via college major: hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate and have an eligible major (e.g., mathematics, biology). Begin teaching immediately (provisional license).
- Eligibility via Praxis assessment: hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate and pass a Praxis content knowledge assessment. Begin teaching immediately (provisional license).
- Eligibility via content coursework: transcript evaluation of content coursework, per licensure regulations. Begin teaching immediately (provisional license).
- Eligibility via experience: select Career and Technical Education endorsements based on experience and industry credential. Eligible for a provisional license.
- Career switcher program: complete Level 1 of a certified career switcher program. Eligible for a provisional career switcher license.
Once you have a degree in one of the eligible content areas, you will apply for a teaching license, and the VDOE will most likely issue you a provisional license. You typically have 2-3 school years to complete your requirements for full licensure.
Once you pass the Praxis Exam for the content area you teach, you will apply for a teaching license, and the VDOE will most likely issue you a provisional license. You typically have 2-3 school years to complete your requirements for full licensure.
Once you pass the SPED requirement course, you will apply for a teaching license in that area, and the VDOE will most likely issue you a provisional license. You typically have 2-3 school years to complete your requirements for full licensure.
A bachelor's degree in any of the following areas equals eligibility for a provisional teaching license:
- Agricultural Education
- American Sign Language
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Dance Arts
- Earth Science
- Engineering
- English
- Foreign Language (French, Spanish, German, etc.)
- Health and Physical Education
- History (Middle School only)
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Technology Education
- Theater Arts
- Visual Arts
Disclaimer: The Virginia Department of Education Licensure Regulations changes periodically. The worksheets should only be used as a guide and are subject to change without notice. Use caution and regularly inform yourself of all proposed or upcoming licensure changes.
Alternative Routes to Licensure
Click here to view the VDOE alternative routes to licensure.
