Section 40. Conditions for licensure

A. Applicants for licensure must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age;

2. Pay the appropriate fees as determined by the Board of Education and complete the application process;

3. Have earned a baccalaureate degree (with the exception of the Technical Professional License) from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and meet requirements for the license sought. Persons seeking initial licensure who graduate from Virginia institutions of higher education shall only be licensed as instructional personnel by the Board of Education if the endorsement areas offered at such institutions have been assessed by a national accrediting agency or by a state approval process with final approval by the Board of Education; and

4. Possess good moral character (free of conditions outlined in Part VII (8VAC20-22-690 et seq.) of this chapter).

B. All candidates who hold at least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and who seek an initial Virginia teaching license must obtain passing scores on professional teacher's assessments prescribed by the Board of Education. With the exception of the career switcher program that requires assessments as prerequisites, individuals must complete the professional teacher's assessments within the three-year validity of the initial provisional license. Candidates seeking a Technical Professional License, the International License, the School Manager License, or the Pupil Personnel Services License are not required to take the professional teacher's assessments. Individuals who hold a valid out-of-state license (full credential with no deficiencies) and who have completed a minimum of three years of full-time, successful teaching experience in a public or accredited nonpublic school (kindergarten through grade 12) in a state other than Virginia are exempted from the professional teacher's assessment requirements.

C. All individuals seeking an initial endorsement in early/primary education preK-3, elementary education preK-6, special education-general curriculum, special education-hearing disorders, special education-visual impairments and individuals seeking an endorsement as a reading specialist must obtain passing scores on a reading instructional assessment prescribed by the Board of Education.

D. Licensure by reciprocity is set forth in 8VAC20-22-100. A school leader's assessment prescribed by the Board of Education must be met for all individuals who are seeking an initial endorsement authorizing them to serve as principals and assistant principals in the public schools. Individuals seeking an initial administration and supervision endorsement who are interested in serving as central office instructional personnel are not required to take and pass the school leaders assessment prescribed by the Board of Education.

E. Individuals seeking initial licensure must demonstrate proficiency in the use of educational technology for instruction, complete study in child abuse recognition and intervention in accordance with curriculum guidelines developed by the Board of Education in consultation with the Department of Social Services, and receive professional development in instructional methods tailored to promote student academic progress and effective preparation for the Standards of Learning end-of-course and end-of-grade assessments.

F. Every person seeking initial licensure of a license shall provide evidence of completion of certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators. The certification or training program shall be based on the current national evidenced-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator, such as a program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. The Virginia Board of Education shall provide a waiver for this requirement for any person with a disability whose disability prohibits such person from completing the certification or training.

G. Every teacher seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth with an endorsement in the area of career and technical education shall have an industry certification credential, as defined in 8VAC20-22-10, in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement. If a teacher seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth has not attained an industry certification credential in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement, the board may, upon request of the employing school division or educational agency, issue the teacher a provisional license to allow time for the teacher to attain such credential.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 23, Issue 25, eff. September 21, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 24, eff. August 28, 2013; Volume 31, Issue 08, eff. January 14, 2015; Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. September 9, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§ 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia.