Licensure

On this page:
General Assembly Legislation
Application
Renewal
Forms and Licensure Changes
Approved Teacher Education Programs
Reciprocity
Teacher License Queries
Standards for Teachers
School Leadership
National Board Certification
Regulations & Guidance
Professional Teacher's Assessment

Licensure Flexibility Provisions due to COVID-19

Please refer to the Licensure Flexibility Provisions At-A-Glance-This is a PDF document. document to review approved licensure flexibility provisions. Individuals employed by a Virginia educational agency should contact their employers regarding these provisions. If individuals not employed have questions, they may contact the Licensure Office.

Visit COVID-19 & Virginia Public Schools and Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

General Assembly Legislation

2018

Elimination of Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel for Licensure

Effective July 1, 2018, House Bill 1125 eliminates the requirements that teachers seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license demonstrate proficiency in the use of educational technology for instruction.

2017

MANDATORY SCHOOL COUNSELOR TRAINING

Senate Bill 1117 Effective July 1, 2017, the bill requires every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement as a school counselor to complete training in the recognition of mental health disorder and behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and substance abuse. Go to Superintendent’s Memo #313-17 for additional information on training options.

Hands-On Practice Necessary for the CPR Requirement

House Bill 1829 Effective September 1, 2017, certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators that is required of every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license as a teacher shall include hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Go to Emergency First Aid, CPR & AED Certification or Training for more information.

2016

Mandatory Dyslexia Training

Dyslexia Awareness Training - Effective July 1, 2017, every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license shall complete awareness training, provided by VDOE, on the indicators of dyslexia, as that term is defined by the board pursuant to regulations, and the evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia.

Initial Licensure for Career and Technical Education

Section § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia requires that 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 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.

For detailed information regarding 1) the teacher-eligible list of Board of Education-approved industry certification examinations, (2) the issuing organization, and (3) the specific career and technical education (CTE) area(s), including the corresponding endorsement codes, refer to the Industry Credentials for Teachers Seeking an Initial Virginia License with Endorsement(s) in an Area of Career and Technical Education Guidance Document-This is a Word document. (Revised August 2020).

Also see Path to Industry Certification

Standards for teachers, administrators and other educators in Virginia’s public schools recognize the link between preparation and content knowledge and student achievement.

Licensure Application

Application for a Virginia License-This is a Word document. – [If applying for a Division Superintendent License, please use the Application for a Division Superintendent License.]
Application for a Division Superintendent License-This is a Word document.
Professional Teacher’s Assessment Requirements (Word) – Professional Teacher’s Assessment Requirements for Virginia Licensure and the School Leaders Licensure Assessment for Principals
Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training – Individuals seeking an initial license and license renewal must complete training in child abuse recognition and intervention in accordance with curriculum guidelines approved by the Board of Education.
Emergency First Aid, CPR & AED Certification or Training – IMPORTANT NOTICE (Flexibility provision for hands-on CPR due to the impact of COVID-19): Until June 30, 2021, any individual seeking an initial license or licensure renewal and who has completed all other components of training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators shall be relieved of the requirement to have hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the purpose of their licensure application (§ 22.1-298.1.D).
Behavior Intervention and Support Training – IMPORTANT NOTICE (Flexibility provision for behavior intervention and support training due to the impact of COVID-19): Until January 1, 2021, any individual seeking an initial license who did not complete this training as part of their state-approved program or on their own does not have to complete the training.) Individuals seeking an initial license must complete training in behavior intervention and support in accordance with curriculum guidelines approved by the Board of Education. Applicants who complete a state-approved program will have completed this as part of their program.

Industry Credentials for Endorsement(s) in Career and Technical Education – Section § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia requires that 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 in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement. For more information refer to the Industry Credentials for Teachers Seeking an Initial Virginia License with Endorsement(s) in an Area of Career and Technical Education Guidance Document-This is a Word document. (Revised August 2020).
Dyslexia Awareness Training – Effective July 1, 2017, every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license shall complete awareness training, provided by VDOE, on the indicators of dyslexia, as that term is defined by the board pursuant to regulations, and the evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia.
School Counselor Training – Effective July 1, 2017, the Code of Virginia requires every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement as a school counselor to complete training in the recognition of mental health disorder and behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and substance abuse. Go to Superintendent’s Memo #313-17 for additional information on training options.
Fee Schedule for Licensure-This is a Word document. – [Effective January 1, 2019]
Form to Request Name Change, Address Change, or Duplicate License-This is a Word document.
Information for graduates of foreign institutions of higher learning-This is a Word document.
Foreign Language Endorsement Requirements for Individuals who Learned a Foreign Language without Formal Academic College or University Credit-This is a Word document.
Licensing of Speech-Language Pathologists

Licensure Renewal

IMPORTANT NOTICES – LICENSURE RENEWAL FLEXIBILITY PROVISIONS DUE TO COVID-19:

ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF RENEWABLE LICENSE FOR INDIVIDUALS NOT CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY A VIRGINIA EDUCATION AGENCY: Individuals not currently employed by a Virginia education agency who are unable to meet renewal requirements by June 30, 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19 may request a one-year extension of the renewable license (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021) by completing the APPLICATION FOR A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF A RENEWABLE LICENSE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF COVID-19-This is a Word document.. Please mail this form to the Office of Licensure, Department of Education, P. O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120. Only this form is required; please do not send other documents with the request. No fee is required.
ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF RENEWABLE LICENSE FOR INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED BY A VIRGINIA EDUCATION AGENCY: Individuals employed by a Virginia education agency who are unable to meet renewal requirements by June 30, 2020, due to COVID-19 must contact their employer to request an extension of their renewable license. No fee is required.
HANDS-ON CPR: Until June 30, 2021, any individual seeking license renewal and who has completed all other components of training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators shall be relieved of the requirement to have hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the purpose of their licensure application (§ 22.1-298.1.D).

Licenses for renewal may be submitted to the Office of Licensure any time after January 1 of the year of expiration. Renewal requests should not be submitted prior to January 1 of the year of expiration.

(The Application for License Renewal is contained within the Virginia Licensure Renewal Manual.)

Virginia Licensure Renewal Manual (Word) – This manual is for a five-year renewable license. Effective July 1, 2018, the Technology Standards requirement was eliminated for teachers seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license. Also effective July 1, 2018, renewable licenses will be issued for ten years.
Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training
Emergency First Aid, CPR & AED Certification or Training – IMPORTANT NOTICE (Flexibility provision for hands-on CPR due to the impact of COVID-19): Until June 30, 2021, any individual seeking an initial license or licensure renewal and who has completed all other components of training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators shall be relieved of the requirement to have hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the purpose of their licensure application (§ 22.1-298.1.D).
Dyslexia Awareness Training – Effective July 1, 2017, every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license shall complete awareness training, provided by VDOE, on the indicators of dyslexia, as that term is defined by the board pursuant to regulations, and the evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia.
School Counselor Training – Effective July 1, 2017, the Code of Virginia requires every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement as a school counselor to complete training in the recognition of mental health disorder and behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and substance abuse. Go to Superintendent’s Memo #313-17 for additional information on training options.
Virginia History or State and Local Government Module – Any individual licensed and endorsed to teach (i) middle school civics or economics or (ii) high school government or history who is seeking renewal of such license is required to demonstrate knowledge of Virginia history or state and local government by completing a module or professional development course specifically related to Virginia history or state and local government that has a value of five professional development points. This requirement applies for purposes of the individual's next or initial renewal occurring after July 1, 2014. Successful completion of the Virginia State and Local Civic Education Module will satisfy this renewal requirement. Any individual who has previously taken the Civics Module must choose "Reset Progress" and "Start Over" to be able to begin training. Please print and submit the module certificate with renewal documentation. For more information, and to see a list of teaching endorsements that permit an individual holding a valid Virginia teaching license to teach (i) middle school civics or economics, or (ii) high school government or history, please see Superintendent’s Memo #053-14.
Licensing of Speech-Language Pathologists