West Virginia Department of Education Certification Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is responsible for approving all certifications for educators seeking licensure in the state's public schools. This article provides a detailed overview of the traditional and alternative pathways to teacher certification in West Virginia, renewal processes, and other essential information for aspiring and current educators. The WVDE values the education it provides to its students so it requires teachers to meet certain qualifications.

Traditional Path to Teacher Certification in West Virginia

The traditional route to teacher certification in West Virginia involves several key steps:

1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree with an Approved Teacher Preparation Program: The first step is to complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution that includes a state-approved teacher preparation program (EPP). The choice of major will depend on the desired grade level and subject to be taught. All prospective teachers will complete a teacher preparation program as part of their bachelor’s degree. Candidates must be enrolled in an EPP.

2. Complete a Student Teaching Placement: As part of the teacher preparation program, candidates must complete a student teaching placement, also known as an internship. In West Virginia, this is called the clinical teacher of record (CTR) program and is typically undertaken during the senior year of the educator preparation program. Students need to have completed the content preparation courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA in their content area. This is typically a full-time, semester-long placement, providing opportunities to lead a classroom under the guidance of an experienced teacher. To meet state certification requirements, the student teaching placement should align with the desired grade level and subject. Some programs may offer extended placements or multiple placement options.

3. Pass the Required West Virginia Teacher Exams: Prospective educators in West Virginia must pass three Praxis Series tests:

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   • Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Assesses basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.
   • Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): Evaluates skills specific to teaching and classroom leadership.
   • Praxis Subject Test: Measures content knowledge in the specific endorsement area.

   These tests are administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Teachers in West Virginia must pass specific exams to meet basic certification requirements, which vary by grade level and subject area. In West Virginia, individuals may be exempt from certain testing requirements based on coursework, prior licensure, or intended teaching areas. Subject to some exemptions, out-of-state candidates may be required to achieve passing scores on a test of basic skills, content specialization and professional education.

4. Apply for West Virginia Teacher Certification: Once all requirements are met, candidates can apply for an Initial Professional Teaching Certificate through the WVDE Certification Portal. The application process includes submitting:

   • Criminal background check clearance
   • Official transcripts
   • Proof of EPP completion
   • Passing scores on the required examinations
   • Non-refundable application fee

   Candidates can consult the Applicant User Guide for detailed instructions. Each applicant must first register with the Certification Portal to connect their certification records with their Single Sign-on Account or Webtop Account. A Webtop Account (SSO) is assigned to all full-time county school employees.

5. Upgrade Your Certificate: West Virginia utilizes a tiered system of teacher licensure. After teaching for three years and completing a beginning teacher internship/induction program, teachers can upgrade to a Professional Five-Year Teaching Certificate. With 10 years of experience under a Professional Certificate or a master’s degree with five years of experience under a Professional Certificate, teachers can further upgrade to a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate.An educator who receives a Professional Teaching Certificate must successfully complete a Beginning Educator Internship or Induction.

Tiered System of Teacher Licensure in West Virginia

West Virginia employs a tiered system of teacher licensure, recognizing different levels of experience and education:

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• Initial Professional Teaching Certificate (3-year): This certificate is for first-time teachers who have met all licensure requirements. This certificate is valid for three years.
• Professional Teaching Certificate (5-year): This certificate is for teachers who have three years of teaching experience and have completed a beginning educator internship/induction program.
• Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate (10-year): This certificate is for teachers who have completed five years of successful teaching and earned a master’s degree. Candidates who have renewed a Professional Teaching Certificate twice may apply. After you gain teaching experience, you can apply for a permanent teaching certificate.

Alternative Teacher Certification in West Virginia

For individuals who hold a bachelor's degree but have not completed a traditional teacher preparation program, West Virginia offers alternative teacher certification pathways. These pathways are designed to address teacher shortages in critical need areas. West Virginia Code has created opportunities for school districts to recruit individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and meet the eligibility criteria to fill teacher vacancies in areas of critical need and shortage in the state. Instead, individuals who would like to participate in a state-approved alternative certification program must contact a school district that has an approved program for eligibility details and receive an offer of employment for a vacancy in an identified area of critical need and shortage. Candidates must also meet requirements to hold an alternative teaching certificate.

Teach for America

One alternative pathway is through the Teach for America program (TFA). TFA supports its members as they work in low-income urban and rural settings. Anyone with a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject area is welcome to apply.

West Virginia Teacher Certification Renewal

To renew a West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate, teachers must meet specific requirements. To maintain a Professional Teaching Certificate in West Virginia, educators are generally required to complete six semester hours of appropriate college or university coursework. This coursework must be completed before the renewal deadline. However, educators who have a minimum of an MA+30 salary classification or are sixty years of age or older are exempt from the additional coursework requirement for renewal. Additionally, a recommendation from the current superintendent is required for renewal.

There are three options for renewal:

• Qualifying Coursework: Complete six semester hours of coursework related to the certificate (three-year validity) or three semester hours of related coursework (one-year validity).
• Qualifying Degree and Professional Salary Classification: Complete a master’s degree plus 30 graduate hours above the master’s degree.
• Qualifying Age: Be 60 years of age.

Teachers must also receive an official recommendation from their employing county superintendent or supervisor. For more information, review the Renewal Guidelines and the Applicant User Guide.

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Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once a teaching certificate is obtained, teachers are generally limited to working within the grade levels and certification areas specified on the certificate. However, temporary exceptions may be made in certain situations. In West Virginia, candidates with a Professional Teaching Certificate can qualify to add an endorsement based on content proficiency by passing the related Praxis content exam. You can learn more about transferring a teaching certificate or license between states on our guide to certification reciprocity. Teachers may then take other coursework in an area of specialization, and upon successful completion, apply for a Provisional Teaching Certificate, which is endorsed to indicate the specializations and grade level in which the holding teacher is then legally assigned within the West Virginia public school system.

Additional Certifications

In addition to standard classroom teaching certificates, the WVDE issues credentials in a variety of support and administrative areas. These include:

• Professional Administrative Certificate: Supervisor of Instruction: Requires a master’s degree, completion of a WVDE-approved program for administrative certification, education and training in evaluation skills, and three years of management-level experience.
• Professional Student Support Certificate: School Counselor: Requires a master’s degree in counseling, the completion of an accredited school counseling program, and the passage of the related Praxis exam.
• Professional Student Support Certificate: School Psychologist: Requires an approved school psychologist master’s program and the passage of the related Praxis exam.

In general, candidates for these and other advanced certificates must complete a master’s degree and an educator preparation program in their desired certification area and pass the relevant exam. In many cases, candidates must also hold a teaching certificate with two to three years of classroom teaching experience. For more information, review the Guidance Document.

Reciprocity for Out-of-State Teachers

West Virginia is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teaching Education Certification, or NASDTEC, that promotes the mobility of educators across state and national lines utilizing consistent standards for certification and education personnel. Under West Virginia Code, out of state applicants seeking initial licensure in the state of West Virginia, based on reciprocity, are required to meet specific requirements, including holding a valid teaching certificate or a certificate of eligibility issued by another state, must have graduated from a state-approved educator preparation program at a regionally accredited institution of higher education, and have successfully completed a student teaching experience or equivalent in the state in which the approved program was completed.

Yes, but not for all candidates. Applicants with permanent out-of-state licenses and the ability to verify five years of experience in the endorsement areas are eligible to receive a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate. Applicants who have completed three years of successful experience in a public school within the last seven years in the area for which licensure is being sought are eligible to receive a Professional Teaching Certificate and are exempt from additional assessment requirements. Applicants with a valid out-of-state teaching license but who do not meet experience requirements may be eligible to receive a three-year, renewable Initial Professional Teaching Certificate if they meet GPA and assessment requirements.

Out-of-state applicants who can verify a minimum of five years’ experience in their endorsement area may be eligible to receive a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate.

Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs in West Virginia

During the 2017-2018 academic year, there were an estimated 272,266 students enrolled in West Virginia’s 730 K-12 public schools. With an estimated 19,238 teachers, this gave West Virginia a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1. Job prospects for teachers through 2032 are stronger in West Virginia than the expected national averages, with job growth for West Virginia elementary teachers projected at 3.3% compared to 0.7% nationally; for West Virginia middle school teachers, 3.4% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for West Virginia secondary school teachers, 3.3% compared to 1% nationally.

A teacher’s average starting salary in West Virginia is approximately $40,339 while the average WV teacher’s salary is $52,870, according to the National Education Association (NEA). Several factors are considered when determining starting salaries for West Virginia teachers, including experience, education level, grade level, and subject area.

Teacher Shortages in West Virginia

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2022-2023, West Virginia broadly has shortages in the following areas:

• Art and Music Education
• Career and Technical Education
• Core Subjects: Elementary Education
• Early Childhood
• English as a Second Language
• Health and Physical Fitness
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Special Education
• Support Staff
• World Languages

In addition to these shortages, West Virginia had about 1,500 unfilled positions during the 2022-2023 school year. During the 2021-2022 year, 1,210 teachers in West Virginia were considered underqualified for their assignment, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.

Additional Resources

• American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia (AFT-WV): Represents all teachers and school service personnel in the state’s public schools.
• WVDE Certification page: Details West Virginia teacher certification process.
• West Virginia Education Association (WVEA): Member organization striving to provide high-quality public education for all students.

tags: #WV #Department #of #Education #certification #requirements

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