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Pathways to Teacher Licensure

The following information on becoming a teacher with Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is provided to help you understand the various pathways to a career in education.

Please note that for our Certification Office to review your eligibility for licensure, we must see copies of all college transcript(s) and any Praxis test score report(s), if applicable.

Applicants for licensure must:

  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Have earned a bachelor's degree (except for certain Career & Technical Education Trades/Industrial Technical Licensure areas)
  • Must be found eligible for a provisional license in the required content area issued by the VDOE. Please note that a provisional teaching license is a post-hire process. This license is only issued by the VDOE upon hire in a contractual teaching position with an accredited public-school division or private school.

State-Approved Teacher Education Programs in Virginia

Alternative Pathways to Licensure: If you have not completed a state-approved teacher education program or do not hold a full, renewable out-of-state license, below is a list of the alternative pathways to licensure:

  1. Career Switcher Program

    This alternate route is available to career switchers who seek teaching endorsements PreK through grade 12, except for special education.

    An individual seeking a Provisional (Career Switcher) License through the career switcher program must have the following:

    1. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
    2. At least three years of successful full-time work experience or its equivalent; and
    3. Virginia qualifying scores on the professional teacher's assessments as prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education

    Career Switcher Program Providers:

    • Educate VA – Virginia Community College System*
    • Regent University**
    • Shenandoah University
    • Virginia Commonwealth University

    *EducateVA is the only program that offers a pathway for Special Education General Curriculum (as of Fall 2026)

    **Regent University is currently the only program that offers an Elementary Education pathway.

  2. PWCS-VCU RTR Apprentice Teacher Residency Program

    RTR is a highly selective undergraduate and graduate-level teacher residency program. To be eligible, you must have already earned either an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with either a 2.5 GPA (associate) or 3.0 GPA (bachelor’s)

    • RTR Apprentice Teacher Residents receive a full salary and benefits.
    • Teacher Apprentice/Residents learn side-by-side with top division teachers in high needs schools for 1-2 years while completing either their Bachelor’s, master's degree, or Graduate Certificate (VCU tuition is paid by grant funding)
    • Current program includes pathways in Elementary, Special Education, and Secondary Education (the master’s degree is only for Special Education and Secondary Education)

  3. iteach

    Eligible participants must have the following:

    • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
    • Minimum 2.5 GPA or minimum 2.5 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework
    • Must meet specific criteria set by the state of Virginia to teach the subject

    iteach is an alternative certification program and is not an educational institution. No degree will be earned though iteach. Through iteach, individuals will complete the required introductory course(s) to become eligible for the nonrenewable provisional iteach license.

  4. Testing Route

    Eligible participants must have the following: Professional Teacher's Assessments

    • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
    • Have passing scores on the Praxis Subject Assessment for the endorsement/subject area you wish to teach.

    This testing option does not apply to individuals (i) who are seeking an early/primary education preK-3 or elementary education preK-6 endorsement, special education endorsements, or a reading specialist endorsement, or (ii) who hold a Technical Professional License, Vocational Evaluator License, Pupil Personnel Services License, School Manager License, or Division Superintendent License.

  5. Provisional Special Education License Route

    The Provisional (Special Education) License is a nonrenewable teaching license issued for a validity period not to exceed three years to an individual employed as a special education teacher in a public school or accredited nonpublic school in Virginia who does not hold the appropriate special education endorsement.

    To be issued the Provisional (Special Education) License through this alternate route, an individual must have the following:

    • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
    • Completed the approved prerequisite college coursework (at least 3 semester hours) in the competencies of foundations, characteristics, and legal aspects of teaching students with special needs. A survey course integrating these competencies would satisfy this requirement.
    • Employed by a Virginia public or accredited nonpublic school as a special education teacher and have the recommendation of the employing educational agency.

  6. Eligible by Major

    If you hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have majored in one of the VDOE subjects noted in the following Licensure Regulations: Virginia Administrative Code - Title 8. Education - Agency 20. State Board of Education - Chapter 23. Licensure Regulations for School Personnel, you are eligible for a Provisional License in this subject area if hired for a teaching position.

  7. Out-of-State License Reciprocity

    An individual coming into Virginia from any state may qualify for a Virginia teaching license with comparable endorsement areas if the individual has completed a state- approved teacher preparation program through a regionally accredited four-year college or university, or if the individual holds a valid out-of-state teaching license (full credential without deficiencies) at the time the application for a Virginia license is made.

    In addition, a full, active out-of-country teaching license may be reciprocal to a provisional VA teaching license with a comparable endorsement.

  8. Candidates holding an Expired Virginia Teaching License

    • If you currently hold an expired Collegiate Professional, Postgraduate Professional, Technical Professional, or Pupil Personnel License issued by the VDOE and have not received a one-year extension with your last license renewal, you may be eligible for a one-year extension upon hire with a Virginia public school division.
    • If you hold an expired provisional license issued by the VDOE and have met certain criteria, you may be eligible for a one-year extension upon hire with a Virginia public school division.