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:
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:
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:
Career Switcher Program Providers:
*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.
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)
Eligible participants must have the following:
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.
Eligible participants must have the following: Professional Teacher's Assessments
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.
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:
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.
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.