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Congratulations on becoming an educator with PWCS. We trust this will be an opportunity for you to make a difference in our school community by fostering a desire to learn and to show genuine care to the students of our great school division. Your role is important and you should be proud of the profession you have chosen!

As with all great professions of importance, there are licensure requirements associated with your assignment that must be completed. The Code of Virginia requires a Virginia Department of Education issued license in order to be paid with public funds. The Office of Certification is here to guide you through this process. Upon completion, your earned, original License Certificate will be provided for you to proudly display or frame as a reminder of your achievements and future goals.

It is the responsibility of the license holder to maintain a valid license issued by the Virginia Board of Education.

License Number Look Up - Use Employee Self Service (ESS)
Go to My Info/Licenses and Certification to find your VDOE issued license number when needed. Your login and password for ESS is the same as your PWCS login information. 

 

 

Virginia Department of Education News and Updates

New Routes to Licensure for adding Special Education if a valid license issued by the Virginia Department of Education is currently held in other endorsement areas. 

Special Educ - General Curriculum Elementary K-6  (add-on)
Special Educ - General Curriculum Middle Grades 6-8 (add-on)
Special Educ - General Curriculum Secondary Grades 6-12 (add-on)

Post-Graduate and Collegiate Professional License holders may add some endorsements by taking the approved Praxis II. Does not apply to Special Education or Elementary Education or for those who hold a technical professional license, vocational evaluator license, pupil personnel services license, school manager license, or division superintendent license.


Interested in Elementary Education? New licensure criteria for an alternative route to licensure available to school divisions if the approved Praxis II for Elementary Education(test code 5001) has been passed for all Praxis II Elementary sub-tests including English (5002), Math (5003), History/Social Studies (5004) and Science (5005).

Use the worksheet to perform a self-analysis of your completed course work:

Elementary Pk-6 Worksheet (Word) 

 

 

PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: The application for teacher licensure in Virginia requires that you provide your social security number. Section 22.1-296.4 of the Code of Virginia requires a check of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglect in Virginia and other states. A social security number is required for this search. In addition, Virginia is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, and uses their clearinghouse to check for licensure revocation, suspension, denial, and reinstatement in other states. Virginia also provides information to the clearinghouse regarding licensure revocation, suspension, denial, and reinstatement in Virginia. The social security number is used for the clearinghouse and was required prior to 1975. The Virginia Department of Education will not release your social security number except in reporting cases of licensure revocation, suspension, denial and reinstatement as noted above. 



Licensure guidelines to follow while schools and offices are closed due to COVID-19. Check back frequently for updates. As new information from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is received, the guidance provided will be posted below:

  • New required training related to behavior intervention and support required for an initial teaching license required by the 2020 General Assembly: An individual seeking initial licensure as a teacher who has not received the instruction described in subsection D of § 23.1-902 shall have until January 1, 2021, to provide documentation of the completion of instruction or training on positive behavior interventions and supports; crisis prevention and de-escalation; the use of physical restraint and seclusion, consistent with regulations of the Board of Education; and appropriate alternative methods to reduce and prevent the need for the use of physical restraint and seclusion. Click here for more information on the new training requirements offered at Old Dominion University

  • Flexibility provision for hands-on CPR due to the impact of COVID-19:  Until January 1, 2022, 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).
     
  • New Information on Praxis Tests at Home – Now Open for Registration
    The Educational Testing Service (ETS) has announced that it will provide a home testing solution for certain tests.  The first series of tests offered are those in highest demand across the country. Learn More about ETS Home Tests (Word)

  • Addresses on all licensure forms must match the address on file with Prince William County Schools. To verify your current address on file or to update your address go to Employee Self Service (ESS) Your login and password for ESS is the same as your PWCS login information. (Note: Paper address change forms are no longer accepted, employees must make all address changes using ESS.)

2021  Renewable License holders should be working towards meeting license renewal requirements as set forth by the Virginia Department of Education.  License Renewal begins January 1, 2021 and must be completed by April 1, 2021 per PWCS Regulation. 

  • Detailed information and forms are found on the License Renewal webpage.
  • 2021 Renewable License holders should complete a FirstAid/CPR/AED online training module and include a certificate of completion in the license renewal packet showing evidence of completion of the video training for all three components. Due to Covid 19, hands on CPR practice is not required.
  • Pay all license fees electronically and include a School Payment Receipt Confirmation  with your licensure packet. Follow instructions for Electronic License Fee Payment

  

At this time, mail cannot be dropped off at the Edward Kelly Leadership Center. Send  one complete, single packet of documents to the PWCS, HR-Office of Certification via U. S. mail to:

PWCS Kelly Leadership Center
HR-Office of Certification
P.O. Box 389
Manassas, Va 20108
To the attention of (insert name of your licensure specialist)

LAST NAMES  A - L :
Jennifer Missner
missnejj@pwcs.edu

LAST NAMES  M - Z :
Brock Relyea
relyeab@pwcs.edu

Shelby Elliott
Administrative Coordinator
Compliance/Certification Office 
elliotsg@pwcs.edu

How to verify your  licensure request was received and sent to the VDOE for processing: 
Due to recent delays, allow two weeks after sending your packet to a licensure specialist, then visit the certification link page. Select the Alpha Roster button and look for your name on the spreadsheet

Electronic Fee Payment

Become familiar with the license holder responsibility and the administrator's role in the License Renewal process or access the Virginia License Renewal Manual for guidance:

License Renewal
Administrator's Role (PDF)
Renewal Manual (Word)


Obtain the instructions and forms for adding endorsements or degrees to your license:

Adding Endorsements
Adding Degree


Check the "Alpha Roster" for your name to verify licensure requests were processed by the PWCS Office of Certification and sent to the VDOE on your behalf or check the VDOE Query to see the current license status for you or school staff:

Alpha Roster (Excel)
VDOE Query

Learn more about Virginia assessments. If you hold a Collegiate or Post Graduate Professional license, you may add some endorsements to your license by taking and passing the required Praxis II assessment with no additional course work:

Assessments (Word)
Adding Endorsement


Obtain forms and instructions to apply for a Salary Upgrade to BA+15, MA, MA+30 or Doctorate. Salary Upgrades processed twice a year with deadline dates of September 30 and January 31. Locate approved Virginia licensure programs that lead to a salary upgrade and additional endorsements:

Salary Upgrade
Virginia Programs