Getting a Job as a Teacher in Virginia
Do you want to work as a teacher in the great state of Virginia? If that’s the case, you have come to the correct place. A short article on the processes of becoming a teacher in Virginia may be found below.
Step 1: Complete a Teacher Preparation Program that has been Approved
To become a certified teacher in the United States, all states, including Virginia, need at least a bachelor’s degree. In Virginia, prospective teachers must also finish a recognized teacher training program from an institution. The Virginia Department of Preparation’s list of Authorized Teacher Training Programs has a list of state-recognized university teacher training programs.
Every teacher education program at a college or university has its unique set of prerequisites. For further information, contact your teacher training program or the Virginia Department of Education’s certification page. Virginia does not set precise course or credit-hour standards, but it does outline the competencies that teachers, in all areas and subjects, should possess. Depending on your specialty, the state requires 300-375 credit hours of practical experience that also includes 150 or even more hours of supervised student instruction.
Like in most states of the United States, curriculum and field experiences are the two main components of teacher training programs in Virginia. Instruction on teaching core skills, pedagogy (the science of teaching), and training students to research, design, and execute learning experiences in their field of study are often included in the curriculum. Field observations, internships, student teaching, or an amalgamation of all three are common field experiences.
Step 2: Pass the Requisite Exams
Educators in Virginia must complete a Basic Skills Examination as well as Subject-Specific Competence examination according to their instructional specialty.
- Fundamental Skills Assessment
- VCLA (Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment)
- Subject Specific Competence
- Subject Examinations in Your Specialized Field (Praxis II)
- For Elementary and Special Education Accreditation, the Praxis Series Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) is needed.
There are various paths to licensing in Virginia, including university programs recognized by the Board of Education, reciprocity for teachers certified in other states of the United States, and viable alternatives for eligible individuals. For further information, contact the Virginia Department of Education.
Step 3: Submit your application for a Virginia teaching credential.
Applicants can initiate the teacher licensure application process after fulfilling all standards of training, examination, and experience. All applicants must complete a credential application packet, as required by DOE, which may be found here. All areas, including contact details, academic qualifications, experience, and recommendation section, should be filled out completely.
Candidates must also include application dues, that cannot be refunded, with their submissions. The expenses are 50 dollars for the in-state candidates and 75 dollars for the candidates that are out of the state. A signed cheque, cashier’s cheque, money order, or personal cheque payable to the Virginia Treasurer is acceptable. Candidates can submit their application packages to the Virginia DOE after they have finished them.
