West Virginia, home to the Appalachian mountains, bituminous coal, and Moth Man, is a wonderful state to pursue your dream of becoming an educator. The state's low cost of living and educational job market combine to make it an ideal home for teachers. West Virginia has been facing an extreme teacher shortage and has, in turn, approved new alternative paths to certification.
If you intend to follow the traditional route to teacher certification in the state of West Virginia, you will need the following:
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There are many universities in West Virginia that meet the state requirements for teacher preparation programs. Some offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees that lead to certification. Here is a list of universities that offer teacher preparation programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels:
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Create AccountLike most states, West Virginia requires teachers to hold, at the minimum, a bachelor's degree. Educators in West Virginia must also complete a teacher preparation program and be recommended for certification by their program supervisor. In order to qualify for licensure, educators must have at least a 2.5 GPA in their undergraduate degree or a 3.0 in their graduate program.
Teacher preparation programs will have different requirements, but the state also imposes their own as well. Teachers will need to complete at least 30 hours of coursework specific to their intended grade level and content area.
State-approved teacher preparation programs will always include a student teaching portion. West Virginia requires at least 200 hours of student teaching in teacher preparation programs. A licensed resident teacher will supervise student teachers.
West Virginia's educators must pass multiple Praxis exams. The exams that are required by the state of West Virginia are:
Educators in West Virginia must submit to a criminal background check by both the state and the FBI. West Virginia also requires candidates to submit to fingerprinting through Identogo. In order to receive the code to complete the federal background check, you will need to first submit your other application materials to the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE).
If you meet all of the qualifications as laid out by the state of West Virginia, you are ready to apply for your Initial Professional Teaching Certificate! You will need to complete these steps for your application to be considered complete:
Should an online form be unavailable to begin applying, required supporting materials should be sent to a physical address (West Virginia Department of Education, Building 6, Suite 700, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East Charleston, WV 25305.) This is an unlikely event.
West Virginia operates on a tiered teacher licensing structure.
Temporary Teaching Certificates: This certificate is designed for educators who hold either an out-of-state teaching license or have completed an out-of-state teacher preparation program. It is valid for one year. Educators operating with temporary teaching licenses are expected to apply for their initial license at the end of the first year.
Initial Professional Teaching Certificate: This certificate is for new educators who have completed their bachelor's degree and a teacher preparation program, have received a recommendation for certification from their teacher preparation program, and have passed all three Praxis tests. It is valid for three years, and it is renewable.
Professional Five-Year Teaching Certificate: This certificate is for those who already hold an initial professional teaching certificate, have completed an induction program, have two years of teaching experience, have taken at least six hours of college coursework, and received a recommendation from their superintendent. It is valid for five years and is renewable.
Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate: This certificate is for those who have held a professional five-year certificate, have earned their master's degree, have five years of teaching experience, and have received their superintendent's recommendation. It is valid for five years and is renewable.
West Virginia has strived to create a diverse pool of educators, especially in areas of critical need. One measure they have taken has been to expand their alternative certification programs. These alternative certification programs often require candidates to:
If one meets these requirements, one may be eligible for a Alternative Teaching Certificate. It is to be renewed every year for up to two years. In order to receive this certificate, you must be enrolled in an alternative certification program. Click here to see a list of programs you can enrol to.
In order to qualify for any of these programs, you must make contact with a school district that has a state-approved program and receive an offer of employment. This route is intended to help the state fill areas of critical need with local educators. Following the completion of an alternative teaching program, one is eligible to apply for an Initial Provisional Teaching Certificate.
There are other alternative routes as well:
Initial First-Class Permit: On occasion, educators who have not yet completed their teacher certification program will be given an offer of employment from a West Virginia public school. In this situation, the educator has earned a bachelor's degree and is in the process of finishing their teacher preparation program. In order to maintain this license, the educator must have a GPA of 3.0 and satisfy all other state requirements within five years.
In 2021 the West Virginia Senate introduced Bill 14, which amended requirements for teacher certifications in the face of a state-wide shortage. This bill allows those who hold bachelor's degrees in subject areas they do not intend on teaching in to apply to for alternative programs and teaching certifications. As the state government seeks to fix their teacher shortage, the requirements for alternative certification may continue to shift.
West Virginia is a participant in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. This means that educators who hold certificates in other NASDTEC states will be able to apply for an Initial Provisional Teaching Certificate.
States that have signed NASDTEC agreements with West Virginia are: Maryland, North Carolina, Vermont, Delaware, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Virginia, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Washington, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Hawaii, Missouri, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Nebraska, Rhode Island Alabama, Indiana, Nevada, South Carolina, Arizona, Kansas, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Arkansas, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Maine, New York, Utah, Connecticut
License eligibility will depend on the years of experience of the out-of-state educator. Educators with advanced credentials and who can prove a minimum of five years experience in their content area are eligible for the Permanent Professional License. Educators who can prove three years of successful experience may be eligible for the Professional Teaching Certificate. These educators would be exempt from additional exam requirements.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics for Occupational Employment Statistics estimates an 8% job growth for educators in West Virginia. There are currently many vacant teaching positions in the Mountain State.
West Virginia, on average, pays elementary school teachers $45,520. Secondary school teachers make on average $45,420. While this falls in the lower percentile compared to other states, it is important to consider that the cost of living in West Virginia is significantly lower than most places in the US.
Katie Slaughter, M.A. has taught middle school science and math for over 6 years. She has helped lay a foundation for personalized learning in her school and has presented internationally about what she is doing in her classroom. She has successfully passed numerous Praxis exams. Katie completed a B.S. in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University and an M.A. in Teaching from Georgetown College.
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