Liberty University Online Teaching Certification: B.Ed. in Elementary Education
Liberty University online teaching certification starts with its Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education, which leads to Virginia teacher licensure. The CAEP-accredited program combines online coursework with 90+ practicum hours and one full semester of in-person student teaching. Graduates who complete Virginia’s PreK-6 licensure requirements can apply for reciprocity in other states.
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Liberty University is a name you are sure to come across when you search for online teaching certification degree programs. That’s because Liberty has been a leader in remote postsecondary education for decades. Starting with a 1985 initiative built around mailing VHS tapes to non-traditional students, the school has grown into a Canvas-based digital learning system that ranks among the most advanced in the country.
Liberty’s B.Ed. in Elementary Education is one of the first bachelor’s programs in the nation, and the first in Virginia, to offer a fully online degree that prepares students for initial teaching licensure. Today, that history gives online students in one of Virginia’s most in-demand teaching fields real institutional depth to draw on.
Liberty University Has Done a Lot for Virginia Education in a Short Time
Liberty was founded in 1971 and has grown into one of the largest nonprofit universities in the country. Residential enrollment held at 16,151 students in fall 2025, and Liberty’s online programs are on pace to surpass 131,000 students during the 2025-26 academic year, putting total enrollment well above 147,000.
No one should mistake that size for indifference. The Christian foundation of the university means every student gets a personalized, attentive, supportive experience in every program.
Liberty hangs its hat on three linchpins it has found over time are critical to students:
- Affordability
- Accessibility
- Academic Quality
The online studies programs work to meet all three. Asynchronous, study-anywhere classes, the lower cost of streaming content, and high-caliber instructors combine to deliver the best of the best in every category.
With an 8-week format and offering 8 start dates per year, even your own school year becomes flexible under the Liberty system.
Faculty naturally fall into a mentoring role, and every course is taught from a place of Christian faith. That results in a more personalized education at Liberty than most other options in Virginia, or nationally.
Elementary Teaching Remains Virginia’s Top Certification Need
Virginia is one of the few states that publishes regular data on the challenges it faces hiring qualified teaching staff. Elementary Education PreK-6 has held the top spot on the Virginia Department of Education’s critical shortage teaching endorsement list for several consecutive years running, ahead of special education and middle school instruction.
So the online Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education from Liberty may be one way to address that staffing gap directly.
That’s not the only reason to consider it, though. Elementary teaching is one of the most enjoyable, most influential positions in the entire field of education, and getting your endorsement puts you right at the center of it.
Just because teaching at the elementary level is fun doesn’t mean it’s easy. Liberty’s online B.Ed. in Elementary Education sets you up for success through extensive theoretical and practical preparation.
What You’ll Study in Liberty’s Online B.Ed. Program
You’ll start with coursework in learning styles, human growth and behavior, and theories of knowledge acquisition, so you understand where students are in their development. That foundation feeds directly into training in pedagogical theory, curriculum development, and learning assessment.
All required coursework can be completed online, but that doesn’t mean you skip hands-on classroom experience. Liberty’s School of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the program requires more than 90 practicum hours plus one full semester of student teaching in an actual classroom, fulfilled in your local community.
| Program Detail | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Format | 100% online coursework with in-person practicum and student teaching |
| Accreditation | CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) |
| Licensure Track | Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) approved, PreK-6 endorsement |
| Clinical Requirements | 90+ practicum hours plus one full semester of student teaching |
| Reciprocity | Virginia license eligible for reciprocity in participating states |
The entire program is evidence-based and centered on student needs. You’ll come away with more than just qualifications for licensure in Virginia. You’ll understand elementary education best practices from the roots up, with the skills and flexibility to adapt them to your own classroom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Liberty University’s online elementary education degree accredited?
Yes. Liberty’s School of Education initial licensure programs, including the B.Ed. in Elementary Education, are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The university holds institutional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Does the online B.Ed. in Elementary Education lead to a Virginia teaching license?
Yes. The program is approved by the Virginia Department of Education for initial licensure in Elementary Education PreK-6. After completing coursework, practicum hours, and student teaching, graduates can apply for a Virginia teaching license and then pursue reciprocity in other states.
How much in-person experience does the online program require?
Students complete more than 90 practicum hours and one full semester of student teaching in an actual classroom near them. All other coursework, including pedagogy and curriculum development, is completed online.
Can I use a Virginia teaching license from Liberty to teach in another state?
Often, yes. Once you hold a Virginia teaching license, most states offer some form of reciprocity for out-of-state teachers, though each state sets its own additional requirements, such as extra coursework or exams. If you’re weighing your options, it helps to first understand what it takes to become an elementary teacher in the first place.
Why is elementary certification in high demand in Virginia right now?
Elementary Education PreK-6 has held the top spot on the Virginia Department of Education’s critical shortage endorsement-area rankings for several consecutive years. That demand means elementary-certified graduates are typically well positioned in the Virginia job market.
- CAEP-accredited program — Liberty’s School of Education initial licensure programs, including this one, meet CAEP’s national accreditation standards.
- VDOE-approved for PreK-6 licensure — the online B.Ed. in Elementary Education is approved by the Virginia Department of Education and was one of the first bachelor’s programs in the nation, and the first in Virginia, offered fully online for initial teaching licensure.
- 90+ practicum hours and one semester of student teaching — all required, completed in person near the student’s own community.
- Elementary education is Virginia’s top shortage area — Elementary Education PreK-6 has held the top spot on VDOE’s critical shortage rankings for several years running.
- Reciprocity potential — a Virginia teaching license earned through this program can support licensure applications in other states.
Explore Liberty University’s online Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education and see how its Virginia-approved licensure track fits your certification timeline.