West Virginia Teacher Certification Renewal
Learn how to renew a Professional Educator Certification or reinstate a Professional Educator Certification in West Virginia
Teaching Certification Renewal
After three years of service, holders of initial teaching certificates must apply for renewal. License renewal allows successful teachers to show their professional development, and continue to do what they love.
The first step toward renewal is to complete Form 4, which requires much of the information required in the initial teacher application.
In West Virginia, teachers applying for renewal must complete six hours of coursework to demonstrate professional improvement. There are six options for obtaining these hours:
- Complete six semester hours of coursework toward a master’s degree in a program related to the public school (college recommendation required)
- Complete six semester hours of coursework related to the improvement of instructions and to your current endorsement area
- Complete six semester hours of coursework needed for additional endorsement (college recommendation required)
- Complete six semester hours of coursework prescribed by the county as a result of an evaluation
- Complete a master’s degree plus 30 hours Salary Classification or greater (six semester hours NOT required)
- Be Age 60 or greater (photocopy of birth certificate required, six semester hours NOT required)
To convert your three-year license to a five-year Professional Teacher license, you must also complete Form 4, as well as additional requirements.
Converting a license requires three-year license holders to successfully complete a beginning educator internship, complete six semester hours of coursework, and complete two years of teaching, one of which in West Virginia.
After five-year licenses expire, teachers have the option of applying for a Permanent Teaching Certificate if they meet certain requirements.
Candidates must:
- Hold a five-year Professional Teaching Certificate
- Hold a master’s degree related to a public school program
- Have completed five years of teaching, two of which within content specialization
Candidates who have obtained their National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification are also eligible for a permanent license. Additionally, teachers who have five-year Professional Teacher Certificates who have renewed twice are also eligible for permanent licenses.
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Reinstatement of Certification
In West Virginia, there is no reinstatement process and expired licenses must be renewed. Applicants need not apply for new licenses.
