West Virginia Teaching Certification
West Virginia teachers earn certification through the West Virginia Department of Education by completing an approved educator preparation program, passing the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators and Praxis Subject Assessments, and finishing a supervised student teaching placement. New teachers receive a three-year Initial Professional Teaching Certificate, which can later be renewed or upgraded to a five-year Professional Certificate.
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Learn how to become a teacher in West Virginia (or an administrator). Choose the description of certification you are most interested in, or the situation that best describes you:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Getting Involved…
Education funding and teacher pay in West Virginia are shaped by decisions made at the state level, and they vary from year to year. Staying informed about how West Virginia supports its schools and how it compares to other states can help you understand what to expect as a new teacher. See how West Virginia measures up to the rest of the country by viewing the percentage of state revenue going toward education in each state.
Initial West Virginia Teaching Certification
West Virginia is known nationwide as a great place to teach in America. In fact, West Virginia was even ranked sixth in the nation for Education Week’s “Quality Counts 2008” based on ratings in areas such as teaching profession, school finance, chance-for-success, and K-12 achievement.
West Virginia teachers are committed to ensuring quality education and opportunities for their students, pushing for increased learning and skill-building activities that are often on the cutting edge of technology.
The West Virginia K-12 system has received some of the highest marks in technology in the classroom in the United States, and is one of only two states to receive an A for “Use of Technology” and “Educator’s Capacity to Use Technology.”
Teachers in West Virginia truly love their careers, and more students are looking to get into the profession. So what’s the first step?
Education Requirements
The West Virginia Department of Education (DOE) requires potential teachers to complete approved teacher preparation programs before applying for certification. West Virginia has numerous accredited colleges and universities that offer state-approved teacher preparation programs, giving candidates the knowledge and experience to become successful teachers.
During teacher education, students focus on one of several different initial teacher certification areas in West Virginia:
- Birth to Prekindergarten
- Prekindergarten to Kindergarten
- Kindergarten to Sixth Grade
- Fifth Grade to Ninth Grade
- Fifth Grade to Adulthood
- Ninth Grade to Adulthood
- Prekindergarten to Adulthood
During their education programs, students also pick between a variety of content specialization areas. They will need a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework in:
Kindergarten through Sixth Grade
- English/Language Arts
- Health
- Math
- Physical Education
- Science
- Social Studies
- Art
Secondary Education Levels
- Biology
- Business Education
- Chemistry
- Foreign Languages
- General Science
- Math
- Social Studies
There are three tiers of teacher certification in West Virginia: the three-year Initial Professional Teaching Certificate, the five-year Professional Teaching Certificate, and the Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate. Teachers qualify for the five-year certificate after three years of teaching experience and completion of a beginning educator internship/induction program. The permanent certificate follows either two renewals of the five-year certificate or five years of teaching in your endorsement area while holding a master’s degree. For more information on renewal requirements and certificates, see License Renewal and Reinstatement. Once certified, your earning potential also depends on your district’s pay scale and experience — see our full West Virginia Teaching Salaries and Benefits breakdown for exact figures.
Examinations
In West Virginia, all teacher certification seekers are required to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, the Principles of Learning and Teaching test, and the PRAXIS II content area test.
The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is a pre-professional skills test that asks potential teachers to prove their knowledge in reading, writing, and math. The exams test candidates on the critical thinking and comprehension skills necessary for successful teaching.
You may be exempt from the Praxis Core exam if:
- You hold a certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards
- You hold a West Virginia Professional Certificate
- You hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution
- You’ve scored high enough on the ACT or SAT
- You hold a valid out-of-state teaching license
The Principles of Learning and Teaching test varies depending on the grade level a potential educator wishes to teach. The tests include:
- Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6
- Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5-9
- Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12
PRAXIS II content examinations are specifically tailored to a student’s specialization. For example, students interested in becoming science teachers take science content exams.
More information and study guides may be found on the Educational Testing Service’s West Virginia PRAXIS website.
Experience Requirements
Candidates for teacher certification in West Virginia must complete student teaching hours during their teacher education programs.
Student teachers are assigned to classrooms where they help development lesson material, gain classroom management skills, and learn what it’s really like to be a teacher. For many students, this is the most important part of the teacher preparation experience, giving them a first-hand look at their future careers.
Document and Application Requirements
After successful completion of a teacher preparation program in West Virginia, potential teachers apply through the WVDE Certification Portal, the state’s online system for licensure applications.
First-time applicants register for a Certification Portal account, then submit the Form 20-T application electronically. Your college or university must email your official transcripts directly to the WVDE (applicants cannot submit their own transcripts). Once your teacher preparation program and employing county, if applicable, verify your application, you’ll receive an email to pay your non-refundable processing fee online. Cash and checks aren’t accepted.
If you completed student teaching out of state, you’ll need Form 4B, emailed to the certification office along with any other supplemental documents.
Criminal History Background Check
In West Virginia, teacher certification applicants must pass both state and FBI background checks. This is to verify that a potential teacher is the best candidate for the position.
First-time applicants receive an email with a service code for scheduling their background check and fingerprinting through Identogo once their application is submitted. Applicants must also complete Form 7, emailed to the certification office along with supporting documents.
Contact Information
Applications and supporting documents are handled primarily online through the Certification Portal. Physical transcripts or documents that can’t be emailed can be mailed to:
West Virginia Department of EducationOffice of Certification
Building 6, Suite 550
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
More information may be found on the DOE website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to teach in West Virginia?
You need at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, plus completion of a West Virginia Department of Education-approved teacher preparation program. The program includes coursework in your content area and a supervised student teaching placement.
Which Praxis exams does West Virginia require?
West Virginia requires the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, a Principles of Learning and Teaching exam matched to your intended grade level, and a Praxis II content exam in your subject area. Some candidates qualify for a Praxis Core exemption, including those with a master’s degree or a high enough ACT or SAT score.
How long is a West Virginia teaching certificate valid?
New teachers receive an Initial Professional Teaching Certificate valid for three years. After three years of teaching experience and a beginning educator internship, teachers can upgrade to a five-year Professional Certificate. From there, teachers can eventually qualify for a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate by renewing the five-year certificate twice, or by teaching five years in their endorsement area while holding a master’s degree.
Is there an alternative path to teacher certification in West Virginia?
Yes. West Virginia offers an alternative certification route for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education. Candidates in this path typically teach under a provisional certificate while completing required coursework and exams.
Do West Virginia teacher applicants need a background check?
Yes. All applicants must pass both a state and an FBI background check as part of the certification application, which includes fingerprinting through the required Form 7.
- Bachelor’s degree plus an approved program — West Virginia certification starts with a bachelor’s degree and a state-approved teacher preparation program.
- Three Praxis exams — Candidates must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, a Principles of Learning and Teaching exam, and a Praxis II subject exam.
- Three certificate tiers — A three-year Initial Certificate leads to a five-year Professional Certificate after an internship year, and eventually a Permanent Certificate.
- Background checks required — Both state and FBI background checks, along with fingerprinting, are required before certification is granted.
- Alternative routes exist — Career changers with a non-education bachelor’s degree can pursue an alternative certification path while teaching.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in West Virginia, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
