Teacher Licensure

Paths to Licensure

The following routes are available to obtain Commonwealth of Virginia teacher licensure:

Approved Program

Virginia colleges and universities have state-approved programs and alternative state-approved programs which lead to full licensure. After a student completes a program, his/her college or university makes the recommendation for the full 5-year, renewable license.

  • Advantages of Mason’s state-approved programs are: all courses count toward a master’s degree, all courses are held in late-afternoons/evenings, and most programs offer students a variety of scheduling options.
  • If an individual is hired provisionally by a school division, he/she will receive full Virginia license after completing the state-approved program.

Reciprocity

An individual coming into Virginia from another state may qualify for a Virginia license with comparable endorsement areas if the individual has completed a state-approved teacher training program through a regionally accredited 4-year college or university, or if the individual holds a valid, out-of-state teaching license. Virginia has reciprocity with 37 other states for individuals leaving the state with a full teaching license.

Alternative (Provisional) Licensure

A 3-year, nonrenewable provisional license will be issued to an individual upon recommendation by a Virginia school division or by a nonpublic school that hires the individual. The state will evaluate the individual’s transcript and inform him/her of the requirements that must be satisfied within the 3-year limit. Provisional licenses are usually issued only in shortage areas, such as mathematics and science. Conditional licenses are issued to special education teachers who are not fully licensed.