Teacher Licensure

Virginia Test Requirements

Praxis I

Praxis I (or qualifying substitute) is required for admission to Mason’s state-approved initial licensure programs. Qualifying substitutes include SAT, ACT, or VCLA with qualifying Praxis I, SAT, or ACT math score. Praxis workshops available at GMU.

Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA)

The Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) must be passed prior to internship application submission for all initial teacher licensure programs. A total test score of at least 470 (235 in each Reading and Writing section) is passing for the VCLA.

Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA)

The Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA) must be passed prior to internship application submission for Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education-General Curriculum and Special Education-Visual Impairments. VRA is also a requirement for those seeking a Reading Specialist License. A test score of 235 is passing for the Early Childhood, Elementary, Special Education-General Curriculum and Special Education-Visual Impairments programs and 245 is passing for Reading Specialists. The last day that the VRA is offered is May 14, 2011, the replacement for the VRA is the RVE (information below). Scores for individuals who have previously taken the VRA will be valid for the VA Department of Education.

Reading for Virginia Educators

Effective July 1, 2011, the new reading assessments for the state of Virginia will be Reading for Educators (RVE) and RVE: Reading Specialists Assessment. Registration information may be found at ETS. A test score of 157 on the RVE is passing for the Early Childhood, Elementary, Special Education-General Curriculum and Special Education-Visual Impairments programs. A test score of 162 on the RVE: Reading Specialists Assessment is passing.

Praxis II

Praxis II subject area tests must be passed prior to internship application submission for most initial licensure programs (and is an admissions requirement for Career Switcher program). For individuals in the Education Leadership program the Praxis II needs to be taken in conjunction with the internship course, EDLE 791. For the Special Education-Adapted Curriculum program the Praxis II: Elementary Education Content Knowledge must be taken prior to graduation. Praxis workshops available at GMU.