Information concerning all certification/licensure requirements is located in WVBE Policy 5202.

  • Due to the large volume of applications received by the Office of Certification, the estimated time for processing of applications may be up to 90 days.
  • Certificates are no longer printed and mailed to applicants; you may track the progress of your application and review or print your certificate electronically in the certification status. A valid email address is required for each application. All communication is conducted electronically.
  • To check the accreditation status of an institution prior to enrolling in a class or program, use the link https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/.
  • You may contact the Office of Certification at (304) 558-7010 or certification.wvde@k12.wv.us.

West Virginia uses applicants’ social security numbers to check the clearinghouse maintained by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) for license revocation, cancellation, suspension, denial, and reinstatement in other states. West Virginia also reports information to the clearinghouse as needed. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will not release your social security number except to the NASDTEC clearinghouse to report cases of license revocation, cancellation, suspension, denial, and reinstatement as noted above.

Applications

To access application forms and apply for licensure:

Visit Our Application Forms page ❯

Certification Status

To track the progress of your application and review your licensure electronically, visit the Certification Check Website.

Note: “Pending” applications are in the process of being reviewed by a coordinator.

Public Employee License Actions

The State Superintendent is authorized to revoke or suspend a certificate or permit for intemperance, cruelty or immorality if there is a rational nexus to job performance, untruthfulness or conviction of a felony or any crime involving sexual misconduct with a minor or student.  W. Va. Code § 18A-3-6 (educators) and 18A-4-8e(j)(school bus operators). OSL investigates reports of such conduct and, if warranted, presents evidence at a hearing before the Professional Practice Panel of the West Virginia Commission for Professional Teaching Standards or another designee of the State Superintendent.

Public Employee License Actions List

Career Technical Education

Career Technical Education (CTE) programs are changing, evolving and innovating to better serve West Virginia’s students by preparing them to succeed and enter the workforce.

To find out how you may be able to complete an approved program for Career and Technical Education teacher licensure, please contact:

CTE Endorsements and Testing Manual

To schedule West Virginia Board of Education required testing (ex. basic skills or NOCTI exams) for Career and Technical Education, please contact the Marshall University Career Technical Teacher Prep and Certification Program: Beckley Office: 304-256-0266 Ext. 200 or email tuckwiller3@marshall.edu.

Licensure Testing Directory

To schedule West Virginia Board of Education required testing (ex. basic skills, content specific or principles of learning and teaching), please visit https://www.ets.org/praxis.

Guidance Document for Adding an Endorsement to a Valid West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate Based upon Content Proficiency

WVBE Policy currently provides an option for individuals who possess a valid West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate to take required Praxis content exam(s) to add endorsements to their certificate. This option is not available to individuals based upon possessing a Provisional Teaching Certificate, Student Support Certificate, Administrative Certificate or Permits of any kind. Only endorsements identified within this guidance document are eligible to be added using this option.

Guidance Document for Adding an Endorsement using Content Proficiency

When you are ready to apply for licensure, please visit the Application Forms website.

Office of Certification Website – Application Forms

Statement of Eligibility

A statement of eligibility allows an individual with an expired out-of-state professional teaching license (valid within the last five years) to seek employment in a West Virginia public school district within approved endorsement areas. Upon securing employment, qualifying individuals may apply for and be issued a West Virginia Provisional Professional Teaching Certificate.

For information on Out-of-State Programs, visit the Office of Educator Development and Support website.

Office of Educator Development and Support Website

Substitute Teaching

Minimum criteria for a substitute teaching permit in West Virginia includes (but is not limited to) an associate’s degree (or 60 eligible hours towards completion of a bachelor’s degree), a cumulative GPA of 2.0, and completion of county authorized initial substitute teacher training.

  • To inquire about employment opportunities, county authorized trainings and requirements for becoming a substitute teacher, individuals must first contact the human resources office in the county school district’s central office.
  • School districts may direct applicants to complete the WVDE provided eLearning initial substitute teacher training course online. Information about registering for eLearning substitute teacher training may be accessed at https://wvde.state.wv.us/elearning/ by selecting WV Learns News near the bottom of the page.

Restricted Short-Term Substitute Permit

Minimum criteria for a restricted short-term substitute teaching permit in West Virginia includes (but is not limited to) an associate degree or minimum equivalency hours.  Equivalency in lieu of a conferred associate degree should include a minimum of 60 semester credit hours** or 90 quarter hours**, a cumulative GPA of 2.0, and completion of county authorized initial substitute teacher training. Restricted Short-Term Substitute candidates must have reached the age of 21.

**Coursework should provide evidence of competencies in core areas such as English, reading, writing, and mathematics. Courses may include but are not limited to communications, social sciences, humanities and fine arts, analytical and inferential reasoning, and computational skills. These hours must be reflected on an official transcript of an accredited institution.

  • Individuals who hold a restricted short-term permit may substitute teach in the same classroom, at any grade level, for 10 consecutive days or less. A person with a restricted short-term substitute permit may substitute short-term throughout the year as long as they do not exceed ten consecutive days in the same classroom.

Restricted short-term substitute permits are valid for one year and expire at the end of each school year.

Short-Term Substitute Teaching Permit

Individuals who hold a short-term permit may substitute teach in the same classroom, at any grade level, for 30 days or less.

  • A person with a short-term substitute permit may not substitute for more than 30 consecutive days in same classroom. A person with a short-term substitute permit may substitute short-term throughout the year as long as they do not exceed 30 consecutive days in the same classroom.

Short-Term Substitute permits are valid for 3 years.

Long Term Substitute Teaching Permit

A long-term substitute permit allows an individual to substitute teach within a specific endorsement area at specified grade levels for more than 30 consecutive days in the same classroom. Applicants must meet additional coursework criteria as demonstrated on their college transcripts, which includes (but is not limited to) at least 12 semester hours of credit with a grade of C or higher in the subject area for which they intend to substitute.

  • Those seeking elementary education endorsements, must have a minimum of 12 semester hours which includes at least one college level mathematics course and a combination of core content coursework in English, science and social studies. (One course related to child development, early learning, or reading and writing may be used in lieu of a core content course other than mathematics).

Long-Term Substitute permits are valid for 3 years.

Substitute Permits for Nursing

Minimum criteria for a substitute teaching permit for the endorsement of nursing includes (but is not limited to) a Nursing Diploma/Associate Degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 These individuals must hold a valid registered nursing license issued by the West Virginia Board of Examiners, and have completed 12 hours of initial substitute teacher training related to school nursing and 6 hours of clinical time with a certified school nurse who is a registered nurse.

Nursing substitute permits are valid for 3 years.

Substitute Teaching in Areas of CTE

Contact school districts to inquire about substitute teaching employment opportunities in areas of CTE and review the state-minimum eligibility criteria for the Substitute CTE Permit which includes the following:

  • Age 18; good character; physically, mentally, and emotionally qualified
  • Meet the identified education level (ex. high school diploma, GED, etc.)
  • Hold identified industry credentials for the endorsement
  • Meet identified wage-earning experience requirements

Candidates must receive the appropriate recommendation from their employer and complete initial substitute teacher training. Endorsement specific requirements may be accessed in CTE Endorsements and Testing Manual.

To review the complete requirements of licensure, please review West Virginia Board of Education Policy 5202 at http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/

For more information on licensure pathways, please visit the Office of Educator Development and Support website.

Office of Educator Development and Support Website

In order to support teacher preparation candidates entering the teaching profession in our state, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is able to provide a one-time, free of charge voucher covering the cost of one take of a nationally-normed Teacher Performance Assessment. This voucher is available to all eligible candidates completing a state-approved teacher preparation program at a West Virginia institution.

Candidates are responsible for registering and completing the TPA as required by the testing company and the attending institution. Vouchers cannot be applied retroactively to current registrations. Candidates should not register for the TPA prior to receiving the voucher. Please be advised that this is a unique and one-time voucher that will expire 18 months from issuance or activation whichever comes last. Lost, expired, or misused vouchers will not be reissued. Candidates are eligible for one voucher and may not be issued any additional ones.

To request your voucher please use the following Voucher Request Form

Application User Guides

Guide NameUser TypeDescriptionForms
Form 4 - Professional Teacher, Student Support, Administrative Renewal Applications - Applicant User GuideApplicantRequest renewal of your Professional Teaching, Student Support, or Administrative Certificate, or to convert a Five-Year Certificate or to a Permanent Certificate4
Form 19, 19A, 19R - Initial Administrative Applications (Principal, Supervisor of Instruction, Superintendent)ApplicantApply for an initial professional Administrative Certificate endorsed for a Principal, Supervisor, and/or Superintendent.19, 19A, 19R
Form 20S, 20SA, 20SR - Initial and Reciprocity Student Support Applications (Counselors, School Nurse, School Psychologists, Social Services and Attendance) - Applicant User GuideApplicantApply for an initial Student Support Certificate as a School Counselor, School Nurse, School Psychologist or Social Services and Attendance Director.20S, 20SA, 20SR
Form 20T - Initial Professional In-State Teaching Application - Applicant User GuideApplicantApply for an initial Teaching Certificate after completing a state approved teacher preparation program from an IHE in West Virginia.20T
Form 20A, 20R - Initial Out-of-State and Reciprocity Teacher Applications - Applicant User GuideApplicantApply for an initial Teaching Certificate after completing an approved teacher preparation program from an IHE located outside of West Virginia.20A, 20R
Form 39 - Initial/Renewal Coaching Authorizations - Applicant User GuideApplicantApply for an initial or renewal of the authorization to be a Coach, Athletic Trainer, or Limited Football Trainer after being hired by a West Virginia County School System. 39
Form 8, 8A, 8C, 8R - Add Endorsement to Professional Certificate - Applicant User GuideApplicantAdding an endorsement to a valid WV Professional Teaching Certificate, following completion of coursework at a regionally-accredited college/university (Form 8), or an additional endorsement in Autism (Form 8A), or an additional endorsement based on completion of a PRAXIS II Content Exam (Form 8C), or an endorsement on a valid/renewable out-of-state (Form 8R).8, 8A, 8C, 8R
Form 19, 19A - Administrative - Institutional User GuideIHEApprove an indivdiual for an initial professional Administrative Certificate endorsed for a Principal, Supervisor, and/or Superintendent.19, 19A
Form 4 - Professional Certificate Renewal Institutional User GuideIHEApprove an indivdiual forrenewal of professional Teacher, Student Support, or Administrative Certificate who is currently attending the IHE for an additional endorsement or degree. 4
Form 20A - Out-of-State Professional Teacher Applications - Institutional User GuideIHEApprove an indivdiual for an initial Teaching Certificate after completing an approved teacher preparation program outside of West Virginia.20A
Form 20S, 20SA - Initial Student Support - Institutional User GuideIHEApprove an individual for an initial Student Support Certificate as a School Counselor, School Nurse, School Psychologist or Social Services and Attendance Director after completion of the licensure program at an IHE.20S, 20SA
Form 20T - In-State Teacher Institutional Approval GuideIHEApprove an individual for an initial Teaching Certificate after completing a state approved teacher preparation program from an IHE in West Virginia.20T
Form 8 - Add Endorsements Institutional Approval GuideIHEAdding an endorsement to a valid WV Professional Certificate, following completion of coursework for an indivdiual who currently holds a valid West Virginia Teaching, Student Support, or Administrative Certificate.8
Form 4 - Teacher, Student Support, Administrative Renewals - County Approval GuideCountyApprove a request for an employee to renew a Professional Teaching, Student Support, or Administrative Certificate, or to convert a Five-Year Certificate or to a Permanent Certificate4
Form 20T, 20S - Initial Teacher and Student Support - County Approval GuideCountyApprove an application for an employee for an initial Teaching or Student Support Certificate as a Teacher, School Counselor, School Nurse, School Psychologist or Social Services and Attendance Director.20T, 20S
Form 19, 19A - Initial Administrative - County Approval GuideCountyApprove an employee for an initial professional Administrative Certificate endorsed for a Principal, Supervisor, and/or Superintendent.19, 19A, 19R
Form 39 - Initial Coaching and Renewal - County Approval GuideCountyApprove a request for a hired employee for an initial or renewal of the authorization to be a Coach, Athletic Trainer, or Limited Football Trainer.39
Form 8, 8A, 8C, 8R - Add Endorsement - County Approval GuideCountyApprove an employee to add an endorsement to a valid WV Professional Certificate, following completion of coursework for an indivdiual who currently holds a valid West Virginia Teaching, Student Support, or Administrative Certificate.8, 8A, 8C, 8R
Form 2L, 2S, 2A - Applicant User Guide For Initial Long-Term, Short-Term, and Restricted Short-Term SubstitutesApplicantThese permits allow individuals who do not hold a professional certificate to substitute day-to-day or for an extended amount of time exceeding 30 days. The county determines the type of certificate for which an individual will be applying. 2L, 2S, 2A
Form 2LE - Applicant User Guide for Renewing to a Long-Term Substitute Permit and adding EndorsementsApplicantThis application allows individuals to renew and add new endorsements with authorization from the employing county to a valid Long-Term Substitute Permit2LE
Form 2LR, 2SR, 2AR - Applicant User Guide for Renewal of Short-Term, Long-Term and Restricted Short-Term Substitute PermitsApplicantThese renewal permits allow individuals who do not hold a professional certificate to substitute day-to-day or for an extended amount of time exceeding 30 days. The county determines the type of certificate for which an individual will be applying. 2LR, 2SR, 2AR
Form 8L - Applicant User Guide to add an Additional Endorsement to a valid Long-Term Substitute PermitApplicantThis application allows individuals to add new endorsements with authorization from the employing county to a valid Long-Term Substitute Permit8L
Form 2L, 2S, 2A - County Approval User Guide For Initial Long-Term, Short-Term, and Restricted Short-Term SubstitutesCountyThese permits allow individuals who do not hold a professional certificate to substitute day-to-day or for an extended amount of time exceeding 30 days. The county determines the type of certificate for which an individual will be applying. 2L, 2S, 2A
Form 2LE - County Approval User Guide for Renewing a Long-Term Sbstitute Permit and adding EndorsementsCountyThis application allows individuals to renew and add new endorsements with authorization from the employing county to a valid Long-Term Substitute Permit2LE
Form 2LR, 2SR, 2AR - County Approval User Guide for Renewal of Long-Term, Short-Term and Restricted Short-Term Substitute PermitsCountyThese renewal permits allow individuals who do not hold a professional certificate to substitute day-to-day or for an extended amount of time exceeding 30 days. The county determines the type of certificate for which an individual will be applying. 2LR, 2SR, 2AR
Form 8L - County Approval User Guide to add an Additional Endorsement to a valid Long-Term Substitute PermitCountyThis application allows individuals to add new endorsements with authorization from the employing county to a valid Long-Term Substitute Permit8L
Form 3 Clinical Teacher of RecordApplicantAn individual who does not have a Bachelor’s Degree conferred and has been hired to teach in an area of critical need and shortage while finishing their state-approved teacher preparation program as part of a WVBE approved agreement between an institution of higher education and a WV public school district.3
Form 3 Clinical Teacher of RecordIHEApprove an individual who does not have a Bachelor’s Degree conferred and has been hired to teach in an area of critical need and shortage while finishing their state-approved teacher preparation program as part of a WVBE approved agreement between an institution of higher education and a WV public school district.3
Form 3 Clinical Teacher of RecordCountyApprove an individual who does not have a Bachelor’s Degree conferred and has been hired to teach in an area of critical need and shortage while finishing their state-approved teacher preparation program as part of a WVBE approved agreement between an institution of higher education and a WV public school district.3

Course Code Guidance

A list of course codes for scheduling and the required endorsement for the assigned educator may be accessed at http://wveis.k12.wv.us/wveis2004/support.htm. This information may be used by administrators and school district personnel to ensure that the correct endorsement is being requested on an application for licensure.

Resources

The following informational resources are made available to school districts, institutions of higher education and stakeholder organizations that collaborate with the Office of Certification and Office of Professional Preparation, Recruitment, and Retention.

Office of Certification Updates/Flexibilities July 14, 2020

Office of Certification and Professional Preparation – Personnel Director Meeting – April 24, 2019

Initial Teacher Certification Webinar (for individuals completing traditional teacher preparation programs) – April 25, 2018

Office of Certification and Professional Preparation – Certification Updates – February 13, 2018

Office of Certification and Professional Preparation – WVASHRO Conference – October 25, 2017

Office of Certification – WVASHRO Conference – December 7, 2021

The Pathway to Licensure and Welcome to the Profession – April 7, 2017

Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensure Webinar – March 16, 2017

Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensure Webinar – January 24, 2017

Alternative Certification – WVASHRO Conference – October 19, 2016

Alternative Certification Implementation – Technical Assistance Webinar – July 15 & 19

WV School Personnel Association Conference — May 12, 2016

Alternative Certification Program Technical Assistance Webinar – February 4, 2016

Career and Technical Education and Adult Education Webinar — November 5, 2015

Certified List Training. Certification Updates – July 30, 2015

WV School Personnel Association Conference – October 28, 2015

WV School Personnel Association Conference – May 13, 2015

WV School Personnel Association Conference – October 22, 2014

WV School Personnel Association Conference – May 14, 2014

Certification Training Webinars

Educator Quality Reports and Data

  • Critical Shortage Report
    U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide List: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.html
  • Quality of Teacher Preparation
    • 2014: No educator preparation programs designated as low-perfoming in West Virginia.
    • 2013: No educator preparation programs designated as low-perfoming in West Virginia.
    • 2012: No educator preparation programs designated as low-perfoming in West Virginia.
    • 2011: No educator preparation programs designated as low-perfoming in West Virginia.
    • 2010: No educator preparation programs designated as low-perfoming in West Virginia.
    • 2009: No educator preparation programs designated as low-perfoming in West Virginia.
    • 2008