WV Professional Teaching Certificate Renewal

Use this form to: 

• Request renewal of a three-year (3-year) or five-year (5-year) professional teaching certificate
• Convert a three-year (3-year) professional teaching certificate to a five-year (5-year) professional teaching certificate
• Convert a three-year (3-year) or a five-year (5-year) professional teaching certificate to a permanent professional teaching certificate

Review Policy 5202, Minimum Requirements for the Licensure of Professional/Paraprofessional Personnel and Advanced Salary Classifications, for information on renewing or converting your certificate. If you are employed in a county school system, please contact your county certification officer for assistance with the renewal process.

Renewal applications can only be submitted after January 1 of the year the certificate expires. This does not apply to candidates seeking a permanent certification who have the following:

• A five-year certificate
• A master's degree
• Five (5) years of full-time experience
• Completion of the Beginning Educator Internship/Induction or qualify for an exemption

General Requirements

To apply, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or hold eligible documentation (see Policy 5202)
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be physically, mentally, and emotionally qualified
• Hold, or have previously held, a West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate
• Have recommendation of county Superintendent
  • If you are not employed by a county school, you must also submit Form 4B. 

Please have your college or university email official transcripts to our office (cert.transcripts.wvde@k12.wv.us). Transcripts must be received from the college or university and not the applicant.

Renewal Criteria

Review the criteria below to determine which renewal option applies to you.

1-Year Certificate Renewal

To renew your certificate for one (1) year, you must:

• Hold a three (3) or five (5) year year certificate (21, 22, or 26) with:
  • Completion of three (3) credit hours of college/university classes or WVLearns coursework related to public education
    • Coursework must have been completed after your last certificate was effective and cannot be more than five (5) years old.
      • A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required for each eligible course.

3-Year Certificate Renewal

To renew your certificate for three (3) years, you must:

• Hold a three (3) year certificate (21, 22, or 26) with:
  • Completion of six (6) credit hours of college/university classes or WVLearns coursework related to public education
    • Coursework must have been completed after your last certificate was effective and cannot be more than five (5) years old.
      • A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required for each eligible course. 

Coursework Exemption: No coursework is needed if you have a master’s +30 or are at least 60 years old.

Non-Transferrable Certificate (26): You can only renew a non-transferrable certificate for three (3) years with six (6) credit hours of coursework or if you meet the coursework exemption if you hold a master’s +30 or are at least 60 years old. 

Convert 3-Year Certificate to a 5-Year Certificate

To convert your certificate to a five (5) year certificate, you must:

• Hold a three (3) year certificate (21) with:
  • 2 years of full-time teaching experience (with one (1) year full-time in West Virginia county public school system or accredited private school).
  • Completion of the Beginning Educator Internship/Induction (county mentor teacher program) or were officially declared exempt.
  • Completion of six (6) credit hours of college/university classes or WVLearns coursework related to public education
    • Coursework must have been completed after your last certificate was effective and cannot be more than five (5) years old. 
      • A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required for each eligible course. 

Coursework Exemption: No coursework is needed if you have a master’s +30 or are at least 60 years old.

Experience Exemption: If you don't have the work experience normally required to convert your five-year certificate, you may still be eligible to renew for an additional 3 years if you complete six (6) credit hours of coursework or meet the coursework exemption. 

5-Year Certificate Renewal

To renew your certificate for five (5) years, you must:

• Hold a five (5) year certificate (22) with:
  • Completion of six (6) credit hours of college/university classes or WVLearns coursework related to public education
    • Coursework must have been completed after your last certificate was effective and cannot be more than five (5) years old.
      • A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required for each eligible course. 

Coursework Exemption: No coursework is needed if you have a master’s +30 or are at least 60 years old.

Convert to a Permanent Certificate

The following options may be used to convert to a permanent professional teaching certificate:

Option 1 - Master's Degree with a Three-Year Certificate

To qualify for this option, you must:

• Hold a three (3) year certificate (21)
• Have a master's degree
• Have 5 years of full-time teaching experience (with 1 year in the West Virginia public school system or accredited private school)
• Have completed the Beginning Educator Internship/Induction (county mentor teacher program) or were officially declared exempt
• Have completed six (6) credit hours of college/university classes or WVLearns coursework related to public education
  • Coursework must have been completed after your last certificate was effective and cannot be more than five (5) years old.
    • A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required for each eligible course. 

Coursework Exemption: No coursework is needed if you have a master’s +30 or are at least 60 years old.

Option 2 - Master's Degree with a Five-Year Certificate

To qualify for this option, you must:

• Hold a five (5) year certificate (22)
• Have a master’s degree
• Have 5 years of full-time teaching experience (with 1 year in the West Virginia public school system or accredited private school)
• Have completed the Beginning Educator Internship/Induction (county mentor teacher program) or were officially declared exempt

Option 3 - Bachelor's Degree with Two Five-Year Certificates

To qualify for this option, you must:

• Hold a valid five (5) year certificate that has been issued twice (certificate 22)
• Have a bachelor’s degree
• Have 5 years of full-time teaching experience (with 1 year in the West Virginia public school system or accredited private school)
• Have completed the Beginning Educator Internship/Induction (county mentor teacher program) or were officially declared exempt
• Have completed six (6) credit hours of college/university classes or WVLearns coursework related to public education
  • Coursework must have been completed after your last certificate was effective and cannot be more than five (5) years old
    • A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required for each eligible course. 

Coursework Exemption: No coursework is needed if you are at least 60 years old.

Application Submission

For instructions on how to apply for a license to work in West Virginia public schools, follow the steps detailed in the certification application process.

For more detailed instructions, watch our Form 4 How To video.

$35