Career and Technical Education Certificate

Initial or Temporary Application

The initial certificate is valid for five (5) years and the temporary certificate for one (1) year. To apply, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or hold eligible documentation (see Policy 5202)
• Have good character
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be physically, mentally, and emotionally qualified
• Have a minimum of a high school diploma or higher education degree as identified within the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Endorsements and Testing Manual
• Have completed a college or university’s state-approved Career and Technical Education teacher preparation program with a minimum 2.5 GPA or hold a valid West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate
• Have educational work experience or non-educational work experience as identified within the CTE Endorsements and Testing Manual
• Have required industry-recognized credentials as identified within the CTE Endorsements and Testing Manual and Policy 5202
• Have met basic skills proficiency through appropriate exams required by the West Virginia Board of Education or exemption as identified in Policy 5202, the Licensure Testing Directory or the CTE Endorsements and Testing Manual
  • A NOCTI exam is also required for endorsements as identified within the CTE Endorsements and Testing Manual and Policy 5202.
• Have official recommendation from the county superintendent, the Educational Service Cooperative, Multi-County Vocational Center Director, or the West Virginia Schools of Diversion and Transition superintendent
  • If you are currently employed by a county board of education, you must receive the recommendation of the employing county’s superintendent. 
  • If you are not employed by a county board of education, then a recommendation must be secured from the most recent education supervisor provided that such employment severance does not exceed one (1) year.
    • If employment severance in an educational setting is greater than one (1) year, a recommendation from the current employer or community leader must be secured (Form 4B). Official recommendation from the state-approved CTE educator preparation program provider is required for the initial CTE Certificate.

Application Submission

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

If this is your first time using our Certification Portal, you will need to register. Follow the instructions for first-time applicants. 

$35