The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) continuously strives to assist school districts in their efforts to promote, recruit and retain a highly effective and diverse workforce. W.Va. Code §18A-3-1a – §18A-3-1i (effective June 12, 2015) has created the opportunities below for school districts to recruit individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and meet the eligibility criteria to fill teacher vacancies in areas of critical need and shortage. Opportunities for participating in West Virginia’s former alternative certification program known as “the Transition to Teaching program” are no longer available.
Individuals who would like to participate in a state-approved alternative certification program must contact a school district that has an approved program for eligibility details and receive an offer of employment for a vacancy in an identified area of critical need and shortage. Candidates must also meet requirements to hold an Alternative Teaching Certificate (see the AC frequently asked questions document for state minimal eligibility criteria). Individuals do not enroll into approved AC programs until an Alternative Teaching Certificate is issued by the Office of Certification. Upon successful completion of a state-approved alternative certification program, applicants would be eligible to apply for an Initial Provisional Teaching Certificate.
At this time, the following alternative certification programs are approved by the WVBE (updated as of 7/17/2023):
(Select a school district to access its homepage and contact information.)
Alternative Teacher Certification Programs: General Education
| Program Name | WV School Districts |
| Alternative Certification of Educators (ACE) | Summers |
| Alternative Certification Through Innovation | Lincoln, Mason, Mingo |
| Cabell County Schools: GROW Educators (Guide, Retain, Orient, and Welcome) | Cabell |
| Kanawha's BEST | Kanawha |
| McDowell County Schools and Wyoming County Schools Alternative Certification Program | Wyoming |
| Mercer County Schools Alternative Certification Program | Mercer |
| Raleigh County Schools Alternative Certification Program | Raleigh |
| Region 3 Alternative Certification Program | Putnam |
| Region 4 Alternative Certification Program | Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Webster, |
| Region 5 Alternative Certification Program | Tyler, Wirt, Wood |
| Region 6 Alternative Certification Program | Hancock, Ohio, Wetzel |
| Region 7 Alternative Certification Program | Barbour, Gilmer, Lewis, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Tucker |
| iTeachWV-Region8 | Grant, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, Pendleton |
Alternative Teacher Certification Programs: Special Education
| Program Name | WV School Districts |
|---|---|
| Alternative Certification of Educators (ACE) | Summers |
| Alternative Certification Through Innovation | Lincoln, Mason, Mingo |
| Cabell County Schools: GROW Educators (Guide, Retain, Orient, and Welcome) | Cabell |
| Kanawha's BEST | Kanawha |
| Wyoming County Schools Alternative Certification Program | Wyoming |
| Mercer County Schools Alternative Certification Program | Mercer |
| (Region 3) Putnam County Alternative Certification Program for Special Education | Putnam |
| Region 4 Alternative Certification Program | Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Webster |
| Region 5 Alternative Certification Program | Tyler, Wirt, Wood |
| Region 6 Alternative Certification Program | Hancock, Ohio, Wetzel |
| Region 7 Alternative Certification Program | Barbour, Gilmer, Lewis, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Tucker |
| iTeachWV-Region8 | Grant, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, Pendleton |
The complete requirements of alternative certification are detailed within WVBE Policy 5901, Policy 5202 and West Virginia State Code §18A-3-1.
To find out more about state-approved alternative certification programs, contact Robert Mellace at rmellace@k12.wv.us.