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How to become a certified teacher in Virginia. Bachelor's degree required. Primary exam: Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators. Government fees: $550–$750. Substitute requirements: Bachelor's degree (local school boards may set requirements; some accept 60 college credits). Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · Virginia
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in Virginia. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree
Primary Exam
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
Total Gov Fees
$550–$750
Initial Cert
5 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required (300 hours) |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 2.5 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
basic skills
Passing score: Reading: 156, Writing: 162, Math: 150
Three subtests: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Required unless exempt through qualifying ACT, SAT, or GRE scores.
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Content knowledge exam specific to the endorsement area.
basic skills
Passing score: 235 (Reading), 235 (Writing)
Virginia-specific reading and writing assessment. Required for all initial licensure applicants.
content knowledge
Passing score: 157
Required for elementary education and special education endorsements.
Initial license issued to teachers who complete all requirements through an approved program. Valid for a nonrenewable period while the teacher completes additional requirements.
Professional license issued after completion of required professional development, mentoring, and satisfactory teaching performance. Must be renewed every 5 years.
Issued to applicants who hold a master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree (local school boards may set requirements; some accept 60 college credits)
Certificate Required
No separate certificate
Background Check
Required
Validity
Determined by employing school division
Virginia does not issue a state-level substitute teaching license. Local school boards set their own requirements for substitute teachers. Most divisions require at least a bachelor's degree, though some accept 60 college credit hours. All substitutes must pass a background check. Some divisions offer emergency substitute authorization with lower education requirements during shortages.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Fingerprint FeeVirginia State Police and FBI fingerprint background check | $52 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Includes Praxis Core ($90 x 3), VCLA ($132), Praxis Subject Assessment ($120–$170), and RVE ($120 if applicable) | $400–$600 |
| Initial CertificateIncluded in the application fee | $50 |
| Renewal Fee | $25 |
| Total Government FeesIncludes application, fingerprinting, all exams, and initial license fee | $550–$750 |
Graduate from an approved teacher preparation program with a bachelor's degree.
Pass Praxis Core (or qualifying ACT/SAT/GRE), VCLA, Praxis Subject Assessment, and RVE (if applicable).
Fee: $400–$600
Submit fingerprints for Virginia State Police and FBI background checks through your employing school division.
Fee: $52
Apply through the Virginia Department of Education's online licensing system. Applications are submitted through the employing school division.
Fee: $50
Upon approval, receive a 5-year Provisional License (nonrenewable).
Virginia's Career Switcher Program is the primary alternative certification pathway, designed for career changers with a bachelor's degree and content expertise. The program includes coursework in pedagogy and classroom management, followed by a supervised teaching internship. Multiple approved providers offer Career Switcher programs across the state.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Hours per Cycle
180
Renewal Cycle
5 years
Virginia requires 180 professional development points per 5-year renewal cycle for the Renewable License. Points can be earned through college coursework (1 semester hour = 15 points), workshops, conferences, mentoring, professional learning communities, and other approved activities.
Reciprocity Type
Case-by-case review
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Virginia evaluates out-of-state applicants based on their credentials and experience. Those with a valid out-of-state license may receive a Virginia license if they meet comparable requirements.
Additional requirements: May need to pass the VCLA and/or Praxis subject assessments. Out-of-state applicants with 3+ years of full-time teaching experience may qualify for streamlined processing.
Unique to Virginia: Virginia is one of the few states that requires a state-specific literacy assessment (VCLA) in addition to Praxis exams. The state also has a unique Collegiate Professional License tier for educators who hold a master's degree. Virginia uses the term 'school divisions' rather than 'school districts,' and licensure applications are typically submitted through the employing school division rather than directly by the individual.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Virginia.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#23 of 51
Cost
#44 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$52,230
25th percentile
Median
$62,270
At national averageExperienced
$79,260
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
37,640 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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Virginia requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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