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How to become a certified teacher in West Virginia. Bachelor's degree required. Primary exam: Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators. Government fees: $500–$650. Substitute requirements: Bachelor's degree (or college coursework with county approval for short-term substitute permits). Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · West Virginia
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in West Virginia. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE).
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree
Primary Exam
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
Total Gov Fees
$500–$650
Initial Cert
5 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required |
| 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 for initial certification unless exempt through qualifying scores on other assessments.
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Content knowledge exam specific to the endorsement area. West Virginia uses Praxis II subject assessments.
pedagogy
Passing score: Varies by grade level
Pedagogy exam required for initial certification at the appropriate grade band.
Initial certificate issued to new educators who complete an approved teacher preparation program and pass all required Praxis exams.
Issued after five years of successful teaching experience and completion of a master's degree. This is a permanent, non-expiring certificate.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree (or college coursework with county approval for short-term substitute permits)
Certificate Required
Substitute Teaching Permit
Background Check
Required
Permit Fee
$25
Validity
1 year
West Virginia requires substitute teachers to obtain a state-issued permit. Long-term substitutes (more than 30 consecutive days in the same position) typically need a bachelor's degree and appropriate endorsement. Short-term substitutes may qualify with a bachelor's degree and a valid substitute permit. County boards may issue emergency substitute authorizations during shortages.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $25 |
| Fingerprint FeeApproximate cost for state and FBI fingerprint-based background check | $50 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Praxis Core ($90 x 3 subtests), Praxis Subject Assessment ($120–$170), and PLT ($146) | $400–$550 |
| Initial Certificate | $25 |
| Renewal Fee | $25 |
| Substitute Permit | $25 |
| Total Government FeesIncludes application, fingerprinting, all exams, and initial certificate fee | $500–$650 |
Graduate from an approved teacher preparation program with a bachelor's degree and a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Pass Praxis Core, Praxis Subject Assessment, and Praxis PLT for your endorsement area.
Fee: $400–$550
Submit fingerprints for state and FBI background checks.
Fee: $50
Apply through the WVDE's online certification system (WVEIS).
Fee: $25
Upon approval, receive a 5-year Professional Teaching Certificate.
West Virginia offers alternative certification for career changers with a bachelor's degree. Candidates can teach under a provisional certificate while completing coursework and mentoring requirements. Teach For America also operates in the Appalachian region of West Virginia.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Hours per Cycle
6
Renewal Cycle
5 years
West Virginia requires 6 semester hours of college credit or equivalent professional development (1 college credit = 15 clock hours of PD) per 5-year renewal cycle. Teachers working toward a Permanent Certificate must earn a master's degree within 5 years of initial certification.
Reciprocity Type
Case-by-case review
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
West Virginia evaluates out-of-state applicants individually. Educators with a valid out-of-state certificate may receive a West Virginia certificate if they meet comparable requirements.
Additional requirements: May need to pass Praxis exams if not previously completed in comparable areas.
Unique to West Virginia: West Virginia is one of the few states that still offers a Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate that never expires, available after earning a master's degree and completing 5 years of teaching. The state organizes its public schools by county (55 county school districts), which is different from most states. West Virginia's relatively low certification fees ($25 for application) make it one of the most affordable states for initial teacher certification.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in West Virginia.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#39 of 51
Cost
#38 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
$47,030
25th percentile
Median
$55,550
-11% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$57,860
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
6,680 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.
Source: Certification - West Virginia Department of Education
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Certification - West Virginia Department of Education
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Certification - West Virginia Department of Education
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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West 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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