Become a Teacher in Virginia

Get the information you need to make a difference in your community.

• Virginia Teacher Certification - Program Information
  
  
• Step-by-step instructions - Virginia Teacher Certification, Certification Renewal and much more

With the state of Virginia so close to Washington, D.C.—where decisions are made regarding national educational policy—it can be exciting to become a teacher in Virginia. Besides the possibility of involvement in the nation's educational future, there are plenty of other reasons to consider teaching in Virginia. With graduation rates and test scores rising, particularly among black and Hispanic students, teachers in Virginia are a valued part of the workforce, and earn nearly $50,000 per year on average.

Education is the fifth largest industry in the state of Virginia, with 71,415 elementary and secondary school teachers serving over 1.25 million students. The industry is expected to grow nearly 20 percent over the 2008-2018 decade, and teaching is among the top 10 hot growth industries in the state. ^(1,2) There's no better time to start a rewarding career teaching our future generations.

Future Virginia Teachers

The future is bright for prospective educators who are interested in teaching in Virginia. Projected job growth rates are high for a number of teaching specialties, especially kindergarten, elementary school, middle school and special education, all expected to grow by at least 20 percent between 2008 and 2018. ⁽²⁾ To become a teacher in Virginia, you must earn a bachelor's degree, complete an approved teacher preparation program, and pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), as well as any other tests required in your teaching area.

Current Virginia Teachers and School Administrators

New teachers in Virginia are generally first granted an Initial Teaching License. The next step for teachers is to seek a renewable Professional-level license. School administrators, meanwhile, may choose to seek any one of a number of specialty licenses-the School Manager license, for example. Renewal requires you to complete a specified number of professional development points, usually through coursework from an accredited institution, conferences or other professional activities.

Virginia Teachers in Demand

With a growing need for teachers in high-priority subject areas such as special education, mathematics and foreign languages, demand is high for qualified and passionate educators in Virginia. The state has incentives to attract and retain these teachers. If you plan to become a teacher in Virginia, you may be able to take advantage of the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program (VTSLP) or federal loan forgiveness programs for teachers working in areas of high need.

Start a rewarding career teaching in Virginia. Request information from the accredited education programs below to find the one that's right for you.

Sources:
Virginia Department of Education, unless otherwise indicated
(1) National Center for Education Statistics
(2) Virginia Workforce Connection