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University of Virginia

Alternate Route to Teacher Licensure

(Available at our Northern Virginia, Richmond, Roanoke and University Centers)

A series of graduate-level professional development courses in education is offered to assist individuals in meeting the Professional Studies Requirement for the alternate route to teacher licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The courses are intended for individuals with a minimum of an undergraduate degree (BA/BS) who are interested in obtaining a license to teach, as well as for teachers with provisional licenses who need to complete the professional studies requirement needed for licensure.

The Alternate Route to Teacher Licensure is a four-part process required by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The prospective teacher must complete the four parts for submission to the Virginia Department of Education in order to receive a license to teach in Virginia.  


  1. Exams: The Professional Teacher Assessment exams for middle, secondary, and PreK-12 endorsements are the  Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and Praxis II
    VCLA reading and writing skills. Praxis II is a specialty area test intended to establish proficiency in an endorsement area, such as in biology or French.


  2. Endorsement: Each teaching license has listed on it those subject(s) or curricula the individual is qualified to teach. The 57 specific endorsement areas are determined by the state of Virginia. Your undergraduate degree (BA/BS) is the basis for determining an endorsement area. Your endorsement coursework can be from that degree and/or from subsequent coursework.


  3. Professional Studies Courses: The Professional Studies requirement involves 15 to 18 semester hours of courses. They include:
    1. Human Development (3 semester hours)

    2. Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment  (3 semester hours)

    3. Classroom Management (3 semester hours)

    4. Foundations of Education (3 semester hours)

    5. Reading (3 to 6 semester hours; endorsement specific).

    These courses are offered on a yearly cycle through our regional centers. Other courses offered in Northern Virginia also apply.


  4. Teaching: One academic year of successful full-time teaching experience in the endorsement area in any accredited public or non-public school with a fully licensed teacher available in the same building to assist a beginning teacher is the final requirement. Once you are hired as a full-time teacher on a provisional license, you have three years to complete all requirements for certification. A provisional license is a non-renewable license.

    Application for licensure is made by the school system employing the provisional licensure applicant. The alternate licensure process is the responsibility of the individual. The University of Virginia does not submit licensure requests for persons enrolled in professional development courses. An individual seeking a Provisional License through the alternate route must meet the requirements specified in the State Board of Education Licensure Regulations Section 8 VAC 20-21-50 A 4.

    For a detailed listing of alternate licensure requirements, and for information about the Professional Teacher's Assessment requirements, visit the Virginia Department of Education.

For information on the latest updates to the licensure regulations, refer to 8VAC 20-22-90 and following sections.

Professional Studies Courses

EDIS 7710    Reading in the Content Areas
EDIS 7720    Word Study: Language Structures, and Phonics
EDLF 7160    Life Span Development
or
EDLF 7200    Child Growth and Development
EDLF 7601    Social Foundations of Education
PSED 6503    Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
PSED 6505    Classroom Management

Also offered in Northern Virginia

PSED 6512    Art Education in Practice 2
PSED 6512    Art Education in Practice 1
PSED 6514    Methods of Teaching Modern Languages

Program Contacts
Northern Virginia Center
Patty Froggett
Email:  froggett@virginia.edu
Telephone: 703-536-1141 / 1-800-678-4882

Northern Virginia Center
Charlotte Partain
Email:  cpartain@virginia.edu
Telephone: 703-536-1123 / 1-800-678-4882

Richmond Center
Angela Wilkins
Email:  anw@virginia.edu
Telephone: 804-662-7464 / 1-800-323-4882

Roanoke Center
Linda Linnartz
Email:  linnartz@virginia.edu
Telephone: 540-767-6202 / 1-800-882-6753

University Center
Joy Sabol
Email:  jsabol@virginia.edu
Telephone: 434-243-4034 / 1-800-346-3882