We prepare you to apply to become a licensed educator
Once you reach the finish line on all degree and approved program requirements of the Educator Preparation Program – and with our School of Education recommendation – you’re ready to apply to become a licensed teacher or school counselor
All licensure and endorsement programs offered by our school are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. Virginia is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), which has a national reciprocity agreement for teacher licensure.
For additional information on licensure, licensure renewal or an add-on endorsement, contact our Student Services Center or the Virginia Department of Education.
Additionally, counseling graduates meet the educational requirements for their licensed professional counseling (LPC) in Virginia, as do all graduates of all three M.Ed. counseling program tracks.
In our state, licensure requires successful completion of all Virginia Department of Education state assessment requirements for licensure. Passing scores on these tests are required to progress through different portions of the licensure programs. Any candidate for teaching or school counseling licensure must have a Social Security number.
Required Tests before Admission into Student Teaching, Internships or Externships
- Praxis II in the content area
- The Office for Student Success offers free online test preparation resources for all Praxis II licensure exams.
- For details on access to test preparation resources, email: soeadvising@vcu.edu
- For details on registration, test administration, fees and testing policies for individuals with disabilities, visit the Praxis website.
- TB test results (must be negative)
Undergraduate students enrolled in Early Childhood, Elementary Education or Special Education General Education initial licensure programs must complete this assessment for licensure recommendation by the Educator Preparation Program.
Additional Virginia Licensure Requirements
- Certification of Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training (online assessment)
- Emergency First Aid, CPR (including Hands-on Practice), and AED Training or Certification
- Dyslexia Awareness Training
- Behavior Intervention and Support Training
- Cultural Competency Training
- School Counselor: Training in the Recognition of Mental Health Disorder and Behavioral Distress (School Counselors Only)Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (PTRE) - for Elementary and Special Education only
Requirements differ between teaching at the elementary and secondary levels. Students can schedule advising appointments by emailing SOESSC@vcu.edu or calling (804) 827-2670. You can also review the state’s statutory license requirements for initial licensure.
VCU’s initial and advanced educator preparation programs for teachers, reading specialists, school leaders and school counselors are approved by the Virginia Department of Education and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The counselor education program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Professions (CACREP). VCU’s School of Education also holds membership in the American and Virginia Associations of Colleges for Teacher Education and the Holmes Partnership.
View CAEP Reviewed Programs and Accreditation Status on our CAEP Accountability Measures webpage.
Under our NASDTEC agreement, our graduates are eligible for teacher, reading specialist, school leader and school counselor licensure reciprocity with other states. If you’re interested in licensure reciprocity, contact our Student Services Center or the Department of Education in the state where you want to teach to identify requirements for transferring your license.
If you plan to reside outside Virginia while completing an online program at VCU, note that VCU’s participation in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) allows students from council-approved states to enroll in VCU degree programs. All online VCU licensure programs lead to a recommendation for a Virginia educator’s license.
School of Education Licensure Disclosure Statement
The School of Education (SOE) degree programs that lead to professional licensure are designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for professional licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
All programs, regardless of modality, are required to provide general (public) and direct (individual) disclosures to students in programs that lead to licensure or certification. This rule applies to educational programs that are either:
- Designed to meet education requirements for a specific professional license or certification that is required for employment in an occupation
- Advertised as meeting such requirements