Admission to Teacher Preparation

Admissions Deadlines

Spring: October 15

Fall: April 1

Note: there is no summer admission to Teacher Preparation

Step 1: Review and complete the prerequisite course(s) and testing requirements for your specific program (see below)

Step 2: Complete the Online Application

Step 3: Submit all required supporting materials with your Teacher Preparation application

• Descriptive Statement
• Official Transcripts from all universities or colleges attended outside of VCU

Note: Students who have completed a bachelor’s at VCU or another institution, can complete the School of Education graduate online application at the same time as you are submitting your online Teacher Preparation application materials. Once admitted to the university and your undergraduate program, freshman or transfer students will be guided through the Teacher Preparation admissions process by your academic advisor and our Student Services team.

• Extended Teacher Preparation (Graduate): Upon completion of 60 credits or above and completion of one semester at VCU, students may apply for our Admission to Teacher Preparation program. Degree holders must concurrently apply for admission to Teacher Preparation and VCU Graduate School
• 3.0 GPA (for graduate admissions) and 2.8 GPA - Secondary and 3.0 GPA - LSEE (for Extended Teacher Preparation)
• EDUS 301 - Human Development and Learning at VCU or an equivalent undergraduate course with a C grade or better
• Teaching licensure prerequisites (Graduate): Please refer to the M.T. degree program page for additional content specific prerequisite requirements for each of the concentration areas
• Special education licensure prerequisites (Graduate): SEDP 630 - Trends in Special Education can be taken as a pre-requisite or can be completed in the first semester of your graduate program

• Upon completion of 45 credits, students may apply for our Admission to Teacher Preparation program (undergraduate student)
• 2.8 GPA
• EDUS 301 - Human Development and Learning at VCU or an equivalent undergraduate course with a C grade or better
• EDUS 202 - Diversity, Democracy and Ethics at VCU or an equivalent undergraduate course with a C grade or better

• Virginia Communication Literacy Assessment (VCLA) scores

In Virginia, teachers must pass a Basic Skills Test requirement and also Subject Area Competence assessments related to their teaching specialty area for licensure & program completion.

Basic Skills Test

• Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (Now Available Remotely)
   
  The Virginia Department of Education has contracted with the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson to create and administer the VCLA exam to measure the communication and literacy skills necessary for Virginia educators. It is a four hour, computer-based exam that covers reading and writing. To learn more about the VCLA, passing score levels, and to schedule your exam, please visit their website.
  
  Note: The VCLA remains as a licensure requirement and must be completed for licensure.

Liberal Studies for Early and Elementary Education at VCU is an extended program where students take prerequisite courses for their Teacher Preparation requirements as part of their undergraduate program. Please contact your LSEE advisor to guide you through the steps in applying to Teacher Preparation as well as completing your undergraduate program. Upon admission to Teacher Preparation, you will be assigned a School of Education advisor.

All U.S. states require that teachers be licensed before they can teach in public schools.

Here at VCU, your Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed), Master of Teaching (M.T.), or Master of Education (M.Ed.) in special education or counseling concentrations, will incorporate the requirements for licensure or certification, and you will apply for Virginia licensure credentials at the conclusion of your student teaching or internship. Many states have reciprocity agreements that make it easier for educators licensed in one state to become certified in another. Currently, Virginia has reciprocity agreements with over 40 states. To learn more, visit our Licensure & Reciprocity page.

Please review our licensure to program comparison chart for more information about our various approved program pathways.

Once all course and embedded clinical requirements for Virginia teacher certification have been satisfied with the VCU program (Gate 5), candidates must apply for a license from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Based on your degree program, you will be required to provide one or more of the following documents to support the application:

• Verification of completion of a bachelor’s degree and state-approved teacher preparation program.
• Proof of completed module in child abuse recognition and dyslexia.
• Proof of Emergency First Aid, CPR, and AED Training and Certification.
• Proof of completed modules for the Crisis Prevention & Behavior Support Intervention training.
• Passing scores on the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and Praxis II Subject Assessments.
• Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) Assessment for Elementary and Special Education Educators ONLY.
• Submission of completed VDOE licensure application.
• Payment of non-refundable processing fees.

If you are a provisionally licensed teacher who is not interested in completing one of our initial licensure programs, you are welcome to take some of our courses as a non-degree seeking student. Your school division HR professional will guide you through the process. Please review the course listings under TEDU - Teacher Education, SEDP - Special Education and Disability Policy, and EDUS - Educational Studies, and ECSC - Early Childhood Special Education to identify courses appropriate for your specific licensure needs.

Please note for students who may be interested in applying to a graduate program, only six credits (two 3-credit courses) may be transferred into a graduate program from your non-degree seeking status. Please contact soeinfo@vcu.edu if you have questions about applying to a future program.