Career Switcher Prerequisites

An Alternative Path to Teacher Licensure

VCCS Career Switchers Prerequisites for General Education - Fees Includes Level I (See Fees)

• You must have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.  (If degree is earned outside of the United States of America, an evaluation must be completed by one of the agencies approved by the Virginia Department of Education.)
• You must have a GPA of 2.5 or better (particularly in courses applicable to the content area for endorsement).  
• You must have a minimum of five (5) years of full time professional post-baccalaureate work experience or the equivalent.  Your work history will be evaluated in terms of your experience, maturity, professional background, or an ability to apply your career experiences in the classroom.
• You must have successfully completed the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and Praxis II assessments at prescribed levels. 
  
  Upcoming VCLA and Praxis II Dates
  
  The VCLA assesses reading and writing proficiency.  We recommend that students have passing scores on both the writing the reading portions of this assessment.
  
  PRAXIS II is the content specialty exam.  With passing scores on Praxis II, this will document your content knowledge.  You can become endorsed in any content area without further content coursework.  You must pass Praxis II in the content area for which you wish to become endorsed.  Individuals are required to pass Praxis II in only the initial endorsement area, and may become endorsed in a second area by meeting the course-content or degree requirements as outlined in the Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel.  Individuals may also add some additional endorsements through additional Praxis II testing.
  
• You must be willing to provide the results of a criminal background check prior to field placement or employment in the classroom.
• You do not currently have a Provisional License or expired Provisional License from the VDOE or you have never held a teaching license in another state. 
  

VCCS Career Switchers Prerequisites for ESOL Education - $1,500.00

(NOTE:  There is no Praxis II for ESOL; however, Praxis II is required for the General Education Level I as stated above.  A passing Praxis II score is required in one General Education content area because this is a dual endorsement.)

1. You must have successfully completed the General Education Level 1 Curriculum above prior to or just after the ESOL Level 1 semester and met licensure requirements for at least one content area.  
2. Additionally, you must have a minimum of six semester hours in a language other than your home language.
3. Passing VCLA scores

The VCCS Career Switcher Program is designed to attract individuals from various occupational and life experiences to become classroom teachers.

The good news for professionals considering a career switch into teaching is that the traditional teacher training programs are no longer the only pathways to state licensure.