West Virginia Alternative Teacher Certification Process and Programs
Alternative teacher preparation programs, or non-traditional programs, are designed for those with a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field and typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Several alternative teacher certification options are offered in West Virginia, designed to attract experienced professionals to the classroom, especially in teacher-shortage areas. Below you will find detailed information about the routes to alternative teacher licensure in West Virginia. If you don’t already have your bachelor’s degree, be sure to visit our guide to traditional certification in West Virginia.
Table of Contents
- West Virginia Alternative Certification Requirements
- Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses
- Testing Requirements
- Licenses From Another State
- Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs
- Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
- Additional Resources
Requirements for Alternative Certification
All candidates for alternative teacher licensure in West Virginia must have at least a bachelor’s degree and typically pass the same exams as traditional pathway educators. Candidates for alternative routes to certification must also complete teacher preparation, which can be done in as little as one year as a graduate certificate. Prospective teachers may also qualify for licensure by earning a master’s degree in teaching, education, or a core subject that includes an approved certification program.
Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in West Virginia
West Virginia pathways to alternative teaching licenses are designed to bring qualified professionals to the classroom. For a full list of approved alternative programs and detailed requirements for these pathways, visit the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) website.
County-Based Alternative Certification Programs
Alternative Certification (AC) is a pathway available through select school districts to fill critical need and shortage areas in West Virginia public schools. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-educational field from an accredited institution. Once an offer of employment has been made at an eligible school district, the district will help the applicant complete an application for an Alternative Teaching Certificate. Then they will begin the AC program and teach while they complete the program of study and pass the WVDE required exams for the endorsement sought. Upon completing the AC program and receiving a recommendation from the employing superintendent, candidates may apply for a Provisional Teaching Certificate. This certificate allows candidates to teach while fulfilling any remaining program requirements. Once all program and testing requirements are met, candidates can upgrade to a Professional Teaching Certificate. A list of participating West Virginia school districts can be found on the WVDE website.
State-Approved Teacher Preparation Coursework Option
This pathway is for candidates with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher and allows them to complete the coursework necessary for a Professional Teaching Certificate. Candidates in this pathway must also meet the WVDE testing requirements for their grade level and endorsement area. Approved program providers include the American Board, iTeach, Teach for America Appalachia, and others.
WVDE Alternative Certification Programs
This accelerated pathway allows bachelor’s degree holders looking to change careers to complete the requirements for a Professional Teaching Certificate. Eligible candidates must have a 2.5 or higher overall GPA, meet WVDE testing requirements for basic skills and content, meet any additional eligibility requirements or approved coursework, and pass a background check. All participating institutions offer online coursework. After completing the program and all other requirements, candidates will be approved to apply for a Professional Teaching Certificate.
Testing Requirements for West Virginia Alternative Certification
Alternative route teacher certification in West Virginia requires candidates to pass the same exams as traditional-route educators: the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) and the Praxis Subject Test for each grade level and endorsement area. The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is required unless candidates have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or minimum scores on the ACT or SAT. Candidates may receive additional time to complete these requirements based on the route to licensure followed. Refer to the WVDE Certification Info page for additional information.
Transferring Teaching Licenses From Another State
For out-of-state teachers, reciprocity in West Virginia is possible for applicants with a valid out-of-state teaching certificate who have completed a student teaching experience and a state-approved teacher preparation program at an accredited school. For more information on reciprocity, review our guide to interstate reciprocity or the WVDE.
Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs in West Virginia
To qualify for teacher certification, you must complete an approved teacher preparation program. Alternative route teacher licensing programs typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. The not-for-profit, school-based alternative certification programs below have been approved by the WVDE for the preparation of teachers.
| State-Approved School | Accreditation | Program Type(s) | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment4 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers4 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate4 | Net Price5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $8,785 |
| Fairmont State University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $11,277 |
| Marshall University* | CAEP | Alternative, Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $8,730 |
| West Liberty University* | CAEP | Alternative, Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $14,915 |
| West Virginia University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $13,422 |
| Wheeling University* | AAQEP | Alternative, Certificate | — | — | — | $28,844 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
- *Schools with an asterisk offer programs that can include paid classroom placements, subject to qualifications and experience. Students may be responsible for securing their own placement. Contact programs for further information.
Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
The following schools have the fastest programs to qualify for teacher certification in West Virginia based on the shortest possible time to completion. The shortest alternative certification programs are often the most affordable because they require fewer credit hours. Check with programs to verify program costs and funding opportunities.
- West Liberty University (4 months)
- Fairmont State University (12 months)
- Marshall University (12 months)
- Concord University (16 months)
Additional Resources
- TeachWV: Teacher support and recruitment website by the WVDE.
- West Virginia State-Approved Teacher Certification Programs: Directory of programs approved for the preparation of teachers in West Virginia.
Related Articles
- Alternative Teacher Certification Guide
- West Virginia Traditional Teacher Certification Guide
- Teacher Certification Reciprocity Guide
References:
1. West Virginia Department of Education: https://wvde.us/
2. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
3. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
4. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
5. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/