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Virginia Department of Education License Query
Certification Question of the Month:
Can I add endorsements to my license by taking and passing the Praxis II?
If you currently hold a Virginia Teaching License you may add endorsements offered by the VDOE to your license by taking the associated Praxis II assessment for the endorsement area.
The Praxis II route to licensure option is a good way for Special Education Teachers to become endorsed in content areas to teach a verified credit course (course with an End-of-Course SOL assessment) and to meet the NCLB Highly Qualified requirements. Consultative Special Education Teachers (collaborating or co-teaching) are also encouraged to pursue adding content area endorsements to their current license to allow flexibility in school placements.
ETS nows offers some computer based assessments in addition to the paper/pencil assessment. (i.e. Middle School English test code 5049, Middle School Social Studies test code 5089)
Information on Praxis II Assessments accepted by the VDOE and the required scores can be found at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/licensure/prof_teacher_assessment.pdf
Licensure News!!
Effective July 1, 2011, the Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA) - (Test Code 001) and the Virginia Reading Assessment for Reading Specialists (VRA) - (Test Code 002) will no longer be offered. The Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) and the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) for Reading Specialists will replace the VRA assessments. The RVE assessments will be offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The Virginia Board of Education has approved a cut score of 157 for the Elementary and Special Education RVE and a cut score of 162 for the Reading Specialist RVE. The VDOE will continue to accept the VRA assessment if taken prior to July 1, 2011. The RVE will be the only assessment offered after June 30, 2011. License holders cited for the VRA that have not taken and passed the VRA by June 30, 2011 will be required to take and pass the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) and the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) for Reading Specialist.
License Renewals submitted after July 1, 2012 (this will primarily begin with the 2013 License Renewal period for five year renewable licenses expiring June 30, 2013)- any individual with an endorsement in early/primary prek-3, elementary education preK-6, Middle education 6-8, history and social sciences, history, or political science must complete study of the structures, function, and powers of state and local government of Virginia and the importance of citizen participation in the political process in state and local government of Virginia. The VDOE is working to develop a free, online training module, similar to the Child Abuse Recognition Training, that will meet this requirement. This requirement will only need to be met one time for renewals submitted after July 1, 2012. More information on this requirement will be coming at a later date.
Changes in Virginia Praxis II Assessments:
Specialty area tests for Art: Content Knowledge and Technology Education will change effective September 1, 2011.
Additionally a Braille Proficiency Assessment requirement has been added for Visual Impairments endorsement.
See Virginia Assessments and Praxis I & II Requirements for more information
Praxis II Update: Please note that two of Virginia’s Praxis II tests are now available via a computer based assessment in addition to the paper/pencil assessment.
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: The application for teacher licensure in Virginia requires that you provide your social security number. Section 22.1-296.4 of the Code of Virginia requires a check of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglect in Virginia and other states. A social security number is required for this search. In addition, Virginia is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, and uses their clearinghouse to check for licensure revocation, suspension, denial, and reinstatement in other states. Virginia also provides information to the clearinghouse regarding licensure revocation, suspension, denial, and reinstatement in Virginia. The social security number is used for the clearinghouse and was required prior to 1975. The Virginia Department of Education will not release your social security number except in reporting cases of licensure revocation, suspension, denial and reinstatement as noted above.
