Virginia Law

A. Endorsement requirements. The candidate shall have:

1. Earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and graduated from an approved teacher preparation program in family and consumer sciences; or

2. Earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and completed a major in family and consumer sciences education or 39 semester hours of coursework in family and consumer sciences distributed in the following areas:

a. Development of individuals through the lifespan and the family life cycle: nine semester hours;

b. Resource management, personal and family finance, and consumer economics: six semester hours;

c. Food, nutrition, dietetics, wellness, and food science: nine semester hours;

d. Housing, home furnishing, and equipment: three semester hours;

e. Apparel and textiles: six semester hours;

f. Occupational program management: three semester hours; and

g. Supervised occupational experience related to family and consumer sciences, three semester hours, or one year of successful, full-time or the equivalent (a minimum of 2,000 cumulative hours) relevant occupational experience within the last five years.

If an individual is seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth with an endorsement in the area of career and technical education, an industry certification credential as defined in 8VAC20-23-10 in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement is required. If a teacher seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth has not attained an industry certification credential in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement, the Virginia Board of Education may, upon request of the employing school division or educational agency, issue the teacher a provisional license to allow time for the teacher to attain such credential.

B. Technical Professional License. An endorsement in a specialized family and consumer sciences area, such as child care occupations, consumer services, family and human services, fashion design occupations, food occupations, hospitality occupations, interior design occupations, home furnishings occupations, and home and institutional services, may be granted to individuals who have:

1. Been recommended by an employing Virginia educational agency;

2. Completed at least two years of successful, full-time occupational experience or the equivalent within the past five years in the teaching specialty for which they are seeking endorsement;

3. Completed a family and consumer sciences certificate or associate degree program from an accredited institution, where applicable in the area of endorsement sought; and

4. Completed professional studies requirements (human development and learning: three semester hours; curriculum and instruction in career and technical education: three semester hours; and applications of instructional technology or classroom and behavior management: three semester hours).

If an individual is seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth with an endorsement in the area of career and technical education, an industry certification credential as defined in 8VAC20-23-10 in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement is required. If a teacher seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth has not attained an industry certification credential in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement, the Virginia Board of Education may, upon request of the employing school division or educational agency, issue the teacher a provisional license to allow time for the teacher to attain such credential.