Virginia Law

A. Endorsement requirements.

1. The candidate shall have graduated from an approved teacher preparation program with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in trade and industrial education; or

2. A candidate who has graduated from an approved teacher preparation program that is not in the trade and industrial education program subject area for which the candidate is seeking endorsement shall have:

a. A current state license or industry certification based on the prescribed standard or examination, if applicable; and

b. Evidence of at least two years of successful full-time or equivalent occupational experience within the past five years in the teaching specialty for which the candidate is seeking endorsement. A candidate whose occupational experience has not been within the last five years shall participate in a supervised technical update related to the teaching specialty or area of endorsement or complete a supervised internship of work experience of not less than six weeks related to the area of endorsement or teaching specialty.

B. Technical Professional License. An endorsement in a specialized trade and industrial education area will be granted to an individual who has:

1. Been recommended by an employing Virginia educational agency;

2. A current license or is currently certified as a professional practitioner in the area in which the individual is to be teaching, if applicable, or can demonstrate competency in the area of trade and industrial education the individual is to be teaching;

3. Evidence of at least two years of successful full-time or the equivalent occupational experience within the past five years in the teaching specialty for which the individual is seeking endorsement. Candidates whose occupational experience has not been within the last five years shall participate in a supervised technical update related to the teaching specialty or area of endorsement or complete a supervised internship of work experience of not less than six weeks related to the area of endorsement or teaching specialty; 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).

C. Add-on endorsement requirements. A candidate shall:

1. Hold an active Collegiate Professional or Postgraduate Professional License with a teaching endorsement;

2. Demonstrate competency in the trade or industrial area being sought;

3. Hold current state licensure or industry certification for the trade or industrial area for which endorsement is sought based upon the prescribed standard or examination;

4. Have completed two years or 4,000 clock hours of satisfactory, full-time occupational experience at the journeyman level or an equivalent level in the occupation within the last five years. Candidates whose occupational experience has not been within the last five years shall participate in a supervised technical update related to the teaching specialty or area of endorsement or complete a supervised internship of work experience of not less than six weeks related to the area of endorsement or teaching specialty; and

5. Have completed three semester hours in curriculum and instruction specific to vocational industrial education.