Part I. Definitions
8VAC20-23-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly implies otherwise:
"Accredited institution" means an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
"Accredited virtual school or program" means a virtual school or program accredited by one of the accrediting agencies recognized by the Virginia Department of Education. School divisions operating as multi-division online providers may be deemed as meeting accreditation requirements if a majority of schools are fully accredited by the Virginia Board of Education.
"Alternate route to licensure" means a nontraditional route to licensure available to individuals who meet the criteria specified in guidelines developed by the board or 8VAC20-23-90.
"Approved program" means a professional education program recognized as meeting state standards for the content and operation of such programs so that graduates of the program will be eligible for state licensure. The Virginia Board of Education has the authority to approve programs in Virginia.
"Cancellation" means the withdrawal of a license following the voluntary return of the license by the license holder.
"Career and Technical Education License" means a three-year license available to qualified individuals to teach, either full time or part time, high school career and technical education courses in specific subject areas who meet requirements set forth in this chapter. Individuals issued a three-year Career and Technical Education License shall not be eligible for continuing contract status while teaching under such license and shall be subject to the probationary terms of employment specified in § 22.1-303 of the Code of Virginia.
"Certified program provider" means a provider certified by the Virginia Department of Education to provide preparation and training for applicants seeking the Provisional License specified in 8VAC20-23-90.
"Career and Technical Education or Dual Enrollment License" means a three-year license to solely teach career and technical education courses or dual enrollment courses at public high schools in the Commonwealth issued to any individual who (i) is employed as an instructor by an accredited institution, (ii) is teaching in the specific career and technical education or dual enrollment subject area at such institution in which the individual seeks to teach at a public school, and (iii) complies with the requirements set forth in subdivisions D 1 and D 3 of § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia. The Virginia Board of Education shall require any such instructor to maintain continuous employment in such position at the institution of higher education as a condition of continued license.
"Collegiate Professional License" means a 10-year, renewable teaching license available to an individual who has satisfied all requirements for licensure set forth in this chapter, including an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and the professional teacher's assessments prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education.
"Denial" means the refusal to grant a license.
"Division Superintendent License" means a 10-year, renewable license available to an individual who has completed an earned master's degree from an accredited institution and meets the requirements specified in 8VAC20-23-630. The individual's name shall be listed on the Virginia Board of Education's list of eligible division superintendents.
"Experiential learning" means a process of applying for an initial license through the alternate route as prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education and meeting the criteria specified in 8VAC20-23-90 E to be eligible to request experiential learning credits in lieu of the coursework for the endorsement (teaching) content area.
"Industry certification credential" means an active career and technical education credential that is earned by successfully completing a Virginia Board of Education-approved industry certification examination, being issued a professional license in the Commonwealth, or successfully completing an occupational competency examination.
"International Educator License" means a professional teaching license issued for no more than five years to an exchange teacher with citizenship in a nation other than the United States of America who meets requirements by a state-approved, federally designated Exchange Visitor Program and who is employed as a teacher in a Virginia public school or an accredited nonpublic school.
"Licensure by reciprocity" means a process used to issue a license to an individual coming into Virginia from another state when that individual meets certain conditions specified in this chapter.
"Mentor" means a classroom teacher hired by the local school division who has achieved continuing contract status or other instructional personnel including retired teachers who meet local mentor selection criteria. The mentor should work in the same building as the beginning teacher or be instructional personnel who is assigned solely as a mentor. A mentor should be assigned a limited number of teachers at any time. Instructional personnel who are not assigned solely as mentors should not be assigned to more than four teachers at any time. Mentors guide teachers in the program through demonstrations, observations, and consultations.
"One-Year High School License" means a license valid for one year and renewable thereafter in one-year increments to teach in public high schools for individuals who have met requirements for such license as set forth in this chapter.
"Online Teacher License" means a 10-year, renewable license valid only for teaching online courses. Teachers who hold a five-year or 10-year renewable license issued by the Virginia Board of Education may teach online courses for which they are properly endorsed and do not need to seek this license.
"Postgraduate Professional License" means a 10-year, renewable license available to an individual who has qualified for the Collegiate Professional License and who holds an appropriate earned graduate degree from an accredited institution.
"Professional studies" means courses and other learning experiences designed to prepare individuals in the areas of human development and learning, curriculum and instruction, assessment of and for learning, classroom and behavior management, foundations of education and the teaching profession, language and literacy, and supervised clinical experiences.
"Professional teacher assessment" means those tests or other requirements mandated for licensure as prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education.
"Provisional License" means a nonrenewable license valid for a specified period of time not to exceed three years issued to an individual who has allowable deficiencies for full licensure as set forth in this chapter.
"Pupil Personnel Services License" means a 10-year, renewable license available to an individual who has earned an appropriate graduate degree from an accredited institution with an endorsement as a school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, or vocational evaluator. This license does not require teaching experience unless otherwise outlined under the specific endorsement's requirements.
"Renewable license" means a license issued by the Virginia Board of Education for 10 years, unless otherwise specified, to an individual who meets all requirements specified in this chapter.
"Reprimand" means a written admonishment of a license holder that does not result in the withdrawal of a license.
"Revocation" means the withdrawal of a license.
"School Manager License" means a 10-year, renewable license intended to provide for a differentiation of administrative responsibilities in a school setting. A school manager is licensed to administer noninstructional responsibilities in an educational setting. A school manager is restricted from evaluating teachers, supervising instruction, developing and evaluating curriculum, and serving as a school's student disciplinarian. The license is available to a candidate who holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; has three years of successful managerial experience; and is recommended for the license by a Virginia school division superintendent.
"Suspension" means the temporary withdrawal of a license.
"Technical Professional License" means a 10-year, renewable license available to an individual who has graduated from a public or accredited nonpublic high school (or possesses a Virginia Board of Education-approved high school equivalency credential); has exhibited academic proficiency, technical competency, and successful occupational experience; and meets the requirements specified in 8VAC20-23-50 A 4.
"Teach For America License" means a two-year provisional license available to an individual who is a participant in Teach For America and meets the requirements specified in 8VAC20-23-50.
"Universal licensure by reciprocity" means the issuance of a license as a teacher in the Commonwealth to any individual who holds a valid out-of-state teaching license with full credentials and without deficiencies that has been in force and in use by the individual as an employed teacher in a nonvirtual classroom setting at a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least three years prior to and is in force at the time the department receives the individual's application for license as a teacher in the Commonwealth.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-298.1 and 22.1-299 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 24, eff. August 23, 2018; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 14, eff. April 15, 2021; Volume 38, Issue 14, eff. April 15, 2022; Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024; Volume 41, Issue 3, eff. October 25, 2024.