W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-5 - [Effective 1/11/2025] Categories of Licenses

5.1. Professional Certificate. The Professional Certificate may be issued to a candidate who meets prescribed full-time experience and/or academic and professional standards and has been assessed as competent to assume a role in public education within the specialization(s) and grade level(s) designated on this certificate. A Professional Certificate may be issued in teaching, student support services, or administrative specializations.

5.2. Alternative Teaching Certificate. The Alternative Program Teacher Certificate is a teaching certificate that authorizes a person to teach while participating in a WVBE-approved alternative program for the education of teachers in accordance with W. Va. 126CSR161, Policy 5901, Regulations for Alternative Certification Programs for the Education of Teachers (Policy 5901). The alternative program certificate is issued initially for one year and can be renewed twice for a total of three years of employment under this certificate.

5.3. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certificate. The CTE Certificate may be issued to a candidate who has acquired prescribed CTE and/or technical skills through specific wage-earning experience and/or WVBE-approved equivalent training recognized in the West Virginia CTE Endorsement and Testing Manual maintained on the WVDE website, within the specialization(s) and grade level(s) designated on this certificate. The CTE Certificate is equivalent to the Professional Certificate for salary purposes only.

5.4. Temporary Career Technical Education (CTE) Certificate. The Temporary CTE Certificate may be issued to a candidate who has been offered employment and holds a valid out-of-state CTE certificate but does not hold the required industry-recognized credential, five years of teaching experience within the specialization and/or met the testing requirements required for issuance of the CTE Certificate. The Temporary CTE Certificate may also be issued to an educator who holds a valid West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate and has been offered employment in a CTE position, provided the individual meets the general criteria for an Initial CTE Certificate as specified in section 10.4, except for obtaining the specified credential identified in the West Virginia CTE Endorsement and Testing Manual.

5.5. Temporary Teaching Certificate. The Temporary Teaching Certificate may be issued to a candidate who does not meet the requirements for a Professional Teaching Certificate but has obtained employment in a West Virginia public school that meets the issuance criteria.

5.6. Permit. The Permit may be issued to a candidate who does not meet the requirements for the Professional or CTE Certificate but has been determined by a county superintendent to be the most qualified candidate for the position. The Non-United States Citizen Permit may be issued to a Non-United States citizen in accordance with section 17 of this policy unless the candidate meets the conditions specified in section 17.1.

5.7. Adult Certificates and Adult Permits. The Adult Certificate may be endorsed for Adult Education (formerly Adult Basic Education). The Adult Permit is required to instruct career technical education to adults in designated adult programs only for endorsements identified in the West Virginia CTE Endorsement and Testing Manual available on the WVDE website, including the endorsements for Adult Education's Public Service Training including, but not limited to, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), or Fire Service Training.

5.8. Authorization. The Authorization may be issued to a candidate who does not meet the criteria for any of the credentials in accordance with section 5.1 through section 5.7 or is assigned to a position for which a specialization related to public school instruction or a public school program does not exist on the Professional or CTE Certificate. A Temporary or Permanent Authorization that requires a Professional Certificate as a prerequisite shall be valid provided the Professional Certificate remains valid in accordance with section 11.12.

5.9. Paraprofessional Certificate. The Paraprofessional Certificate may be issued to a candidate who meets the required academic or equivalent standards and/or experience to work in a support capacity to assist in the facilitation of instruction and supervision of students while under the direction of a professional educator. An educator who holds a valid out-of-state or a valid or expired West Virginia Professional Certificate and is employed as a paraprofessional is not required to hold a Paraprofessional Certificate.

5.10. Provisional Alternative Certificate. The Provisional Alternative Certificate is a professional certificate that may be issued to a candidate who meets the experience requirements and/or academic and professional standards in accordance with section 15. This certificate, issued for one year, may be renewed twice but is not eligible for additional endorsements based on passing content proficiency exams pursuant to section 21.2.

5.11. Advanced Credential. Advanced Credentials are awarded to educators for completing professional learning, coursework, and/or testing that exceeds the requirements for a professional certificate, which may include a CTE certificate when applicable. Endorsements identified as Advanced Credentials have unique and specific requirements for the initial issuance and subsequent renewal. Advanced Credentials may be required for employment.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-5