State Requirements for Teacher Licensure Renewal: West Virginia

Renewal: Educators are required to complete 6 semester credits of college coursework related to the certificate field to renew a 3-year professional teaching certificate. Educators with a minimum of MA + 30 salary classification or who are age 60 or older can renew without additional coursework. A recommendation from the current employing county is also required for renewal.

Upgrade: Educators may upgrade from an initial teaching certificate to their first 5-year professional teaching certificate by completing a beginning educator internship/induction programs with two years of successful teaching experience or complete 5 years of teaching experience in another state under a professional teaching certificate.

Educators may earn a permanent professional teaching certificate in one of three ways. First, they may hold a 5-year professional teaching certificate for 10 years and meet the renewal requirements again. Second, they may earn a master’s degree related to the certification field and complete five years of successful teaching experience in the field. Third, they may have an out-of-state teaching certificate that reflects permanent status by the issuing state with at least 5 years of successful teaching experience. A recommendation from the current employing county is also required.

• West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE): Professional Growth
• West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE): Renewal Guidance