Admission to Teacher Preparation

Admissions Deadlines

Spring: October 15

Fall: April 1

Note: there is no summer admission to Teacher Preparation

Step 1: Review and complete the prerequisite course(s) and testing requirements for your specific program (see below)

Step 2: Complete the Online Application

Step 3: Submit all required supporting materials with your Teacher Preparation application

• Descriptive Statement
• Official Transcripts from all universities or colleges attended outside of VCU

Note: Students who have completed a bachelor’s at VCU or another institution, can complete the School of Education graduate online application at the same time as you are submitting your online Teacher Preparation application materials. Once admitted to the university and your undergraduate program, freshman or transfer students will be guided through the Teacher Preparation admissions process by your academic advisor and our Student Services team.

Please note that testing requirements have changed for our VCU School of Education initial license teacher preparation programs. As of December 1, 2019, please review the NEW testing requirements to prepare for your Virginia license teacher preparation requirements.

• Extended Teacher Preparation (Graduate): Upon completion of 60 credits or above and completion of one semester at VCU, students may apply for our Admission to Teacher Preparation program. Degree holders must concurrently apply for admission to Teacher Preparation and VCU Graduate School
• 3.0 GPA (for graduate admissions) and 2.8 GPA - Secondary and 3.0 GPA - LSEE (for Extended Teacher Preparation)
• EDUS 301 - Human Development and Learning at VCU or an equivalent undergraduate course with a C grade or better
• Teaching licensure prerequisites (Graduate): Please refer to the M.T. degree program page for additional content specific prerequisite requirements for each of the concentration areas
• Special education licensure prerequisites (Graduate): SEDP 630 - Trends in Special Education can be taken as a pre-requisite or can be completed in the first semester of your graduate program

• Upon completion of 45 credits, students may apply for our Admission to Teacher Preparation program (undergraduate student)
• 2.8 GPA
• EDUS 301 - Human Development and Learning at VCU or an equivalent undergraduate course with a C grade or better
• EDUS 202 - Diversity, Democracy and Ethics at VCU or an equivalent undergraduate course with a C grade or better

• Virginia Communication Literacy Assessment (VCLA) scores
   
  AND
   
• SAT scores (with at least a 543 in verbal and 533 in math);
• OR ACT scores (with at least a 21 in Reading and 21 in Math). High school scores are acceptable;
• OR GRE scores (with at least a 151 in Reading and 153 in Math).

SAT taken after April 1, 1995 and prior to March 1, 2016: a score of 1100 with at least 530 on the verbal and 530 on the mathematics tests; SAT taken after March 1, 2016: at least 543 on Evidence-based Reading and Writing Section and 533 on the Math Section. *A new SAT test was released in March 2016.

ACT taken After April 1, 1995: with the ACT mathematics score no less than 21, and an ACT Reading score no less than 21. Note: Students must have taken both the ACT Mathematics and English Plus Reading tests. At one time, the English Plus Reading test was not offered.

**Effective Fall 2020, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Math, Reading, and Writing) and MAT will be removed from testing options for admission to Teacher Preparation.

In Virginia, teachers must pass a Basic Skills Test requirement and also Subject Area Competence assessments related to their teaching specialty area for licensure & program completion.

Basic Skills Test

• Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment
   
  The Virginia Department of Education has contracted with the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson to create and administer the VCLA exam to measure the communication and literacy skills necessary for Virginia educators. It is a four hour, computer-based exam that covers reading and writing. To learn more about the VCLA, passing score levels, and to schedule your exam, please visit their website.
  
  Note: The VCLA remains as a licensure requirement and must be completed for licensure.

Liberal Studies for Early and Elementary Education at VCU is an extended program where students take prerequisite courses for their Teacher Preparation requirements as part of their undergraduate program. Please contact your LSEE advisor to guide you through the steps in applying to Teacher Preparation as well as completing your undergraduate program. Upon admission to Teacher Preparation, you will be assigned a School of Education advisor.

All U.S. states require that teachers be licensed before they can teach in public schools.

Here at VCU, your Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed), Master of Teaching (M.T.), or Master of Education (M.Ed.) in special education or counseling concentrations, will incorporate the requirements for licensure or certification, and you will apply for Virginia licensure credentials at the conclusion of your student teaching or internship. Many states have reciprocity agreements that make it easier for educators licensed in one state to become certified in another. Currently, Virginia has reciprocity agreements with over 40 states. To learn more, visit our Licensure & Reciprocity page.

Please review our licensure to program comparison chart for more information about our various approved program pathways.

Once all course requirements for Virginia teacher certification have been satisfied with the VCU program, candidates must apply for a license. Based on your program, you will be required to provide one or more of the following documents to support the application:

• Verification of completion of a bachelor’s degree and state-approved teacher preparation program.
• Proof of completed module in child abuse recognition and dyslexia.
• Proof of Emergency First Aid, CPR, and AED Training and Certification.
• Passing scores on the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and Praxis Subject Assessments.
• Submission of completed licensure application.
• Payment of non-refundable processing fees.

The licensure application forms are available on the Virginia Department of Education’s website. Complete the form, attach the fee and submit to the School of Education Student Services Center (contact the Center at 804-827-2670 or email soessc@vcu.edu for details). The information is forwarded to the Virginia Department of Education, and it can take up to two to three months for processing.

If you are a provisionally licensed teacher who is not interested in completing one of our initial licensure programs, you are welcome to take some of our courses as a non-degree seeking student. Your school division HR professional will guide you through the process. Please review the course listings under TEDU - Teacher Education, SEDP - Special Education and Disability Policy, and EDUS - Educational Studies, and ECSC - Early Childhood Special Education to identify courses appropriate for your specific licensure needs.

Please note for students who may be interested in applying to a graduate program, only six credits (two 3-credit courses) may be transferred into a graduate program from your non-degree seeking status. Please contact soeinfo@vcu.edu if you have questions about applying to a future program.