American Board › States › West Virginia
West Virginia Teacher Certification
Congratulations! You are on your way to becoming a teacher in West Virginia. No semesters and no campus visits — just a clear path from where you are today to a West Virginia classroom of your own.
West Virginia
$1,900Standard Program Cost
Online
Self-paced
Competency-based
1
Study
Pass the required subject-area and PTK exams provided by American Board.
2
Complete
Complete any remaining state requirements.
3
Apply
Apply for your Initial Professional Certificate with the West Virginia Department of Education.
4
Teach
Begin teaching in a West Virginia school.
Elementary (K-6)
The elementary certification program covers core subjects for our youngest learners including English language arts, history, math, and science.
Special Education (K-Adult)
The special education certification program covers professional skills and background knowledge, general special education practices, a strong focus on special education laws, and more.
Biology (9-Adult)
The biology certification program covers scientific investigation, cell biology and microbiology, molecular biology, and more.
Chemistry (9-Adult)
The chemistry certification program covers atomic structure, periodicity, and matter; reactions and reactivity, and more.
English Language Arts (5-Adult)
The English language arts certification program covers comprehension of texts, oral and written language skills, and more.
General Science (5-Adult)
The general science certification program covers scientific investigation, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics.
Math (5-Adult)
The mathematics certification program covers domains including algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, and calculus.
Physics (9-Adult)
The physics certification program includes classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and more.
Social Studies (5-Adult)
The history certification program covers both U.S. and world history including topics such as classical civilizations and the establishment and growth of a republic.
“When I began to research teacher certification, I had two master’s degrees, neither of which was in education. West Virginia’s BOE website first introduced me to ABCTE. I began my certification process in April and completed my exams by July—PTK, Elementary Education, and Special Education. The option to work while becoming certified and ABCTE’s materials were the deciding factors for me. The material is very user-friendly and prepared me for the classroom. Immediately after being certified, I was hired!
James Wicker, West Virginia Teacher
How to Get Your West Virginia Teaching License
Step 1
Enroll in American Board’s online teacher certification program. To be eligible to enroll, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Step 2
Prepare for and pass American Board’s required Professional Teaching Knowledge (PTK) and subject area exams.
Step 3
Pass the state required subject matter Praxis Exam.
Step 4
Apply for your Professional Teaching WVBE-Approved Program (non-IHE) certificate by completing Form 20B and begin teaching.
How to Upgrade to a West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate
Convert your provisional teaching certificate to a professional teaching certificate by completing all conversion requirements as listed in Policy 5202.
What if my GPA is below 2.5?
If your GPA is below a 2.5, you may still enroll in American Board’s program if:
- You have a GPA of 2.0 or greater (Bachelor’s Degree) and have obtained a score that is two standard error of measurements (SEM+2) above for any and all of the adopted content exam(s) cut score; or
- A GPA of 2.0 or greater (Bachelor’s Degree) and three years of substitute or full-time teaching experience with a minimum of 133 days in a school year at an accredited K-12 public school system or a non-public school that has been accredited through a WVBE-approved accreditation agency as prescribed in W. Va. 126CSR13C, Policy 2330. A school or county administrator’s recommendation is required to verify each year of substitute or full-time teaching experience.
What Praxis exam do I need to take?
In addition to American Board’s content and pedagogy exams, candidates in West Virginia also need to take the Praxis content area exam in their chosen endorsement area. This exam is scheduled through the Praxis website, and the cost of this exam is not included in your American Board enrollment fee.
Can I start teaching before I complete American Board’s program?
Yes! You can apply for a First-Class permit once you have enrolled in American Board’s program and passed your content area Praxis. In order to apply for a First-Class permit, you will need to complete Form 1B.
Where can I find more information about West Virginia teaching requirements?
For more information on state teaching requirements and how to apply for your license, visit the West Virginia Department of Education website.
Ready to get started?
Choose your state and subject, enroll online in minutes, and start studying the same day — or try the free one-week trial first to see how the program works.