Career Switcher Alternative Route to Licensure Programs

Programs in special education are not offered through the Career Switcher Alternative Route to Licensure Program.

The program is designed to address critical teacher shortage areas as defined annually by school divisions.

A provisional career switcher type teaching license is issued upon completion of Level I of the Career Switcher Alternative Route to Licensure Program.

Candidates must complete one year of successful full-time experience in the endorsement area with supervised clinical experience under the supervision of a mentor.

Coursework in professional studies is required but is measured in clock hours rather than credit hours. Candidates must complete all prescribed statutory requirements such as Child Abuse Recognition and Intervention Requirements, Dyslexia a Awareness Training etc… § 22.1-296.1. Data on convictions for certain crimes and child abuse and neglect required; penalty. A. As a condition of employment for all of its public school employees, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, every school board shall require on its application for employment certification of whether the applicant has been convicted of any violent felony set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2-392.02; any offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense; or any crime of moral turpitude. Any individual making a materially false statement regarding any such offense is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, in the case of a teacher, upon conviction, the fact of such conviction is grounds for the Board to revoke his license to teach. B. No school board shall employ any individual who has been convicted of any violent felony set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2 392.02 or any offense involving the sexual molestation of, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense. C. Any school board may employ any individual who has been convicted of any felony or crime of moral turpitude that is not set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2-392.02 and does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense, provided that in the case of a felony conviction, such individual has had his civil rights restored by the Governor.... § 22.1-296.2. Fingerprinting required; reciprocity permitted. A. As a condition of employment, the school boards of the Commonwealth shall require any applicant who is offered or accepts employment, whether full time or part time or permanent or temporary, to submit to fingerprinting and to provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded along with the applicant's fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information regarding such applicant. The school board may (i) pay for all or a portion of the cost of the fingerprinting or criminal records check or (ii) in its discretion, require the applicant to pay for all or a portion of the cost of such fingerprinting or criminal records check. The Central Criminal Records Exchange, upon receipt of an applicant's record or notification that no record exists, shall report to the school board, which shall be a governmental entity, whether or not the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony or a Class 1 misdemeanor or an equivalent offense in another state... See link below to state statutory requirements document: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/39704/638327085554770000