• The VDOE is the only agency authorized to issue educator/teacher licenses. The initial application is completed online, using the Virginia Licensure Online (VALO) teacher licensing system.
  • Learn about VALO and view their user guide.
  • Log in to the VALO.

• If a candidate receives an official Statement of Eligibility from the VDOE, they must be officially hired into a contracted teacher-scale vacancy that matches their endorsement eligibility area. After employment is finalized and a teaching contract has been issued, the FCPS Licensure Office will work with the new employee to get a provisional license issued by the VDOE.
  • Online application assistance for prospective instructional candidates.
• If a candidate receives a course-by-course evaluation form from the VDOE, then they will need to successfully complete a VA state-approved educator preparation program and/or the cited coursework. Visit the VDOE’s College and University Programs webpage to view a list of Virginia state-approved educator preparation programs and contact information.

• All initial Virginia Licensure applicants must pass the VDOE-prescribed Praxis assessment for their area of endorsement, unless they can submit the appropriate documentation to meet the licensure assessment Exemption Criteria. The VDOE-prescribed Praxis tests and Exemption Criteria are posted on the VDOE Professional Teacher Assessment Document (MS Word ).  Candidates can contact the Virginia Department of Education at [email protected] or 1-800-292-3820 for additional Praxis and licensure assessment information. 

• If a candidate's Virginia license has expired, they must contact the Virginia Department of Education at [email protected] or 1-800-292-3820 for information regarding their licensure status and what steps/requirements they need to complete to resolve and re-activate their Virginia License. 

• Review the VDOE’s criteria for licensure via reciprocity and then submit a VDOE online application. 

• Prospective candidates should work with the Virginia College/University directly to have them complete the licensure application process for you.

• Prospective teachers with three or more years of full-time occupational experience but no PreK-12 teaching experience should consider enrolling in an approved Virginia Career Switcher Alternative Route to Licensure Program.

• To obtain a Virginia license with foreign credentials, the candidate must have an official VDOE-approved US Equivalent degree and coursework transcripts. (MS Word)
• The candidate must qualify via one of the VDOE's Alternate Routes to Licensure.
• The candidate then must complete a VDOE online application.
• The candidate will then need to apply for and accept an official offer of employment for a contracted teacher-scale position that matches their endorsement eligibility area.
  • Online application assistance for prospective instructional candidates.
• After employment is finalized and a teaching contract has been issued, the FCPS Licensure Office will work with the employee to get a provisional license issued by the VDOE.

• A candidate must meet one of the VDOE’s Alternate Routes to Licensure requirements to obtain a provisional teaching license or a teaching position.
• After qualifying for one of these currently available routes, the candidate must then complete a VDOE online application.
• The candidate can then accept an FCPS official offer of employment for a contracted teacher-scale position that matches their endorsement eligibility area.
• After employment is finalized and a teaching contract has been issued, the FCPS Licensure Office will work with the contracted teacher to get a provisional license issued by the VDOE.

• To obtain a special education provisional license to become a special educator, a candidate must:

1. Have completed at least three semester hours of coursework in the competencies of foundations for educating students with disabilities and have an understanding and application of the legal aspects and regulatory requirements associated with the identification, education, and evaluation of students with disabilities. A survey course integrating these competencies would satisfy this requirement.”  
2. Apply for applicable special education teaching positions.
3. Interview with a school principal and then be selected as a finalist for an applicable special education teacher position.

• After employment is finalized and a teaching contract has been issued, the FCPS Licensure Office will work with the new employee to get their provisional (Special Education) license issued by the VDOE.

• A license is not needed to apply for a vacant teacher-scale position at a school or center, but it is important to remember that other applicants with licenses may be interviewing for the same positions.

• Prospective candidates can receive an employment offer for a vacant teacher-scale position without holding a Virginia teacher license, but they will first need to interview with a school principal and then be selected as finalists for the position. The school-assigned hiring specialist in HR will then contact the candidate directly to affirm their employment eligibility, including eligibility for the appropriate VA license and endorsement needed for the teaching assignment/position.

The FCPS principal who expresses interest in hiring a candidate for a vacant position must work with their school’s assigned hiring specialist in Human Resources to determine eligibility criteria.