W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-9

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 42, October 18, 2024

Section 126-136-9 - General Requirements and Dates Certain for Licensure

9.1. General Requirements. A certificate to work in the public schools of West Virginia may be granted to a candidate who is: a United States citizen or who holds a valid Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or work permit issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); of good moral character; physically, mentally, and emotionally qualified to perform the duties to which assigned; and has attained the age of 18 years on or before October 1 of the year in which the certificate is issued unless otherwise noted. (W. Va. Code § 18A-3-2a.)

9.2. Criminal History Record Check. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Fingerprint Background Check for Initial Licensure. All candidates for initial licensure whose applications are received by the WVDE shall be fingerprinted by the West Virginia State Police or its designee. The fingerprints shall be analyzed by the State Police for a state criminal history record check through the central abuse registry record and then forwarded to the FBI for a national criminal history record check. Information contained in either the central abuse registry record or the FBI record may form the basis for the denial of a certificate for cause in accordance with W. Va. Code § 18A-3-2a and § 18A-3-10.

9.3. State Analysis for Employment within 90 Days. Upon written consent to the WVDE by the candidate and within 90 days of the state fingerprint analysis, the results of a state analysis may be provided to a county board of education with which the candidate is applying for employment without further cost to the candidate.

9.4. Disclosure Provisions. Information maintained by the WVDE or a county board of education which was obtained for the purposes of W. Va. Code §18A-3-10 is exempt from disclosure as provided by W. Va. Code § 29B-1-4. Disclosure or publication of information in a statistical or other form that does not identify the individuals involved or provide personal information is not prohibited.

9.5. Beginning Educator Internship/Induction. An educator who receives a Professional Teaching Certificate after January 1, 1992, must successfully complete a Beginning Educator Internship/Induction. An educator who has successfully completed five years of out-of-state teaching full-time experience is exempt from completing the Beginning Educator Internship/Induction. (W. Va. Code § 18A-3C-3.)

9.6. Licensure and Related Fees. A non-refundable processing fee, established by the WVBE, shall be charged for all applications and requests for copies of records. In addition to the processing fee, candidates who apply for an initial certificate shall be responsible for the current fee charged by the FBI for a fingerprint background check and for a West Virginia Criminal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint background check as required by W. Va. Code § 18A-3-10.

9.7. Dating of Certificates. All certificates shall be issued and dated in accordance with W. Va. Code and as mandated by other applicable WVBE policies. A county board of education may employ a candidate for a professional educator's certificate in good faith that the candidate is eligible for a certificate for up to three school months, unless otherwise noted or date of notification of the candidate's ineligibility, whichever shall occur first. This three-month period shall begin with the date of hire for that position. The candidate's background check shall be completed and appropriate application and fees for licensure must be received by the WVDE within 10 calendar days of the hire date. The certificate effective date shall be the date it is received by the WVDE or the applicant's hire/assignment date, not to exceed the ten-calendar day period stated within this section, and provided that all licensure requirements have been met on that date. Future employment/assignment dates are allowable. All certificates shall expire on June 30 of the last year of their validity irrespective of the date of issuance. (W. Va. Code § 18A-3-2.) A candidate whose eligible credential is effective after December 1 may be issued a credential which exceeds the validity period within its validity section.

9.8. Expiration Date of Certificates. All certificates shall be issued and set to expire in accordance with W. Va. Code § 18A-3-2a and as mandated by this policy. Refer to individual licensure sections for designated dates.

9.9. Specializations and Grade Levels. All certificates shall contain specializations and grade levels in accordance with W. Va. Code § 18A-3-2a and as mandated by this policy and Policy 5100. Refer to individual licensure sections or Appendix A for specific designations.

9.10. Recognition of Degrees and Coursework for Licensure, Renewal, and Advanced Salary Classifications.

9.10.a. Dating of Degree Recognition and Advanced Salary Classifications. Upon successful completion of an advanced degree or additional hours leading to a higher salary classification, the candidate will make application to the WVDE. Upon verification of coursework completed and/or the degree being granted, the new degree/salary classification will be effective on the date that all requirements for the classification were completed not to exceed three months prior to receipt of the appropriate application in the WVDE for any valid and eligible certificate.

9.10.b. BA. Only a BA earned from an accredited IHE approved to offer a BA may be recognized for licensure and salary purposes.

9.10.c. MA. Only an MA earned from an accredited IHE approved to offer an MA and in a curriculum related to the public school program may be recognized for licensure and salary purposes.

9.10.d. Doctorate. Only a doctoral degree earned from an accredited IHE approved to offer a doctorate and in a curriculum related to the public school program may be recognized for licensure and salary purposes. (W. Va. Code § 18A-4-1.)

9.10.e. Degrees and Coursework from Non-accredited Colleges. Degrees and/or coursework earned from non-accredited IHEs are not recognized for licensure or salary purposes. A candidate who completed a state-approved program through a non-accredited IHE must complete the appropriate degree and approved program requirements from an accredited IHE before licensure may be granted.

9.10.f. Recognition of IHE Credit for Renewal and Salary Purposes. Only unduplicated coursework related to the public school program as defined in section 9.10.g, completed through an accredited IHE, or through the WVDE WVLearns and reflected on an official IHE transcript, and subsequent to the issuance of the certificate being renewed and within the five-year period immediately preceding the date of application may be used for renewal of a certificate.

9.10.g. Related to the Public School Program. For purposes of renewal and advanced salary classification, related to the public school program shall mean: any course offering included in a degree program in the field of K-12 or CTE education; content and/or professional education coursework related to an available licensure; content and/or professional education coursework required for an additional endorsement; professional learning/special topics coursework approved by the licensing agency; coursework identified in the personnel evaluation process; coursework related to technology for education; and/or coursework related to the mission and goals of the WVBE and/or the school organization.

9.11. Grade Point Average (GPA).

9.11.a. For Issuance of an Original Certificate. A minimum overall GPA of 2.50, unless otherwise noted. The scholastic requirements shall be computed using the 4.0 scale including the discretionary academic forgiveness provisions approved by the higher education governing boards.; or

9.11.a.1. the candidate meets any eligible exemption as listed in the directory maintained on the WVDE website;

9.11.a.2. must hold a minimum 2.50 GPA for all college/university coursework attempted with a BA, or minimum 3.00 GPA if submitting an MA or a doctorate degree, with the exception of a minimum 2.00 GPA required for the Substitute Permit and the school nurse that is licensed by the West Virginia Registered Nurse Board or Licensed Practical Nurses.

9.11.a.3. Candidates who hold a valid out-of-state teaching certificate with verification of five years of successful full-time experience in a public school in the area(s) of endorsement reflected on such certificate and in the state the certificate was issued are exempt from the GPA requirement.

9.11.a.4. An individual who holds an MA or higher with a minimum 3.00 GPA meets the GPA requirement, superseding the minimum required for a BA.

9.11.b. For Issuance of Additional Endorsements. For an individual who already holds a West Virginia Professional Certificate, the 2.50 GPA will be required only in the area(s) for which additional licensure is being requested, unless otherwise noted. All required and elective courses completed for the endorsement shall be used in computing the GPA, regardless of the date of completion.

9.11.c. For Renewal of a Certificate. College/university credit completed for the renewal of a certificate must reflect a 3.00 GPA or approved equivalent.

9.12. State Testing Requirements. All candidates for professional licensure must meet state testing requirements as required by W. Va. Code § 18A-3-2a and as outlined in section 10.1.e and the directory maintained on the WVDE website, including the exemptions indicated in W. Va. Code § 18A-3-2a(1)(B) and in section 10.1.e Candidates for CTE licensure must meet testing requirements as outlined in the West Virginia CTE Endorsement and Testing Manual maintained on the WVDE website.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-9