Become a Teacher in Virginia: Requirements, Paths, and Real Steps

When you want to become a teacher in Virginia, a licensed professional who guides students through state-approved curriculum in public or private schools. Also known as a classroom educator, it requires more than passion—it needs official certification, specific education, and a clear path through the Virginia Department of Education. This isn’t like getting a certificate online. It’s a structured process designed to make sure every teacher in the state meets real standards for student learning.

Most people start by earning a bachelor’s degree in education or a content area like math or English, paired with a teacher preparation program. If you already have a degree in something else, Virginia offers alternative routes like the Alternative Licensure Program, a state-approved pathway for career changers to become certified teachers without going back to college for another full degree. You’ll still need to pass the required Praxis exams, complete background checks, and apply for a license through the Virginia Department of Education, the official body that sets teaching standards, approves training programs, and issues licenses across the state. There’s no shortcut. But there are clear steps—and they’re the same whether you’re teaching elementary in Richmond or high school in Roanoke.

What you teach matters too. Virginia has shortages in special education, STEM subjects, and bilingual classrooms. If you’re qualified in one of these areas, you might get help with loan forgiveness or signing bonuses. Teaching isn’t just about classroom skills—it’s about knowing where the needs are. The state tracks these gaps every year, and they’re not hiding them. You can find the current list on their website. And while salary varies by district, starting pay usually falls between $45,000 and $55,000, with room to grow through experience and advanced degrees.

Below, you’ll find real advice from people who’ve walked this path—how they studied for the Praxis, what their student teaching was really like, and how they got hired in districts that were actually hiring. No theory. No fluff. Just what works.