Virginia teacher licensure for out-of-state applicants
A Virginia Provisional License is nonrenewable and issued with “allowable deficiencies for full licensure” — the exact point a destination state’s reciprocity rule is most likely to turn on.
Partial coverage. We have verified Virginia's own credential tiers — which is what a destination state's eligibility rule actually turns on — but we have not yet researched what Virginia requires of incoming teachers. This page is deliberately kept out of search results until we have.
Virginia has enacted the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact (2026). Enacting it and opening it are different things, and they vary by state — Pennsylvania has published the list of licences it accepts and reviews applications under Compact rules; Colorado publishes no compact guidance at all. The compact also only governs movement between member states, so it does nothing for you if your other state has not joined. Which case is Virginia? →
The regime
Framework
Secondary endorsements are grades 6-12PreK-12, special education, secondary grades 6-12, and adult education endorsementsVirginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-180 PreK-12, special education, secondary grades 6-12, and adult education endorsements
Who qualifies
Teaching meanwhile
The Provisional LicenseThe Provisional License is a nonrenewable license valid for a period not to exceed three years issued to an individual who has allowable deficiencies for full licensure as set forth in this chapter.Virginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-50 Types of licenses; dating licenses
Teaching meanwhile
A provisional licence can be extendedshall extend for at least one additional year, but for no more than two additional years, the three-year provisional license of a teacher upon receiving from the division superintendentVirginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-50 Types of licenses; dating licenses
Who qualifies
The renewable licencesThe Collegiate Professional License is a 10-year, renewable license available to an individual who has satisfied all requirements for licensureVirginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-50 Types of licenses; dating licenses
Exemption
Into Virginia: universal licensure by reciprocityNo service requirements or licensing assessments shall be required for any such individual who applies for universal licensure by reciprocity.
This governs teachers moving INTO Virginia. It is recorded for corridors that end in Virginia, not for those that start there.
Virginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-100 Conditions for licensure for out-of-state candidates by reciprocityMilitary families
Into Virginia: military spouseswithin 15 business days of receipt of the complete application packet
This governs teachers moving INTO Virginia.
Virginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-100 Conditions for licensure for out-of-state candidates by reciprocityClocks and deadlines
How long
Licences are dated from 1 JulyAll licenses will be effective from July 1 in the school year in which the application is made.Virginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-50 Types of licenses; dating licenses
Traps
How it goes wrong
The CTE licence is neither provisional nor renewableNo three-year license issued by the board pursuant to this section shall be deemed a provisional license or a renewable license
A destination state that sorts incoming licences into provisional and standard has no category that this licence fits by its own terms.
Virginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-50 Types of licenses; dating licensesHow it goes wrong
Middle education is limited to the concentration on the licenceThe applicant will be restricted to teaching only in the area or areas of concentration listed on the teaching license.Virginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly)8VAC20-23-170 Middle education 6-8
What is not published
Not publishedNot published by the agency
No general science endorsementSecondary mathematics
The section as captured does not restate a grade band. The 6-12 band comes from the heading of Part V and 8VAC20-23-180, which name "secondary grades 6-12".
Virginia Board of Education (Virginia Administrative Code, published by the Virginia General Assembly), 8VAC20-23-430 Mathematics — read 10 September 2026Virginia's own credential tiers
This is the table a destination state reads when it decides whether your certificate qualifies. Tier names matter more than they look: several states' rules turn on the word “standard” or “professional”.
| Credential | Tier | Term | Renewable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional License | temporary | 3 years | No |
| Collegiate Professional License | standard | 10 years | Yes |
| Postgraduate Professional License | advanced | 10 years | Yes |
| Career and Technical Education License | permit | 3 years | — |
Citation hazards in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Education website returned an “Access Denied” page to our browser on 10 September 2026. Every Virginia fact here is cited to the regulation, 8VAC20-23, and not to VDOE guidance. VDOE forms, fees, contact details and processing times are not recorded.
Checked 10 September 2026Corridors involving Virginia
Virginia → North Carolina
≈351 K-12 teachers/yr · published
Virginia → Florida
≈357 K-12 teachers/yr · published