Industry Credentials for Teachers Seeking an Initial Virginia License with Endorsement(s) in an Area of Career and Technical Education - Guidance Document

Oct 3, 2026

Upload by aboduw

Guidance document outlining the requirement under §22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia that teachers seeking an initial Virginia license with CTE endorsement(s) must hold an industry certification credential in the endorsement area. Explains the approved credentialing assessments used for the Virginia Department of Education industry-credentialing process, including eligible credential types and validity/security considerations for test administration. Describes selection directions by broad CTE area, endorsement area mapping, and criteria for standardized, knowledge-based tests aligned with SOL content. Also addresses provisional licensing if credentials are not yet obtained.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages45

Reading Time1 h 53 min

AccessFree to download

Background information

Legal requirement under §22.1-298.1

What counts as an industry credential

Criteria for approved industry credentialing assessments

Annual review and updates

Directions for selecting industry credentialing assessments

Broad CTE areas and endorsement areas

Industry Credentials for Teachers Seeking an Initial Virginia License with Endorsement(s) in an Area of Career and Technical Education Guidance Document §22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia 􀂤Virginia Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education Updated June, 2021 INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS FOR TEACHERS SEEKING AN INITIAL VIRGINIA LICENSE WITH ENDORSEMENT(S) INAN AREA OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION GUIDANCE DOCUMENT BACKGROUND INFORMATION Section § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia requires that every teacher seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth with an endorsement in the area of career and technical education shall have an industry certification credential in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement. If a teacher seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth has not attained an industry certification credential in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement, the Board may, upon request of the employing school division or educational agency, issue the teacher a provisional license to allow time for the teacher to attain such credential. The 2021-2022 Industry Credentials for Teachers Seeking an Initial Virginia License with Endorsement(s) in an Area of Career and Technical Education Guidance Document is available on the Virginia Department of Education’s website. This document provides: (1) the teachereligible list of approved industry certification examinations; (2) name of the issuing organization; and (3) the specific career and technical education area(s), including the corresponding endorsement codes. The web-based list allows users to access contact information and details for each credentialing assessment. Industry credentials that are eligible for teachers seeking an initial teaching license with endorsements in the area of career and technical education (CTE) are derived from the Virginia Board of Education-approved list of industry certifications, occupational competency assessments, and state licenses for high school students. For test validity and security reasons, not all issuing organizations allow teachers to take the student examinations. In Virginia, industry credentials are defined as: 􀁸 State-issued professional license, required for entry into a specific occupation as determined by a Virginia state licensing agency (e.g., Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Emergency Medical Technician, Pharmacy Technician); 􀁸 Full Industry Certification, from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association validating essential skills of a particular occupation (A+ Certification Examinations, Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), Microsoft Office Specialists (MOS) 􀁸 Pathway industry certification, from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association that validates essential skills of an industry. These certifications may consist of a suite of examinations from entry level to full certification (e.g., CISCO Certified Network Associate Examinations, A+ Certification Examinations, Automotive Service Excellence); and 􀁸 Occupational competency assessment, a national standardized assessment of skills/knowledge in a specific career and/or technical area (e.g., SkillsUSA, NOCTI) . To meet the Board of Education criteria and utilize the industry credentialing for the purpose of earning student-selected verified credit, the approved industry credentialing assessments must meet the following criteria: 􀁸 the test must be standardized and graded independently of the school or school division in which the test is given; 􀁸 the test must be knowledge-based; 􀁸 the test must be administered on a multistate or international basis, or administered as part of another state’s accountability assessment program; 􀁸 to be counted in a specific academic area, the test must measure content that incorporates or exceeds the Standards of Learning (SOL) content in the course for which verified credit is given; 􀁸 industry certification or licensure exa

FAQs

What requirement applies to teachers seeking an initial Virginia license with CTE endorsement(s)?

Teachers seeking an initial license with an endorsement in career and technical education must have an industry certification credential in the area of the endorsement.

What does the document say about provisional licensing if a credential is not yet available?

If a teacher has not attained the required industry certification credential, the Board may issue a provisional license upon request to allow time to obtain the credential.

How are industry credentialing assessments approved for student-verified credit?

Approved assessments must be standardized and graded independently, knowledge-based, usable on a multistate or international basis (or within another state’s accountability program), and include content that meets or exceeds relevant SOL standards. Credentials also must align with certified teachers/programs and cannot be verified more than once.

Oct 3, 2026

Upload by aboduw