Initial Teacher Certification
Upon completion of one of WVU's teacher preparation programs, students will need to apply for a West Virginia Professional Initial Teacher Certification through the West Virginia Department of Education.
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Register for an account *
* Applicants who already have a webtop account are still required to complete the registration process first before logging into the certification portal.
This process will link your Webtop account to your certification records.
- Complete the
Form 20T Initial Teacher Certification
OR
Form 20S Initial Student Support Certification (School Counselor, Speech-Language Pathologist)Once the certification is submitted and verified by the WVU Teacher Certification Program Manager, an application fee will need to be paid online through the certification portal to the West Virginia Department of Education.
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Form 7 Applicant Consent/Release of Background Results (physical form needs to be notarized, scanned and uploaded to ‘Supporting Documents’ within online application)
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Request an official WVU transcript (PDF) to be sent directly to the West Virginia Department of Education's Office of Certification.
- Under recipient type on the request form choose "Enter Recipient Manually"
- Select "PDF"
- Enter cert.transcripts.wvde@k12.wv.us
- Use the following as the physical mailing address:
WVDE Office of Certification
1900 Kanawha Blvd E
Charleston, WV 25305
304-558-7010
Electronic copies forwarded from applicant's email are not accepted.
IMPORTANT: Before ordering a transcript, students should make sure their degree has been awarded, which typically happens two weeks after the graduation date. Students can check their Mix account for a graduation date to appear or check their DegreeWorks page for 'Degree Awarded' to appear in the middle of the page. Only then, can transcripts be safely ordered. If ordered without the degree awarded, the WVDE will request that you reorder transcripts. Missing grades or degrees will not justify resending a transcript at no charge. Transcript requests are processed immediately. If you are a recent graduate, please do not place your order until your degree has been awarded.
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Obtain Fingerprint and Background Check After graduating from a teacher preparation program and applying for a for your WV initial teaching certification, you will need to complete a West Virginia state and federal background check to receive your teacher licensure.
A service code will be sent via email once an application is submitted and on file at the WVDE. Use the service code to register for an appointment.
- PRAXIS The results of PRAXIS I, Praxis II Specialty Content Area test(s) for the certification area and record of completion of the edTPA will be submitted to the WVDE by the WVU Certification Specialist at the time of application approval.