W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-5

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 126-136-5 - [Effective until 1/11/2025] Categories of Licenses

5.1. Professional Certificate. The Professional Certificate may be issued to an individual who meets prescribed full-time experience and/or academic and professional standards and who has been assessed as competent to assume a role in public education in keeping with the specialization(s) and grade levels designated on this certificate. A Professional Certificate may be issued in teaching, student support services, or administrative specializations.

5.2. Alternative Teaching Certificate. The Alternative Program Teacher Certificate is a teaching certificate issued by the State Superintendent that authorizes a person to teach while enrolled and participating in a WVBE-approved alternative program for the education of teachers as indicated in W. Va. 126CSR161, Policy 5901, Regulations for Alternative Certification Programs for the Education of Teachers (Policy 5901). The alternative program certificate is issued initially for one year and can be renewed twice for a total of three years.

5.3. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certificate. The CTE Certificate may be issued to an individual who has acquired prescribed CTE and/or technical skills through specific wage-earning experience and/or WVBE-approved equivalent training as identified in the West Virginia CTE Endorsement and Testing Manual maintained on the WVDE website, and who has been assessed as competent to assume a role in public education in keeping with the specialization(s) and grade levels designated in this certificate. The CTE Certificate is equivalent to the Professional Certificate for salary purposes only.

5.4. Temporary Career Technical Education (CTE) Certificate. The Temporary CTE Certificate may be issued to an individual who has been offered employment and holds a valid out-of-state CTE certificate but does not hold the required industry-recognized credential and/or testing requirements prescribed for issuance of the CTE Certificate. (Refer to section 10.) The Temporary CTE Certificate may also be issued to an educator who holds a valid West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate and has been offered employment in a CTE position, provided the individual meets the general criteria for the Initial CTE certificate as specified in section 10.5 with the exception of passing scores on the required National Occupational Competency Institute (NOCTI) exam(s).

5.5. Temporary Teaching Certificate. The Temporary Teaching Certificate may be issued to an individual who does not meet the requirements for a Professional Teaching Certificate and who has obtained employment in a West Virginia public school, and who meets the issuance criteria as prescribed within this policy.

5.6. Permit. The Permit may be issued to an individual who does not meet the requirements for the Professional or CTE Certificate, but who has been determined by the county superintendent to be the most qualified candidate for the position. The Non-United States Citizen Permit may be issued to a Non-United States citizen in accordance with section 17 unless candidate meets the conditions specified in section 17.1.

5.7. Adult Certificates and Adult Permits. The Adult Certificate may be endorsed for Adult Education (formerly Adult Basic Education). The Adult Permit is required only when instructing adults in an adult part-time program for endorsements identified in the West Virginia CTE Endorsement and Testing Manual on the WVDE website, including the endorsements of Public Service Training: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), or Fire Service Training.

5.8. Authorization. The Authorization may be issued to an individual who does not meet criteria for any of the above credentials or who is assigned to a position for which a specialization related to public schools instruction or a public school programs does not exist on the Professional or CTE Certificate. A Temporary or Permanent Authorization that requires a Professional Certificate as a prerequisite shall be valid provided the Professional Certificate remains valid. (Refer to section 11.11.)

5.9. Paraprofessional Certificate. The Paraprofessional Certificate may be issued to an individual who meets prescribed academic or equivalent standards and/or experience to work in a support capacity to assist in the facilitation of instruction and supervision of pupils while under the direction of a professional educator. An educator who holds a valid out-of-state or a valid or expired West Virginia Professional Certificate and is employed as a paraprofessional does not need to hold a Paraprofessional Certificate.

5.10. Provisional Teaching, Administrative, or Student Support Certificate. The Provisional Certificate is a professional certificate and may be issued to an individual who meets prescribed experience and/or academic and professional standards as described in section 10.

5.10.a. Provisional Alternative Certificate. The Provisional Alternative Certificate is a professional certificate and may be issued to an individual who meets prescribed experience and/or academic and professional standards as described in section 15. This certificate is issued for one year and may be renewed twice and is not eligible for additional endorsements based on passing content proficiency exams described in section 21.2.

5.11. Advanced Credential. Advanced Credentials are awarded to educators for completing professional learning, coursework, and/or testing that exceeds the requirements for a professional certificate, which may include a CTE certificate when applicable. Endorsements identified as Advanced Credentials have unique and specific requirements for the initial issuance and subsequent renewal. Advanced Credentials may be required for employment.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-5