Transferring your teaching license from California to Virginia
Virginia evaluates out-of-state teaching credentials on a case-by-case basis. Expect a credential review by Virginia Department of Education and additional Virginia-specific exam or coursework requirements before a full license is issued.
See 2,089 open teaching jobs in Virginia →Your current credential (California)
- Issuing authority
- California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)
- License type
- Preliminary Credential (5 years (non-renewable))
- Reciprocity policy
- California evaluates out-of-state credentials individually; no blanket reciprocity. California-specific exams are typically required.
Virginia certification
- Issuing authority
- Virginia Department of Education
- License you'll earn
- Provisional License (3 years)
- Typical timeline
- 12–18 months traditional; Career Switcher Program can be completed in about 1 year
- Virginia reciprocity policy
- Virginia participates in the NASDTEC compact. Out-of-state educators with valid licenses may receive a Virginia Provisional License; VCLA and RVE may still be required for elementary educators.
Exams typically required in Virginia
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on Virginia's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills (or qualifying SAT/ACT/GRE scores)Basic reading, writing, and mathematics
- Praxis Subject AssessmentsContent knowledge for your certification area
- Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA)Literacy skills for PK–6 educators
- Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE)Reading instruction for PreK–3 and elementary endorsements
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your California credential is current. Virginia will request a verification of your active Preliminary Credential from California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
- Apply through Virginia Department of Education. The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any Virginia-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but Virginia may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to Virginia districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 2,089 active openings — browse Virginia teaching jobs to start identifying districts.