West Virginia Code of State Rules
Agency 126 - Education
Title 126 - PROCEDURAL RULE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Series 126-161 - Regulations for Alternative Certification Programs for the Education of Teachers (5901)
Section 126-161-7 - Candidate Eligibility

Universal Citation: 126 WV Code of State Rules 126-161-7

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 38, September 20, 2024

7.1. Prior to being hired at the county level as an alternative certification program participant, candidates must apply for and attain an Alternative Teaching Certificate. Upon receiving an Alternative Teaching Certificate, candidates may enroll to participate in a WVBE-approved program for alternative certification.

7.2. Eligibility criteria for candidates to be issued an Alternative Teaching Certificate and enroll into alternative certification programs must include, but may not be limited to, the following:

7.2.a. State Minimum Candidate Eligibility Criteria.
7.2.a.1. Meet general requirements of Policy 5202, section 9.1.

7.2.a.2. Meet requirements of Policy 5202 for a criminal history record check.

7.2.a.3. Hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited IHE and meet requirements of grade point average aligned to Policy 5202 and the West Virginia Licensure Testing Directory found on the WVDE website.

7.2.a.4. Pass the WVBE-required basic skills exam(s) or qualify for an exemption of the exam(s).

7.2.a.5. Receive a formal offer of employment from the county board for a qualifying vacancy.

7.2.b. Additional Candidate Eligibility Criteria Required of Candidates for General Education Endorsements.
7.2.b.1. Possess relevant academic or occupational qualifications that reasonably indicate the person will be competent to fill the teaching position in which the candidate would be employed, as determined and approved by the county. To clarify, official transcripts reflecting an academic major or appropriate documentation of occupational qualifications the same as, or similar to, the subject matter which the alternative program candidate is being hired to teach are required.

7.2.b.2. Pass the WVBE-required content exam(s) for the endorsement(s) or qualify for an exemption of the exam(s).

7.3. If a person seeks certification to teach ASL, in addition to other eligibility requirements for general education endorsements as described in this policy, the candidate shall pass one or more appropriate WVBE-approved tests demonstrating proficiency in ASL.

7.4. At the conclusion of the WVBE-approved alternative certification program, teachers in the general education teaching path shall be required to meet the proficiency score(s) on the appropriate state competency exam(s) in professional education.

7.5. At the conclusion of the alternative certification program teachers in the special education teaching path completing a WVBE-approved alternative certification program shall be required to meet the proficiency score(s) on the appropriate state competency exam(s) in special education content and the state competency exam(s) in professional education.

7.6. The employment date identified for a beginning alternative certification teacher applying for the Alternative Teaching Certificate must align with the qualifying job posting and be a future date. These employment dates shall not precede the date of application. Enrollment into WVBE-approved alternative certification programs for the education of teachers must not precede the effective date of the Alternative Teaching Certificate.

7.7. All WVBE-approved exams, assessments, and passing score requirements described in this policy are identified in Policy 5202 and the West Virginia Licensure Testing Directory found on the WVDE website. If the state-approved program resulting from this policy requires successful completion of a nationally-normed teacher performance assessment, upon successful completion of the assessment participants may be exempt from the required professional education exam(s). The state-approved program provider sets the adopted teacher performance assessment's acceptable range for proficiency level and/or cut scores, unless the WVBE has established proficiency levels for the specific assessment(s) within the West Virginia Licensure Testing Directory found on the WVDE website.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. West Virginia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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