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West Virginia teacher license transfer

How to transfer your teaching license to West Virginia

West Virginia provides a reciprocity application for a teacher who holds a valid out-of-state public-school license and can document the credential and official academic record.

Build my license plan See official sources

Starting point

Does West Virginia accept out-of-state teaching licenses?

An out-of-state license can open a path to West Virginia certification, but it does not transfer automatically. The state decides which certificate, endorsements, tests or additional requirements apply.

Your exact route can still depend on your license type, preparation, experience, subjects, grade levels and testing history.

How teacher license reciprocity works · Look up your current license

Keep your place

Your West Virginia application checklist

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State review still applies

What can change your path

  • • The reciprocity route requires a valid out-of-state public-school license or certificate
  • • Out-of-state preparation without a valid license is a different application route
  • • Program-completion applicants need an accredited state-approved program and the preparing institution's recommendation
  • • WVDE makes the final endorsement and certificate determination under Policy 5202

What the state says

1 official source

These facts come from official sources. The state agency still makes the final licensing decision.

Two separate applications

A valid source public-school certificate uses West Virginia's Form 20R reciprocity route; completion of an out-of-state program without that credential uses Form 20A instead.

Program route is not reciprocity

The program-completion branch must meet Policy 5202 and applicable West Virginia licensure assessments, while the valid-license reciprocity branch is evaluated as a separate transaction.

Core evidence

West Virginia requires an official transcript and, for reciprocity, a copy of the valid out-of-state public-school license; the program route adds provider approval and institutional recommendation evidence.

State certification help

2 guides

01Application documentsSee the core records to prepare and who may need to send themOpen 02Out-of-state testingSee how the state treats prior tests for an out-of-state applicationOpen

Why your details matter

State websites describe the possible routes. The right one for you can depend on your license, preparation, experience, subjects, grades, tests, National Board status and compact eligibility. TeachPassport uses those details to work out your path and handle the steps it can do for you.

One thing to know: A valid source public-school certificate uses the Form 20R reciprocity route; a person who completed out-of-state preparation but does not hold that credential uses the separate Form 20A program-completion route and must satisfy Policy 5202 requirements.

Plan the whole move

Questions to answer before you apply

The application is only one part of the move. Check the costs, timing and records that can hold up an otherwise complete file.

01What could this cost?Plan for state fees, records, tests and fingerprints.Read 02How long could it take?See what affects review time and when to start.Read 03Will my test scores count?Check prior Praxis scores before registering again.Read 04Will I need new fingerprints?Use the destination’s required process and vendor.Read 05How will my experience count?Prepare the verification the state actually accepts.Read 06Should I apply to jobs first?Work out whether the license or job offer comes first.Read

Official sources

State agency material

West Virginia Department of EducationOut-of-State Teachers