Courses for Provisionally Licensed Educators

The School of Professional & Continuing Studies provides approved courses for teachers holding a provisional license from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Only VDOE may grant a provisional license upon request of a Virginia public school division seeking to employ an individual with minimal competency gaps.

Review additional details about the VDOE provisional license below. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Julia Burke at jburke@richmond.edu or (804) 484-1584.

What is a provisional license?

Provisional licenses are issued by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) at the request of the hiring school division.

The provisional license is a nonrenewable license valid for a period not to exceed three years. It is issued to an individual who has minimal competency gaps for full licensure as set forth by the VDOE in the Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel. The individual must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

The provisional license, with the exception of those individuals seeking licensure through a career switcher program, is issued for three years. Individuals must complete the requirements for the regular, ten-year license within the Provisional License’s three-year term.

Who might seek a provisional license?

A provisional licensure is one alternative route to licensure approved by the VDOE. For example, individuals who graduate from an accredited college or university without education coursework would not meet the VDOE requirements for an initial teaching license. However, such individuals may seek an alternative route to licensure like the provisional license. VDOE regulations allow an individual with minimal competency gaps to be employed by a school division and be granted a provisional license.

This license must be requested by the hiring school division, not by the individual.

The VDOE is the licensure authority for all teaching licenses for grades K-12 in the state. The VDOE grants licensure to individuals who meet the requirements either via a state-approved Teacher Education program or through an alternative route to licensure.

Where can I learn more about a provisional license?

Please contact a Licensure Specialist in the Office of Teacher Education and Licensure at the VDOE at (804) 225-2022 with any questions specific to a provisional license and/or fulfilling competency gaps during the term of your provisional license.

What courses does SPCS offer for provisional licensed teachers?

The University of Richmond is authorized by VDOE as an “approved licensure program,” meaning approved courses taken at UR will address licensure requirements.

The SPCS Education program offers many courses that are open to provisional license holders seeking coursework related to the VDOE’s professional studies requirements. The following classes are offered on a consistent rotation.

Additionally, we offer classes related to Gifted Education and Special Education that may be used to complete requirements for add-on endorsements. We also periodically offer classes focused on specific instructional needs, including arts integration, working with English language learners (ELL), trauma-informed care, social justice and instructional coaching.

Provisionally licensed individuals should confirm with a VDOE Licensure Specialist that a course meets VDOE’s professional studies requirements before registering for any course. 

Review the schedule of classes (below) to see which classes are being offered or will be offered in an upcoming term.

Available Classes