Virginia Department of Education Licensure Requirements

While all school personnel are crucial to mental health support in Virginia schools, the school mental health professionals served by the Virginia Career and Learning Center are school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists.

The licensure requirements for school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists vary and are controlled by the Virginia Board of Education’s Licensure Regulations Governing Support Personnel. Here are the requirements for each position:

• School counselor preK-12
• School psychology
• School social worker

Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) License: with the appropriate endorsement: school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker. This is the umbrella license used for these positions.

All will complete the VDOE Application for Initial Licensure.

Link to the Regulations: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title8/agency20/chapter23/section670/ 

Degree Required: Master’s

Pathways: 

• Approved Educator Preparation Program for School Counseling (Virginia or out-of-state) and 2 years of successful full-time teaching or school counseling experience 

• • Individuals who complete an approved program and apply for an initial license who are not currently employed by a Virginia Educational Agency (VEA) will be issued a Statement of Eligibility (SOE), citing for the two years of full-time experience. 
  • Once employed by a VEA, the VEA will request the issuance of a provisional (PROV) license on their behalf, to allow for the two years of experience to be completed.
  • Upon completion of the two years of experience (as verified by the educational agency on a Report on Experience (ROE) form), the SOE or PROV may be converted to a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) license.

• Reciprocity (holds a full, valid license as a School Counselor in another state)

• • If the license meets conditions of reciprocity, a PPS license will be issued. 

• • If the license does not meet conditions of reciprocity, documentation for a different pathway (such as an approved program) may be requested

• Respecialization  

• • Holds a Virginia DHP license in a related area, such as LPC, LCP, LCSW and is hired by a VEA as a School Counselor
  • VEA requests the issuance of a provisional (PROV) license to allow for additional coursework and 2 years of experience to be completed.
  • Upon completion of coursework and experience (as verified on official transcripts and a ROE), a request can be submitted to convert the PROV to a PPS license.

Link to the Regulations: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title8/agency20/chapter23/section700/ 

Degree Required: Master’s

Pathways:

• Approved Educator Preparation Program for School Social Workers (VA or out-of-state), which includes coursework in education and a practicum/internship in a school setting
  • If an approved program is completed, a PPS license will be issued.
• Reciprocity (holds a full, valid license as a School Social Worker in another state)
  • If the license meets conditions of reciprocity, a PPS license will be issued. 
  • If the license does not meet conditions of reciprocity, documentation for a different pathway may be requested
• Holds a Master’s of Social Work degree*, completed at least 6 semester hours of graduate level education coursework, and completed a supervised practicum or field experience of a minimum of 400 clock hours in a public or an accredited nonpublic school discharging the duties of a school social worker. 
  • One year of successful, full-time experience as a school social worker in a public or an accredited nonpublic school may be accepted in lieu of the school social work practicum.
  • VEAs may employ an individual who holds a MSW degree and request a provisional (PROV) license to be issued to allow the 6 semester hours of coursework and the experience to be completed.
  • Upon completion of the coursework and experience (as verified on official transcripts and a ROE), the PROV may be converted to a PPS.

*Please see regulations regarding additional requirements for MSW degree.

Link to the Regulations: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title8/agency20/chapter23/section690/

Degree Required: At least a Master’s (an Educational Specialist in School Psychology typically meets requirements in Virginia)

Pathways: 

NOTE: Each of these pathways leads to a PPS license; a pathway for provisional licensure has not been developed for School Psychology.

• Complete an approved program for School Psychology (the following must be completed)
  • Earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
  • Complete 60 graduate-level hours, 54 of which are academic coursework, exclusive of field-based experiences, that culminate in at least a master’s degree
  • Complete an internship that is documented by the degree-granting institution. The internship experience shall occur on a full-time basis over a period of one year or on a half-time basis over a period of two consecutive years. The internship shall occur under conditions of appropriate supervision, that is, the school-based supervisor shall be licensed as either a school or clinical psychologist. The internship shall include experiences at multiple age levels, at least one-half of which shall be in a public or accredited nonpublic school setting.
• Holds a currently valid certificate issued by the National School Psychology Certification Board
• Reciprocity (holds a full, valid license as a School Psychologist in another state)

You may apply to add an endorsement to your existing license. This action may be completed through the online licensure system, VALO. If you are currently employed by a Virginia Educational Agency (VEA), your employer can assist you with making the request.

All applications for initial licensure must include the following:

• Application
  • Use “Application for a Virginia License” form located on the VDOE Licensing webpage, or apply online through VALO (select teaching/admin option)
• Application fee
  • $100 for applicants who reside in Virginia, $150 for applicants who reside outside of Virginia
• Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Includes all undergraduate coursework/degrees, as well as institutions where coursework was completed and transferred.
• Statutory Trainings for Initial Licensure
  • Please note that School Counselors must also complete Training in the Recognition of Mental Health Disorder and Behavioral Distress. See link above for more information.
• Additional documents needed will vary based on the endorsement sought and the pathway to licensure.

Virginia passed legislation in 2026 to join the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists and HB255 has been signed into law. However, the Compact is not yet operational.

Approved Teacher Education Programs – List Format (ADA Compliant) (Word)

Virginia Approved SC, SP, SSW Programs.docx

Yes! If you have completed a state-approved educator preparation program through an accredited four-year college or university in a comparable endorsement area, please have the college or university where you completed the approved program complete Virginia’s College Verification Form (CVF) to verify completion of the program. This form, completed by the licensing or certification officer at the college/university, will be needed as part of the initial application.

An individual coming into Virginia from any state may qualify for a Virginia teaching license with comparable endorsement areas if the individual holds a valid out-of-state teaching license (full credential without deficiencies) that must be in force at the time the application for a Virginia license is made. An individual seeking licensure must establish a file in the Virginia Department of Education by submitting a complete application packet, which includes official student transcripts, statutory training requirements, and a copy of the out-of-state educator/pupil personnel services license.

Virginia Code (§ 22.1-298.1.) requires that “every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement as a school counselor shall complete training in the recognition of mental health disorder and behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and substance abuse.”

CACREP Accredited School Counselor Education Programs:  Individuals who have graduated from a CACREP accredited state-approved school counseling program from a regionally accredited college or university since January 2016 will not be required to complete additional study to meet this requirement for initial licensure since the training is included in the approved school counselor program (however, it will be required for licensure renewal).

More information regarding school counselor license renewal training options can be found on the School Counselor Professional Licensure in Virginia webpage.

Please refer to the licensure renewal manual on the Licensing Forms & Information webpage: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/teaching-in-virginia/teacher-licensure/licensing-forms-information

Currently, Virginia does not require any assessments for a PPS license. For information regarding assessments for licensure in Virginia, please refer to the “Assessment Requirements for Initial Licensure” document: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/39662/638925050440200000 

Please note that some colleges and universities may require assessments as part of their approved program. If you are seeking licensure through completion of an approved program, all program requirements must be completed.