Alternative Certification for Teachers (ACT)
Application and Registration Process
Alternative Certification for Teachers (ACT) is a teacher education program designed to provide the "career changer" with teacher certification in either elementary (preK-6), Special Education K-12: General Curriculum, or secondary education(6-12). Classes are held in the evening, on weekends and during the summer. The program meets the Virginia Department of Education Standards.
The applicant must have an earned bachelor's degree and have been involved in a career for at least a year.
The applicant must also earn passing scores on Praxis I and The Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) before enrolling in the program.
ACT Elementary Education
The Elementary Alternative Education Certification program is designed to provide the successful student with certification for teaching in pre-Kindergarten classrooms through sixth grade. In addition to the content and professional education courses, the student will have to take and pass the Praxis I, Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA), Praxis II and the State Child Abuse Training module.
Guidelines
- Passing scores on Praxis I and VCLA are required before enrollment into the ACT Program.
- Passing scores on VRA, elementary certification only, must be submitted before student teaching.
- Passing scores on Praxis II Test (Elementary Content Knowledge #10014) must be submitted before student teaching.
ACT Secondary Education
The Secondary Alternative Certification for Teachers (ACT) Program is designed to provide the successful student with certification for teaching in grades six through twelve.
Areas of certification
- Visual Arts PreK-12
- Foreign Language preK-12 (French, German and Spanish)
- History and Social Science
- English
- Mathematics
- Science (Biology, Chemistry or Earth Science)
- Special Education - General Curriculum K-12
The Secondary Alternative Certification for Teachers (ACT) Program is designed to provide the successful student with certification for teaching in a specific content area on the secondary level. The student must have a bachelor's degree, and, have been involved in a career for at least a year.
A listing of all VDOE Licensure Regulations for all areas of licensure can be found in the Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel.
In addition to the VDOE required content and professional education courses, the student will have to take and pass the Praxis I, Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA), Praxis II and the State Child Abuse Training module.
Guidelines
Secondary Content Areas (Grades 6-12), Visual Arts (preK-12), Foreign Language (preK-12), Special Education (General Curriculum K-12)
- A passing score on Praxis I and the VCLA test is required before enrollment into the ACT Program.
- A passing score on Praxis II test by major/content area must be submitted before student teaching. NOTE: The Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA) is also required before student teaching for all those seeking endorsments in Elementary preK-6 and Special Education K-12 (General Curriculum).
ACT Tuition and Fees
- The $40.00 application fee is non-refundable. Re-admits to the VWC ACT Program pay a $20.00 application fee.
- The discounted tuition for the ACT Program is congruent with that of courses taken in the Adult Studies Program. Call 757.455.3263 for information.
- Students applying for the ACT Program may qualify for financial aid in the form of loans. Students interested in this aid should contact the Financial Aid Office at 757.455.3345.
- There is no out-of-state tuition.
- ACT Program Tuition is $348.00 per credit hour for the Fall and Spring semesters; $348.00 per credit hour for the Summer semester sessions.
ACT FAQs
Will Virginia Wesleyan College accept my professional education courses taken at another college?
Some courses may be accepted. The student must provide a college catalog course description and additional course materials such as syllabi, tests and text. At least half of the professional education courses must be taken at Virginia Wesleyan College.
When are the classes held?
Most of our classes meet on Monday through Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. Some courses are offered on weekends and in the summer.
When do I take VCLA?
Passing scores on the VCLA Test is required for enrollment into the ACT program.
When do I take VRA?
The VRA, required only for Elementary certification, should be taken after students have completed EDUC 320 and EDUC 321. These courses provide the material that students need to know to be successful when they take the VRA.
When do I take Praxis II?
Passing scores on Praxis II Test by major/content area must be submitted before student teaching.
ACT Program courses are offered through the Adult Studies Program. Advisor appointments, applications, registration forms, parking decals and tuition payments are all processed through the Adult Studies Office (located off the lobby on the first floor of Clarke Hall - 455-3263).
Interpreting Transcripts
The Director of Teacher Education and your ACT Advisor evaluate the applicant's transcripts for the following requirements:
- Degrees and major areas of study
- Content competencies as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). These competencies are very specific to each licensure area. The Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel has the endorsement requirements (content and professional studies coursework) for every teaching license issued by the VDOE.
Teacher Certification Tracks
Virginia Wesleyan College Education Department offers three teacher certification tracks.
- Track 1 - Initial teacher’s licensure.
- Track 2 - Provisional teachers – you must provide a copy of your provisional license.
- Track 2 -Licensed teachers – you must provide a copy of your active VDOE license.
- Track 3 - Personal Interest
The three tracks are designed to be broad in scope and flexible enough to meet the needs of the adult student, with courses offered in the evening, on weekends and during the summer.
