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Virginia

Verified against current sources (2026-05-08) Cite this page ↓

Virginia offers Bilingual Education both as a standalone certification and as an add-on endorsement; ELD/ESL is available both as a standalone license and as an add-on endorsement. SEI training is not mandated for all teachers. As of 2021, 9.4% of public-school students are classified English Learners (NCES). Re-verified against current SEA sources on 2026-05-08.

9.4%
classified ELs (2021-10-01)
view trend →
Bil + ELD
credential types offered

Credentials

Bilingual education

  • Standalone certification
  • Add-on endorsement
Approved program
Required
Coursework
Required
Practicum
Unknown
Subject test
Required
Language proficiency
Required

Dual Language Endorsement adopted by VDOE effective 2026-01-01 (8VAC20-23-321 through -324). Four parallel sections cover Dual Language (English) preK-6 standalone and add-on, plus Dual Language (target language) preK-6 standalone and add-on. Approved teacher preparation program is one path; the alternate path requires specified semester hours plus elementary content / reading-for-educators assessments (English pathway) or 12 SH target language above intermediate level OR a qualifying language assessment (target-language pathway). VDOE introduced the endorsement via the August 7, 2025 webinar 'Introducing the Dual Language Endorsement and Data Management Updates.'

ESL Add-On Endorsement

  • Standalone certification
  • Add-on endorsement
Approved program
Required
Coursework
Required
Practicum
Unknown
Subject test
Required

ESL preK-12 endorsement under 8VAC20-23-350. Two paths: (1) approved teacher preparation program in ESL, or (2) 24 semester hours distributed across reading & writing (6), English linguistics (3), cross-cultural education (3), second language acquisition (3), ESL methods grounded in the WIDA English Language Development Standards (3), ESL assessment (3), and electives (3). VDOE requires the Praxis English to Speakers of Other Languages test for the add-on path. Practicum requirement embedded in approved-program path but not separately enumerated in -350; coded null.

Sheltered English Instruction (SEI)

Not mandated for all teachers.

State policy signals

Seal of Biliteracy

Recognition for graduating students proficient in English plus another language.

Adopted in 2015.

Source: sealofbiliteracy.org (opens in a new tab)

ELP assessment

Annual English Language Proficiency test used for EL identification and reclassification.

ACCESS for ELLs · WIDA Consortium member.

Source: wida.wisc.edu (opens in a new tab)

History of licensure

Dated policy and verification events shaping this state's EL teacher credentials.

  1. Virginia Seal of Biliteracy authorized (HB 1822, 2015)

    HB 1822 (2015) amended the Code of Virginia to authorize school divisions to award a Seal of Biliteracy on the high-school diplomas of graduates demonstrating proficiency in English and at least one other language. The seal is codified under Va. Code § 22.1-212.1.

    law.lis.virginia.gov (opens in a new tab)

  2. Dual Language Endorsement effective (8VAC20-23-321 et seq.)

    Virginia's first dedicated bilingual licensure track took effect on January 1, 2026, under regulations 8VAC20-23-321 through 324. The endorsement provides four parallel pathways combining English- or target-language preparation with standalone or add-on options.

    law.lis.virginia.gov (opens in a new tab)

Sources

  1. [1] Virginia Department of Education (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2019-11-15 (via Leider et al. 2021)
  2. [2] Leider, Colombo & Nerlino (2021), EPAA 29(100). Tables 2-5 + Appendix A. (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2019-11-15 (via Leider et al. 2021)
  3. [3] VDOE — Teacher Licensure landing page (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  4. [4] VDOE — Licensing Services (VALO portal, components of licensure) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  5. [5] VDOE — English Learner Education Related Programs and Resources (Title III, ESL endorsement via Praxis ESOL, links to 2021 Uniform Performance Standards) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  6. [6] VDOE — Dual Language Endorsement (introduced August 2025; cites 8VAC20-23-321 through -324 and -130) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  7. [7] 8VAC20-23-350 — English as a second language preK-12 endorsement (approved program OR 24 SH coursework path) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  8. [8] 8VAC20-23-321 — Dual language (English) endorsement preK-6 (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  9. [9] 8VAC20-23-322 — Dual language (English) preK-6 add-on endorsement (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  10. [10] 8VAC20-23-323 — Dual language (target language) endorsement preK-6 (target-language proficiency required) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  11. [11] 8VAC20-23-324 — Dual language (target language) preK-6 add-on endorsement (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  12. [12] 8VAC20-23-130 — Professional studies requirements (incl. dual language endorsements) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  13. [13] WIDA Consortium — member states (VA listed; ACCESS for ELLs is the ELP assessment) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  14. [14] NCES Digest of Education Statistics, Table 204.20: English learners enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 2011 through fall 2021 (VA fall 2021: 117,417 ELs = 9.4%) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08
  15. [15] NCES Condition of Education — English Learners in Public Schools (most recent year: fall 2021) (opens in a new tab) — retrieved 2026-05-08

Cite this page

Site content is published under CC BY 4.0. When citing a fact from this page, please cite both projectcert and the original Leider et al. (2021) paper the dataset extends.

APA
projectcert. (2026, May 8). Virginia EL teacher certification. https://projectcert.org/states/va/
Leider, C. M., Colombo, M. W., & Nerlino, E. (2021). Decentralization, teacher quality, and the education of English learners: Do state education agencies effectively prepare teachers of ELs? Education Policy Analysis Archives, 29(100). https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.29.5279
BibTeX
@misc{projectcert_va_2026,
  author  = {{projectcert}},
  title   = {{Virginia EL teacher certification}},
  year    = {2026},
  url     = {https://projectcert.org/states/va/},
  urldate = {2026-05-08},
  note    = {Last verified 2026-05-08}
}
@article{leider2021decentralization,
  author  = {Leider, Christine M. and Colombo, Michaela W. and Nerlino, Erika},
  title   = {{Decentralization, teacher quality, and the education of English learners: Do state education agencies effectively prepare teachers of ELs?}},
  journal = {Education Policy Analysis Archives},
  volume  = {29},
  number  = {100},
  year    = {2021},
  doi     = {10.14507/epaa.29.5279}
}

See the methodology for how these data were collected, or the glossary for term definitions.