Become a Private School Teacher in Virginia
Virginia private school teachers educate students at privatized institutions, where they may enjoy smaller class sizes and better working conditions. Find out how to become a private school teacher in the Commonwealth!
Private School Teacher Career Overview
Private school instructors teach students through privately owned and funded institutions. In Virginia, private school teachers are not required to be certified. However, each institution may implement its own requirements for teacher certifications, specializations, education, and experience. Teachers interested in instructing at a private school should research the institution to which they hope to become employed in order to understand the specific requirements needed for future employment.
| Education/Experience Required | Bachelor's degree in designated content area and grade level from regionally accredited college or university; Completion of state-approved educator preparation program |
| Exams Required | Reading for Virginia Educators: Elementary & Special Education Praxis I Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Praxis II Content Area Assessment for Corresponding Grade Level & Subject |
| License Validity Period | Provisional certification valid for three years; Collegiate certification valid for five years |
| Certification Renewal Process | Provisional certification nonrenewable; Collegiate certification renewable once every five years with qualifying professional development credits |
| CEU Credits Required for Renewal | CEUs not required; 180 points of state-certified professional development activity |
| Average Salary (2018) | $58,168 (elementary school); $60,652 (high school)* |
| Estimated Job Growth 2016 – 2026 | 7% (elementary school); 8% (high school)** |
Source: *Salary.com; **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job projections based on national data
Benefits of Teaching Private School
Working as a teacher in a private school comes with its fair share of benefits. A report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that private school educators experience the following main benefits:
- Personal problems that interfere with learning are less of an issue than in public schools
- Private funding results in better working conditions compared to public schools
- Smaller class sizes lead to more engaged students and higher information retention
- Less bureaucratic interference from private operation results in greater influence over school policies
Additionally, the report found that private school teachers claim to have more autonomy in the classroom, meaning they had more control over their curriculum and overall learning practices.
Educational Requirements
While private school teachers are not required to meet the minimum qualifications for teacher certification by the state, most institutions follow the standards set forth by the Virginia Department of Education. As such, instructors may be required to receive at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. In addition, teachers may need to complete an approved educator preparation program as outlined by their specific institution of employment.
Exam Requirements
Most Virginia instructors will need to provide evidence of competency by passing a series of exams. Assuming most private schools will require the same, Virginia educators will need to pass the following:
- Reading for Virginia Educators: Elementary & Special Education
- Praxis I Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects
- Praxis II Content Area Assessment that corresponds to grade level and subject matter
Teachers will need to earn a score of at least 157 on the Reading for Virginia Educators: Elementary & Special Education assessment. A passing score for the Praxis I Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects assessment constitutes the following scores in each subtest area: Mathematics (157), Reading & Language Arts (157), Social Studies (155), Science (159). Praxis II passing scores vary depending on the specific grade level and content area being assessed.
Certification Requirements
Provisional certifications are issued to teachers who possess at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and have passed an approved educator preparation program. Requirements for earning such certification may vary depending on the private institution at which teachers plan to be employed. In general, once provisional certifications are issued, teachers have three years to convert their licenses to a collegiate professional license. To do so, teachers must pass all required assessments, provide evidence of completed methods coursework, and complete all required pre- and post-clinical experiences.
Certification Renewal
Provisional licenses are nonrenewable and only valid for three years, during which time teachers must work to convert their provisional certification to a collegiate professional license. Once obtained, collegiate certifications can be renewed once every five years. Teachers must maintain at least 180 points of approved professional development activity in order to qualify for renewal at each five-year interval. However, privatized institutions may have different requirements, which may be more or less rigorous depending on their specific set of teacher regulations.