Good afternoon,

 

I hope this email finds you in good health and good spirit!

 

Please read this email carefully IF you are anticipating completing your program in May or August and plan on submitting a request for licensure.  The Virginia Department of Education has informed us of some very important news related to licensure today that will be very helpful for a number of you. 

 

1. If you have already completed all licensure assessments, VCLA for everyone, Praxis Subject Assessment(s) and RVE (as required for your program), AND you have completed your First Aid/CPR/AED requirement – then as we discussed at the student teaching conference, you can just follow the steps to apply and mail in your application per the link at https://www.jmu.edu/coe/esc/admission-licensure.shtml.  I am picking up packets a couple of times each week from mail services and starting to process them so that when we receive your transcript (please follow the directions at the link), we will be ready to submit on your behalf.  I will submit your packet to VDOE when it is complete, send you a letter that same day, and you will be eligible for a 10 year license.

 

2. If you have completed all assessments, but do NOT have your CPR/First Aid/AED because you were not able to schedule CPR in person due to COVID-19 – the VDOE has announced that you will be relieved of the requirement to have hands-on practice for the purpose of your licensure application until January 1, 2021.  You will need to have training in the First Aid/CPR/AED online portions of the hybrid training, but the hands-on practice can be delayed. Consider signing up for a provisional certification course online where you take the hands-on skills portion later or an online only certification (but know you will need to do CPR in person again later).  You can submit your licensure packet and email me the certificate when it is finished or wait to submit your complete packet till you have the certificate.  Whatever works better for you!  As I receive more information from VDOE on how they will track in person completion in the future, I will send it out.

 

3. If you have NOT completed all required licensure assessments because you could not schedule a test due to the COVID-19 pandemic – the Board of Education has indicated that they will issue a one-year license effective 7/1/20-6/30/21.  The VDOE will follow up with me on the process of obtaining such a license and will be clear on what allowable deficiencies will be permitted.  This license will not be renewable or extended and it is expected that the candidate will apply for a subsequent license as soon as they meet requirements.  Please HOLD OFF submitting your packet until I get more information and send a follow up email.  No worries if you already mailed it in, we will be in touch if we receive an incomplete packet.  It is highly important that you submit your scores to JMU (please email me a score report) once you have completed the assessments – even if you are already working, so that we can make a note of your status as a completer.  For our records, you will remain “provisional” until you have met all assessment requirements. 

 

4. If you are applying for out of state licensure, but have not competed your assessment(s) – please know that you are not considered a completer of our approved program until you have met all requirements. When I complete a verification form for another state (see https://www.jmu.edu/coe/esc/_files/Out-of-State-Licensure-Information.pdf), it usually asks if you have met all requirements for licensure in the state where you completed a program.  I will work with anyone in this situation, and I can make a note that due to COVID-19, you will become a completer once test centers reopen and you can take your assessment.  However, I do not know what decisions will be made by other states regarding licensure during this unprecedented time. Please contact me if you submit a verification form for another state and you have not met assessment requirements.

 

NOTE- many of you are asking me to check your files for paperwork.  I am working remotely on most days.  If you don’t remember bringing or emailing in a form to the ESC, please err on the side of re-submitting a copy.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns – please do not hesitate to email me!  I am working through emails and requests as quickly as possible.

 

Take care!

Dara

 

Dara Hall, Ph.D.

Executive Director of Teacher Education and Student Success

Education Support Center, Memorial Hall 7230/40

JMU College of Education

540-568-2996