Young female teacher with students.

Provisional Pathways

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is pleased to announce its Provisional Pathway for Special Education: General Curriculum teachers is available to all provisionally licensed teachers in Virginia in addition to it's Provisional Pathway for Elementary Teachers.

In response to Virginia’s crisis in teacher recruiting and retention, particularly in the field of special education, The Center for Teaching Excellence at UVA Wise is making all required coursework available to provisionally licensed teachers currently working in a school in Virginia.  This expansion of programming is made possible by funding from the Commonwealth to enable the College to help address the teacher shortage in the region and across the state.

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Through a Provisional Pathway, provisionally licensed teachers can complete VDOE mandated coursework entirely online. The work includes instruction in the foundation of education, classroom management, child development, curriculum and instruction, reading instruction, and assessment. In addition, special education teachers receive intensive instruction in legal aspects and foundations of special education, student characteristics, instruction of students with disabilities, individualized program development and implementation, as well as assessment and evaluation of student disabilities. The special education sequence can be completed within two years, and advisors are available to assist students as they develop their program schedule.

All courses meet the state requirements and are specifically aligned with the Virginia requirements for full licensure as a Special Education: General Curriculum teacher.

Students may begin the program immediately by enrolling in EDU-L369: Foundation of Special Education: Characteristics and Legal Aspects, a survey course that meets the VDOE prerequisite requirement for a Provisional License. Total course cost is $621, for all tuition and fees.

Teachers who have already received a provisional license can register immediately to begin their remaining coursework.