W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-11 Permits Issued to Professional Educators

• Library: West Virginia Administrative Code
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through Register Vol. XL, No. 52, December 28, 2023
• Citation: W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-11
• Year: 2023

11.1. Restricted Pre-Professional Permit.

11.1.a. General Criteria. The Restricted Pre-Professional Permit may be granted only one time to an individual who has been continuously employed for a specific assignment under a First-Class/Full-Time Permit and who has completed all course requirements of the approved program but has not attained the required passing scores on the WVBE-required content exams.

11.1.b. Conditions of Issuance. The candidate for the Restricted Pre-Professional Permit must submit evidence of the following: holds a minimum of a BA including completion of an approved preparation program with the exception of passing scores for the Praxis content assessment and with a minimum of 2.50 GPA; and receives the recommendation of the county superintendent verifying that the candidate is the most qualified candidate for the position.

11.1.c. Validity Period. The Restricted Pre-Professional Permit shall be valid for a period of one year and may not be renewed.

11.2. First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching and Student Support Personnel.

11.2.a. General Criteria. The First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching and Student Support Personnel may be issued for any specialization recognized on the Professional Teaching Certificate or Professional Student Support Certificate. An Initial First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching and Student Support Personnel may be granted to an individual employed for a specific assignment who has completed a minimum of a BA through an accredited IHE; the general requirements specified in section 9; the minimum GPA specified in section 9 unless otherwise noted; and the conditions for issuance specified in section 11.11.2.a.1. WVBE-approved non-IHE EPPs. A one-year, renewable one time First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching may be granted to an individual currently employed or who has been hired as the most qualified candidate where the county does not have fully certified candidates for the position for a specific assignment and who has completed a minimum of a BA through an accredited IHE, is enrolled and in good standing in a WVBE-approved EPP, meets the general requirements specified in section 9, meets the minimum GPA specified in section 9 unless otherwise noted and receives the recommendation of the county superintendent. 11.2.a.2. Exception for a School Nurse. A school nurse who is employed on a First-Class/Full-Time Permit or Authorization for School Nurse is not required to have a minimum of a BA. The candidate must provide evidence of holding a Nursing Diploma or AA in Nursing and hold a valid RN license issued by the West Virginia Registered Nurse Board with review and approval of disciplinary action. The candidate shall complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited IHE within five years. The candidate must submit professional commitment approved by the county of employment and an IHE and complete a minimum of six semester hours annually towards the completion of a BSN degree. All requirements for the BSN degree must be completed within five years of the original issuance of the First-Class/Full-Time Permit. 11.2.a.3. Driver Education. An individual receiving a First-Class/Full-Time Permit or Out-of-Field Authorization for Driver Education will only be eligible to teach the course in the classroom and shall not be eligible to instruct the students in the in-car driving practice.

11.2.b. Conditions for Issuance. The candidate for the First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching and Student Support Personnel must submit evidence of completing the following criteria:11.2.b.1. College/University Coursework. For all endorsement areas except school psychologist, and school counseling, the designated official at the IHE or WVBE-approved educator preparation program through which the program is being completed must verify that the candidate has completed 25 percent or six semester hours, whichever is greater, of the state-approved program in the specialization(s) for which the permit is requested 11.2.b.1.A. WVBE-approved non-IHE EPPs Non-degree programs which do not appear on an official transcript are exempt from the 25 percent program completion requirement. 11.2.b.1.B. For the endorsement area of school psychologist, the designated official at the IHE through which the program is being completed must verify that the candidate has completed 70 percent of the state-approved program in the specialization for which the permit is requested; and submit the Professional Commitment Form verifying the candidate's enrollment in the state-approved program. 11.2.b.1.C. For the endorsement area of school counseling, the designated official at the IHE through which the program is being completed must verify that the applicant has completed 30 percent or 21 graduate semester hours, whichever is greater, of the state-approved program in school counseling where the candidate has commenced pre-clinical/field experience; and submit the Professional Commitment form verifying the applicant's enrollment in the state-approved program 11.2.b.1.C.1. Those who have previously completed a master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a clinical counseling discipline and who enroll in a state-approved master's program in school counseling to complete the additional courses specific to school counseling are exempt from the minimum 30 percent or 21 graduate semester hour requirement. 11.2.b.1.C.2. All individuals employed under this credential must be directly supervised by a fully licensed school counselor or WVDE-approved designee. 11.2.b.2. WVBE-Adopted Tests. Unless identified as an exemption in section 10.4.c.1, an educator must satisfy the minimum proficiency levels or any identified option as indicated in the directory located on the WVDE website as adopted by the WVBE for the Content Specialization Test(s) for each specialization for which the permit is requested unless the candidate holds a degree in the content area requested or is enrolled in a WVBE-approved program that provides in-classroom pedagogical and content support, or is enrolled in a WVBE-approved program in the requested content area and has completed a minimum of 25 percent of the required content coursework in that program as verified by the preparation program official.

11.2.c. Validity Period. The First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching and Student Support Personnel shall be valid for one school year and shall expire on June 30. An educator employed on or after January 1 may be issued a Permit valid until June 30 of the following school year.

11.2.d. Renewal of the First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching and Student Support Personnel. Individuals who continue to be employed in the specialization reflected in the Permit must submit evidence of making adequate progress as verified by program provider and the WVDE by providing evidence of the following criteria 11.2.d.1. Coursework. Completion of six semester hours of required coursework from or approved by the accredited IHE where the candidate is completing the approved licensure program reflecting a minimum 3.00 GPA within the IHE towards the approved program or BSN degree requirement; and submission of the professional commitment form verifying the candidate's enrollment in the state-approved program or currently completing the BSN requirements; and recommendation of the employing county superintendent verifying that the candidate is the most qualified candidate for the position. 11.2.d.1.A. Exception for a School Nurse. A School Nurse who is employed on a First-Class/Full-Time Permit (refer to section 11.2.a.2) after July 1 is only required to have a minimum of three semester hours of coursework during the first year of the permit's issuance. 11.2.d.1.B. Extenuating Circumstances. The State Superintendent may extend the five-year limit if extenuating circumstances, as identified in section 14.5, warrant the extension. A county superintendent may request, in writing to the State Superintendent, an extension of the First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching and Student Support Personnel for an employee, including the county superintendent, who meets one of the three extenuating circumstances described in section 14.5. The superintendent's letter must be accompanied by the appropriate application and processing fee. The State Superintendent shall render a decision; however, the permit may not be extended beyond one school year or more than once. 11.2.d.1.C. The county superintendent shall submit verification from the designated official at the IHE through which the candidate is completing the state-approved program that no required coursework was available during the school year; or the county superintendent shall submit the candidate's description of how a major hardship other than illness prevented the candidate from completing the required coursework.

11.2.e. Five-Year Limit. All requirements for the Professional Teaching Certificate or Professional Student Support Certificate must be completed within five years of the original issuance of the First-Class/Full-Time Permit for Professional Teaching...