Students in the Elementary Education PreK-6 Initial Licensure concentration, Spanish or ESL PreK-12 Initial Licensure concentration, School Library Media PreK-12 Initial Licensure concentration, Special Education General Curriculum K-12 Initial Licensure concentration and English 6-12 Initial Licensure concentration, must complete a professional semester to meet state licensing requirements.

Upon acceptance to the graduate program, Initial Licensure Candidates will apply to the Teacher Preparation Program by the end of the first semester of enrollment after acceptance.

 

The Initial Licensure Candidate will apply by:

 

1.    Completing the online Graduate Studies Teacher Preparation Program application on the Office of Professional Services (OPS) website.
2.    Meeting GPA admission requirement to the graduate program.
3.    Completing the online Child Abuse Recognition and Intervention Training Module and submit a link to the certificate to the OPS@longwood.edu.  The link to the training module is located on the OPS website.

 

The Graduate Studies office will provide the following items from the teacher candidate’s Application for Graduate Admission:

 

1.    Passing scores on one of the following tests: 

a.    SAT composite  score of 1100, 530 or higher on both the math and verbal sections of the test (prior to 1995, SAT composite score of 1000 with no less that 450 verbal and 510 math)  or
b.    ACT composite score of 24, math minimum 22, reading and English total 46  or
c.    Praxis 1:  composite score of 532 or
d.   Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) Reading subtest score 235 and Writing subtest score 235 and SAT Mathematics score 530 or
e.   Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) Reading subtest score 235 and Writing subtest score 235 and ACT Mathematics score 22 or
f.    Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) Reading subtest score 235 and Writing subtest score 235 and Praxis I Mathematics score 178

 

2.    Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.  

 

Graduate Studies Professional Semester

 

Students who wish to graduate in a timely manner must complete the Graduate Studies Professional Semester application and meet all requirements at the properly established time.  Failure to meet any requirement by the deadline will delay your admission to complete the Professional Semester and may delay graduation. 

 

Apply for the Graduate Professional Semester one year in advance (February 1 for a spring placement or September 1 for a fall placement) by:

 

1.    Completing the online Graduate Studies Professional Semester application on the OPS website.
2.    Requesting positive faculty recommendation(s) as specified by the program area.  Faculty complete the recommendations online, using the faculty tab of “MyLongwood,” and will need your full name and L-# to submit the recommendation on your behalf.  It is your responsibility to follow up with OPS to confirm receipt.
3.    Maintaining a GPA of 3.0.   The OPS will verify upon receipt of application. 

 

Meet additional placement requirements one semester in advance (February 1 for a fall placement or September 1 for a spring placement) by:

 

4.    Submitting to OPS at own expense copies of the following documents as a complete packet:

a.    Criminal background check (instructions on the OPS website)
b.    Negative tuberculosis test results
c.    Automobile insurance form (download this from the OPS website)

 

NOTE:  All three documents must be current within one year of actual placement in the professional semester.  In addition to these Longwood requirements, school divisions may have other forms to complete and procedures to follow.  Please consult with OPS to obtain this information.  It is the teacher candidate’s responsibility to access the information and comply by the deadline.

 

Meet remaining program area requirements by the deadline established by the program area, which in most instances is prior to starting the professional semester.  This includes:

 

5.    Submitting to OPS a copy of the score reports for Praxis II (if applicable), the Virginia Reading Assessment ‘VRA’ (if applicable), and the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment ‘VCLA’.  Consult your program area about these assessments and the recommended timing for completion.  
6.    Completing all course work. Consult your graduate catalog for specific program requirements.

 

Other Information:

 

·         Attend the Student Teaching Seminar Day which is scheduled prior to the professional semester and Wrap-Up Day which is scheduled at the end of the professional semester. The specific dates for both will be announced and posted on the OPS website. If you have a provisional license, you are not required to attend Wrap-Up Day. 

·         The OPS will obtain professional semester placements for the initial licensure candidates who are not employed as full time teachers.  If employed with a provisional license, please call the OPS for additional information.     

·         If you have a provisional license, you will work with the school division personnel in completing and submitting their licensure packet.  OPS will work with all other teacher candidates to apply for initial licensure with the Virginia Department of Education.