Licensure Requirements for School Personnel Teaching Social Studies

Virginia History or State and Local Government Requirement for Licensure

This is a follow-up to Superintendent’s Memo #285-13, dated October 25, 2013, notifying school divisions that in response to Senate Bill 1345 of the 2013 General Assembly, the Virginia Board of Education amended the Licensure Regulations for School Personnel to require the following:

Individuals who hold any one of these endorsements on a Virginia license will be required to satisfy the Virginia History or State and Local Government requirement for renewal after July 1, 2014.

  • Endorsements

  • Early-Middle Education K-8

  • Elementary Grades NK-8

  • Elementary Grades K-7

  • Elementary Grades K-8

  • Elementary Grades 1-7

  • Elementary Grades 4-7

  • Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-7

  • Economics

  • Government

  • History

  • History and Social Sciences

  • Middle Education Grades 4-8

  • Middle Education Grades 5-8

  • Middle Education Grades 6-8

  • Middle Education Grades 6-7

  • Middle Education 6-8: History and Social Science

  • Social Studies-Without History

To meet the requirements, the Virginia Department of Education is offering the Virginia State and Local Civic Education Module free of charge. The module may be accessed here Individuals completing the module should print a copy of the certificate of completion for verification. The module has a value of five professional development points. 

If you have additional questions or concerns regarding this, please contact your social studies curriculum supervisor or the Personnel dept.