Required Assessments

Old Dominion University approved teacher education programs require passing scores in the Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments: Praxis Subject Assessments (formerly Praxis II), VCLARVE for early childhood education, elementary education, special education, and reading specialists, and completion of training in Dyslexia AwarenessChild Abuse Recognition and Intervention certificationEmergency First Aid/CPR/AED certification and Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia.

Email certificates to placements@odu.edu with your UIN in the subject line.

Take tests at ODU's Testing Center

Praxis Series Tests

Register for a computer-delivered Praxis Test and then take it at the Old Dominion University Testing Center. Read detailed instructions about registering for a Praxis test and taking it at ODU.

  • Praxis Subject Assessments (formerly the Praxis II tests)
  • Praxis Teaching Reading

VCLA

Take the VCLA at the ODU Testing Center. Exam registration and instructions are available at the VCLA website.


Codes
  • The ODU Testing Center number is STN14801A
  • The ODU Attending Institution number is 5126

 

Test Prep & Tutorials ►

Required Assessments and Trainings

The Praxis® Subject Assessments measure knowledge of specific subjects that K-12 educators will teach, as well as general and subject-specific teaching skills and knowledge.

Which test should you take? ►

Test prep materials ►

Visit ETS website for more info ►

READING ASSESSMENT [Required for any of the following endorsements (teaching areas): Early/Primary Education preK-3, Elementary Education preK-6, Special Education-General Curriculum K-12, Special Education Hearing Impairments, and Special Education Visual Impairments. [This assessment also may apply to those individuals with endorsements in Special Education-Emotional Disturbances, Special Education-Specific Learning Disabilities, and Special Education-Intellectual Disabilities who were advised under previous regulations to meet this assessment requirement for full licensure.]

For teachers seeking an initial license with endorsements in Early/Primary Education PK-3, Elementary Education PK-6, Special Education - General Curriculum, Special Education - Hearing Impairments, and Special Education - Visual Impairments, the required reading assessment will be Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary.

  • Praxis® Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) (required after September 1, 2022). Approved Score by the Virginia Board of Education: Passing score is 159.
    • RVE: Elementary and Special Education (5306) passing score of 157 or higher taken prior to September 1, 2022 will still be accepted for the Reading Assessment Licensure requirement
  • Where to Test
    (scroll down to select test and dates availability)
  • Schedule Your Test
  • Preparation Materials

Praxis® Reading Specialist (5302) (required after September 1, 2022); OR Praxis Series Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE): Reading Specialist (5304) [Score reports for individuals who took the RVE (5304) prior to 8/31/2022, will be accepted provided the candidate met the passing score effective at the time the test was taken.]

  • Approved Score by the Virginia Board of Education: Passing score is 162.
    • RVE: Reading Specialist approved passing score is 162.

Every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license shall complete awareness training, provided by the Virginia Department of Education, on the indicators of dyslexia, as that term is defined by the board pursuant to regulations, and the evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia.

Dyslexia Awareness Training Module: This module is accessible from PCs and Mac computers. Viewing on an iPad or smartphone requires the download of the free "mobile player." Users should complete the module in one session and have access to a printer. Certificate submitted needs to include name and completion date.

Dyslexia Awareness Resources

Individuals seeking an initial license and license renewal must complete training in child abuse recognition and intervention in accordance with curriculum guidelines approved by the Virginia Board of Education.

The Virginia Department of Education requires all initially licensed teachers, school counselors, administrators, and other school personnel receive training on child abuse recognition and intervention. This training is completed and verified through specific professional education courses in Old Dominion University's approved teacher education programs.

Students admitted in an approved teacher preparation program and who transfer courses that meet the child abuse and neglect requirement must provide documentation that they have met the recognition of child abuse and neglect standards.

  • To complete the online training on Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding for Educators, click here.

Once you have completed the online training, you will receive a certificate stating that you have met the Virginia Department of Education mandated requirement. A copy of this certificate should be submitted to the Virginia Department of Education, your local hiring school division, or the Office of Clinical Experience, College of Education, Suite 1107 when applying for licensure.

Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training Curriculum Guidelines were developed by the Virginia Board of Education and the Department of Social Services and amended by the General Assembly, January 30, 2004.

ODU students participate in practicum and observation experiences from grades PK-12. Due to the broad nature of our program, we require either Adult, Child and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED or Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED. Cards submitted to our office must list all three components (First Aid, AED and CPR).

Certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators that is required of every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license as a teacher shall include hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Virginia Department of Education

The training needs to consist of :

  1. Online or classroom training on all three areas ( Emergency first aid,CPR, and AEDs)
  2. Complete hands-on skills assessment with a certified CPR instructor

Options for completing training:

For assistance, you may contact the Office of Clinical Experience at 757-683-3348.

Persons with a disability whose disability prevents them from completing the certification or training may submit a request for a waiver for this new requirement: Request for Waiver Form (Word).

Individuals seeking initial licensure must submit a passing VCLA score report to the Office of Clinical Experience prior to the orientation meeting for the teacher candidate internship. Please review the VCLA Reading and Writing subtests information.

Candidates must take both subtests, Reading and Writing, to achieve a VCLA passing score:

  • Reading Code VC091, passing score is 235
  • Writing Code VC092, passing score is 235
  • VCLA Reading and Writing Code VC 099, if taking both subtests at the same time
  • Composite score of 470 (combined reading and writing scores)

VCLA Website ►

Test Dates and Sites ►

VCLA Practice Tests ►

All initial licensure students must complete a five-part module on the regulations governing the use of seclusion and restraints in public elementary and secondary schools in Virginia. These modules should be completed in order, followed by a cumulative quiz that will earn the participant a certificate of completion. The 20-item quiz (true/false, multiple choice) can be retaken until at least an 80% is achieved.

The link to these modules and the cumulative quiz can be found here.

To meet the training as well as the initial and renewal license requirements, VDOE has developed a free online Cultural Competency Training Module. This module is accessible from PCs and Mac computers and some other types of mobile devices. Users should complete the module in one session and have access to a printer. Individuals completing the module should print a copy of the certificate of completion for verification. Certificates will not be saved or stored for later access. The module has a value of five professional development points. School divisions may design their own training as long as the training is aligned with the Guidance on Cultural Competency Training for Teachers and Other Licensed School Board Employees in Virginia Public Schools (PDF).

Click below to access the module and transcript:

Training Module ►