Virginia Teacher License Renewal: Requirements, PDPs & How to Complete It Online

Virginia teacher license renewal runs on a point system — and the terminology matters. The state calls them Professional Development Points (PDPs), not hours or credits. If you hold a five-year renewable license, you need 180 PDPs per renewal cycle. If you hold a ten-year license (Postgraduate Professional, Collegiate Professional, or similar), you need 270 PDPs over the ten-year period. This guide covers exactly what counts, what the mandatory training requirements are, and how graduate coursework through Credits for Teachers satisfies both your renewal requirement and your salary lane advancement at the same time.

Virginia’s renewal system is administered through the VDOE Office of Professional Licensure. Unlike some states that use an online tracking portal, Virginia relies on official transcripts and documentation submitted directly with your renewal application. That means you need to keep records of your professional development activities throughout your renewal cycle — not just scramble to collect them at the end.

How Virginia’s PDP System Works

Virginia uses a point-based renewal system governed by 8VAC20-23-110 of the Virginia Administrative Code. Every licensed teacher must accumulate PDPs through an individualized professional development plan — a document you create in collaboration with your school division that outlines your learning goals for the renewal period. The plan is designed to address both areas where you want to grow and areas where your division has identified needs.

The most important thing to understand about Virginia PDPs is the conversion rate for graduate coursework: one semester credit hour equals 30 PDPs. That makes a standard 3-credit graduate course worth 90 PDPs — exactly half of the 180 PDPs required for a five-year renewal. Two 3-credit courses satisfy the entire renewal requirement. For teachers on a ten-year license, six 3-credit courses (18 graduate credits) cover the full 270-PDP requirement.

Virginia PDPs can also be earned through other activities, including professional conferences, school-based professional development, curriculum development projects, mentoring student teachers, and National Board Certification work. However, graduate coursework remains the most efficient pathway because it simultaneously advances your salary lane — the same transcript you submit to VDOE for renewal can be submitted to your district HR department for a lane change.

The 8 Renewal Options Virginia Recognizes

Virginia’s renewal regulations specify eight categories of professional development activities that earn PDPs. Graduate coursework falls under Option 1 and is the most straightforward to document because the official transcript serves as your verification. The eight options are:

Option	Activity Type	PDP Value
Option 1	College coursework (undergraduate or graduate)	30 PDPs per credit hour
Option 2	Professional conferences, workshops, institutes	1 PDP per clock hour
Option 3	Mentoring a student teacher or intern	1 PDP per clock hour
Option 4	Curriculum development, writing, and educational projects	1 PDP per clock hour
Option 5	National Board Certification or renewal	Varies by activity
Option 6	School-based professional development (division-sponsored)	1 PDP per clock hour
Option 7	Educational travel (approved by division)	1 PDP per clock hour
Option 8	Other activities approved by the division superintendent	Varies by activity

Most Virginia teachers combine Options 1 and 6 — graduate coursework plus the professional development their division provides. The advantage of leaning toward Option 1 (graduate credits) is that those credits do double duty: they satisfy your renewal requirement and move you to a higher salary lane. Division-sponsored PD (Option 6) counts only toward renewal.

Mandatory Training Requirements

In addition to the PDP requirement, Virginia law mandates that all teachers complete specific training modules as part of every renewal. These are not optional and cannot be substituted with other PD activities. The mandatory requirements are:

• Emergency First Aid, CPR, and AED Certification — must be current at the time of renewal
• Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training — required by Virginia law
• Dyslexia Awareness Training — required for all renewal applicants
• Virginia Civics Education Module — required for middle and high school social studies teachers (5 PDPs)
• Virginia History and Government Module — required for civics and history teachers (5 PDPs)

Most Virginia school divisions provide the child abuse, dyslexia, and civics training as part of their annual professional development calendar. CPR certification is typically handled through the Red Cross or American Heart Association and must be renewed periodically. Make sure you have current documentation for all mandatory items before submitting your renewal application — missing any one of them will delay processing.

How to Submit Your Virginia License Renewal

Virginia license renewals are submitted to the VDOE Office of Professional Licensure. The process involves three steps: completing your PDP requirement, gathering documentation, and submitting the application with the renewal fee.

Step 1 — Complete your PDPs. Accumulate 180 PDPs (5-year license) or 270 PDPs (10-year license) through activities drawn from the eight renewal options. Keep documentation for every activity — certificates of completion, official transcripts, conference agendas, or division-issued verification letters.

Step 2 — Complete mandatory training. Ensure your CPR/First Aid certification is current, and that you have completion records for child abuse training, dyslexia awareness, and any applicable civics modules.

Step 3 — Submit your application. Complete the Application for Licensure Renewal through the VDOE Licensing Services portal. Attach official transcripts for any graduate coursework (not unofficial copies), along with documentation for other PD activities. Pay the renewal fee at the time of submission.

Processing times vary, but VDOE typically processes renewal applications within 4–6 weeks during non-peak periods. Submit well before your license expiration date — ideally 90 days in advance — to avoid any gap in your licensure status.

The Dual Benefit: PDPs and Salary Advancement From the Same Courses

Here is the most important financial insight for Virginia teachers: every graduate credit you earn for renewal purposes also moves you closer to a higher salary lane. Virginia’s salary schedule is lane-based — your pay is determined by your degree level and the number of graduate credits you have earned. A teacher at the Bachelor’s level who earns enough credits to move to the Master’s lane can see an annual salary increase of $6,000–$8,000 or more, depending on their district and years of experience.

The math works like this: a 3-credit graduate course earns 90 PDPs (half of the 5-year renewal requirement) and simultaneously moves you 3 credits closer to the next salary lane. Two 3-credit courses satisfy your entire 5-year renewal requirement and give you 6 graduate credits toward a lane change. If you need 15 credits to move to the next lane, you can complete that lane change in five 3-credit courses — and each of those courses is also satisfying your renewal requirement. You are not paying twice or doing extra work; the same activity accomplishes both goals.

How Graduate Credits Count Toward Virginia Salary Lanes

Virginia school districts set their own salary schedules, but virtually all of them use the same lane structure: Bachelor’s, Bachelor’s+15, Bachelor’s+30, Master’s, Master’s+15, and Master’s+30 (or similar). Each lane represents a higher level of graduate education, and each lane pays more than the one below it.

To move from one lane to the next, you typically need 15 graduate credits above your current degree level. Those credits must be earned from regionally accredited institutions — the same accreditation standard that VDOE requires for renewal. Credits for Teachers partners with regionally accredited universities including University of Massachusetts Global, Valley City State University, CSU Pueblo, and Adams State University, all of which meet Virginia’s requirements for both renewal and salary advancement.

The salary premium in Virginia grows with experience. In Fairfax County Public Schools — one of the highest-paying districts in the state — the difference between the Bachelor’s lane and the fully maximized MA+30 lane starts at $8,212 per year at entry level and grows to $22,543 per year at the top step. Over a 25-year career, that differential adds up to more than $376,000 in additional earnings. For more detail on how Virginia’s salary lanes work and what each lane change is worth in your specific district, see our full guide: Virginia Teacher Salary Scale: How Graduate Credits Move You Up a Lane.

What to Expect From Online Graduate Courses for Virginia Teachers

Online graduate courses designed for K–12 teachers are the most practical way to earn PDPs and salary credits simultaneously. The best programs are fully self-paced, meaning you complete the coursework on your own schedule — evenings, weekends, or summer break — without attending live sessions or meeting rigid deadlines. Most teachers complete a 3-credit course in four to eight weeks while continuing to teach full-time.

When evaluating a course provider, verify three things: regional accreditation (not national accreditation — Virginia requires regional), graduate-level credit (not continuing education units), and district acceptance. Most Virginia districts accept credits from our university partners without issue, but it is always worth confirming with your HR department before enrolling, especially if you are planning a lane change rather than just renewal. For a full breakdown of what to look for, see our guide: Best Online Courses for Virginia Teachers: License Renewal & Salary Advancement.

The Bottom Line

Virginia teacher license renewal is straightforward once you understand the PDP system. Five-year license holders need 180 PDPs; ten-year license holders need 270 PDPs. Graduate coursework earns 30 PDPs per credit hour — making a 3-credit course worth 90 PDPs and two 3-credit courses enough to satisfy the entire five-year renewal requirement. The mandatory training requirements (CPR, child abuse, dyslexia, and applicable civics modules) are separate from the PDP count and must be completed independently.

The most important thing to keep in mind is the dual benefit: every graduate credit you earn for renewal also moves you closer to a higher salary lane. Virginia’s lane-based salary schedule means that the same investment in professional development that keeps your license current also increases your paycheck — permanently, for the rest of your career. That is the most efficient use of your professional development time and money.