Career Switchers

The Shenandoah University Career Switcher Program now serves the Winchester, Leesburg, Harrisonburg and Fredericksburg/Richmond areas:

Program Locations & Schedule of Classes:

What is the Career Switcher Program?

"The Career Switcher Program was created by the Virginia Department of Education to provide an alternative pathway into teaching for individuals who have not completed a teacher preparation curriculum but who have considerable life experiences, career achievements, and academic backgrounds that are relevant for teaching in grade 6 - 12; the Career Switcher Program is not an approved entry into elementary teaching, Special education, or add-ons to an existing license.

Shenandoah University (SU) has partnered with the following public schools; Loudoun County, Clarke County, Frederick County, Winchester City, Warren County, Shenandoah County, Rockingham County, Augusta County, Staunton City, Hampton City, Stafford County, and Fredericksburg/Richmond area school divisions. SU provides an alternative route to teaching licensure in the Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia, and Central Virginia areas. All Virginia School Divisions recognize the Career Switcher Licensure program. Please note that the Career Switcher Provisional license issued after completion of Phase I is recognized only in Virginia; once Phase II is completed and the Professional License is issued, there is reciprocity with most states.

How the Career Switcher Program Works

The Career Switcher Program consists of two phases.

Phase I (consisting of 150 hours) teaches you how to teach, and includes topics on the foundations of teaching and education, human growth and development, curriculum, instruction and assessment, teaching with technology, classroom management, and more. During the course of this first phase, you will also be placed in participating schools systems to observe classes and to teach selected lessons (consisting of 40 hours). This placement will begin part of the way through Phase I.

Upon successful completion of the first phase, Shenandoah University issues a Phase I Certificate of Completion. You are now eligible for your Career Switcher provisional teaching license upon full time employment OR half-time employment (2 years) with a public school division or a state-approved accredited private school in Virginia.

Once you have received your teaching contract, Shenandoah University submits your packet of credentials to the Virginia Department of Education for review. That packet contains your application form, the fee for processing the application, documentation of 5 years full time work experience, official copies of your transcripts, a record of your passing scores in Praxis II and VCLA, and confirmation of your successful completion of Phase I of the Career Switcher program. Once the Department of Education has reviewed your packet, they will issue you a Career Switcher Provisional License which gives you an endorsement to teach in your subject area(s).

The Career Switcher provisional license is valid for one year (from July 1 to June 30) and may be renewed two additional times for one year terms each, if needed. Once you secure a full-time teaching position, you begin Phase II.

Phase II begins once you have secured full-time contracted employment. During this first year of teaching, you will work with a trained mentor teacher who will help improve your skills and performance, support your morale, and work with you to put theory into practice. You will also meet again as a class for an additional 20 hours of professional development to discuss experiences in the classroom, update skills in curriculum and instruction, classroom and behavior management, and human growth development.

It is only upon successful completion of Phase II that you will have completed all of the requirements necessary to receive full-licensure to teach in Virginia. After Phase II, you are eligible to receive a five-year renewable license. The school system that employs you will work with you to secure this license. Failure to complete all the requirements in Phase II means you are not eligible to receive your five-year renewable license.

Prerequisites for the Program

These requirements must be completed prior to applying to the Career Switcher Program:

• complete application process
• have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university accepted by the Virginia Department of Education and Licensure
• have completed five years of full-time work experience or its equivalent
• satisfy the Virginia Communications and Language Assessment (VCLA) and Praxis II (subject area content)

At the beginning of the program, all participants must undergo a criminal background check; information will be distributed to participants. Some divisions require their own background check and students completing a field experience in those districts will complete the additional background check at the school division's expense.

Shenandoah University can review your transcripts in order to help determine what subjects you are best suited to teach. For a review, please send your transcripts to the address listed below, and attach a note detailing how we can contact you with our analysis.

Endorsement areas offered - Primary consideration will be given to Mathematics, 6-12; Earth Science; Biology; Chemistry; Physics; English 6-12; Foreign Language; Career and Technical Education (Work Family Studies, Technology Education); all Middle School Subjects. As well as: History and Social Science, 6-12; Health and Physical Education, preK-12; Business Education; Marketing Education; Music K-12 and Art K-12.

Timeline - Suggested test dates in order to meet the requirements for entry into programs for fall and spring.

Fees

This program cost is $4295 for the 2009-10 program cycle. All course materials are included in the program cost. Candidates will be required to write a separate check at the end of the preparation for the teaching license application fee (currently $50 for in-state candidates). Complete payment is due three weeks prior to the beginning class date. The program is limited to an enrollment of 20 participants.

Advance Tuition Deposit

A $95 non-refundable deposit must be submitted with your Career Switcher application, as a limited number of slots are available each semester in the Career Switcher program. This deposit reserves a position for you in the next Career Switcher class and is only refundable if you do not fully meet the entrance qualifications as determined by Shenandoah University at the beginning of the program. You may download the Career Switcher deposit form. This deposit is applied towards your Career Switcher tuition, with the balance of tuition due at the time of registration.

Refunds

Complete payment is due three weeks prior to the beginning class date. The program is limited to an enrollment of 20 participants. Once the program has begun, no refunds will be given.

The Next Step: Deposit & Application

There are a few steps you can take immediately:

1. Print out and complete the application form.  The form is in word format. Mail (or drop-off) the application form to:    School of Education and Human Development - Office of Education Outreach
   ATT: Dr. Ronald C. Say
   1460 University Drive
   Winchester, VA 22601
   Fax: (540) 665.4726
2. Please remember the $95 non-refundable deposit must be submitted with your Career Switcher application, as a limited number of slots are available each semester in the Career Switcher program; you may download the Career Switcher deposit form. This deposit is applied towards your Career Switcher tuition, with the balance of tuition due at the time of registration.

Look into preparing for and scheduling Praxis II as soon as possible. These exams are required in order to join the program, and take significant time to schedule. You mean learn more about the Praxis II Exams by visiting the ETS Website. The Praxis II tests are only taken with paper and pencil at a central location, on Saturdays. It is important to plan ahead as deadlines exist and late registration fees are expensive. Please check the ETS website for current scheduled test sites and dates. Allow six weeks after you take the test to get the results. Praxis II needs to be taken in the subject(s) you wish to teach. The test measures your knowledge of the subject matter. Praxis II Test Codes are provided on the fourth page of the Career Switcher Application.

VCLA (Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment) is a general test that does not have a mathematics component. This test is in both paper and pencil and electronic version; to take the latter, you must register and go to a central testing center. The test includes multiple-choice questions in reading and writing, and a writing test that includes 2 essay sections.

Sample tests can be downloaded at the website given above. Several bookstores and libraries have materials that can help prepare for these exams. Bookstores will have practice material for most Praxis II tests; however, since VCLA is a Virginia based test, study materials for this test are limited.

Additional Career Switcher Program Resources

The Career Switcher Student Handbook is a valuable resource for Shenandoah Career Switchers. It provides additional program and attendance details as well as important website links for students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the program place participants in schools?
Shenandoah University shares participant information with the human resource department in local schools. Shenandoah University can facilitate an interview with participating schools.

When is the application deadline for the program?
Applications will be accepted for Leesburg, Harrisonburg, Fredericksburg/Richmond, Hampton and Winchester programs until class is filled.

Please note the above PRAXIS requirements.

Will I be paid during my initial year of teaching?
You will be paid under contract by your employing school division.

Is there financial aid available for the program?
There is no financial aid available through Shenandoah University. Participants can apply for educational loans through private lending sources. Our financial aid officer can assist you in this regard. For our Military candidates there are Troops to Teacher funds available to qualifying individuals.

Registration
Fully qualified candidates will receive a complete registration packet four weeks prior to the beginning of the program.

What is the refund policy if I can't complete the program?
Complete payment is due three weeks prior to the beginning class date. The program is limited to an enrollment of 20 participants. Once the program has begun, no refunds will be given.

Contact Information

Initial Program Contact:
Dr. Ron Say
Phone: (540) 287-1911
E-mail: rsay@su.edu

Ongoing Contact when enrolled:
Ms. Susan Billig
Phone: (540) 535-3552
E-mail: sbillig@su.edu

Chair, Office of Education Outreach
Dr. H. Jurgen Combs
E-mail: jcombs@su.edu

Schools of Excellence

• Arts & Sciences
• Conservatory
• Business
• Pharmacy
• Health Professions
• Education & Human Development

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