How to Renew Your Teaching License in Virginia (2026 Guide)

Last updated March 2026

Renewing your Virginia teaching license can feel like a big lift — 270 professional development points sounds like a lot. But spread across a 10-year renewal cycle, it's very manageable, and Virginia gives you a wide range of ways to earn those points.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about how to renew your teaching license in Virginia in 2026: how many points you need, what counts, which mandatory trainings are required, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

The Basics: Virginia Teaching License Renewal at a Glance

• Renewal cycle: Every 10 years
• Points required: 270 professional development points
• Governing body: Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)
• Where to renew: VALO (Virginia Licensure Online) portal — doe.virginia.gov
• Renewal fee: $50

Virginia issues two main types of renewable teaching licenses: the Ten-Year Renewable License and the Collegiate Professional License. Both require 270 professional development points per cycle. If you're not sure which license you hold or when it expires, log in to the VALO portal to check your status.

Understanding the 270-Point Requirement

Virginia requires 270 professional development points per 10-year renewal cycle. That works out to 27 points per year — a very reasonable pace if you plan ahead.

The points don't have to be completed in any particular annual sequence. You just need to accumulate all 270 by your license's expiration date. However, it's smart to spread them out so you're not scrambling in your final year.

Important: College coursework is never required. You can earn all 270 points through non-coursework activities like workshops, conferences, mentoring, and curriculum development.

What Counts as Professional Development in Virginia?

Virginia gives teachers a lot of flexibility in how they earn PD points. Approved activity types include:

• College or university coursework from accredited institutions
• Professional conferences (must be a minimum of 4 hours in duration)
• Curriculum development activities
• Publication of articles in recognized professional journals
• Publication of books (excluding self-published works)
• Mentorship of other educators or student teachers
• Educational projects with tangible outcomes
• Professional development activities focused on student learning and school improvement

Mandatory Training Requirements

In addition to your 270 PD points, Virginia requires all educators to complete certain mandatory trainings during each renewal cycle. These are not optional — your renewal will not be approved without them:

• CPR/First Aid certification training — All educators must maintain current CPR and first aid certification
• Child abuse and neglect recognition and intervention training — Required for all Virginia educators
• Dyslexia awareness training — A newer requirement that all teachers must complete
• Instruction for students with disabilities and differentiating instruction — Training on working with diverse learners
• Virginia history and government training module — Required by the Virginia Superintendent

School counselors have an additional requirement: mental health disorder recognition training.

Many districts build these mandatory trainings into their annual professional development schedule, so check with your school or district PD coordinator to see what's already been planned for you.

The 10-Year Renewal Cycle Explained

Virginia teaching licenses are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance. Your expiration date determines when you need to renew — not the calendar year you started teaching.

Example: If your license was issued on September 1, 2016, it expires on September 1, 2026. You must have 270 PD points logged and your renewal submitted before that date.

Pro tip: Don't wait until the last few months to start tracking your points. Log into VALO annually to make sure your activities are being recorded. Set a personal calendar reminder at least 12 months before your expiration date to begin your renewal push.

How to Submit Your Renewal: The VALO Portal

Virginia uses the VALO (Virginia Licensure Online) portal for all licensure actions, including renewal. Here's how the process works:

1. Log in to VALO at the VDOE website. If you've never used the system before, you'll need to create an account linked to your Virginia educator ID.
2. Review your professional development record. VALO shows the PD activities that have been reported. Activities completed through your school district may be logged automatically, but it's your responsibility to verify everything is there.
3. Upload documentation for any activities not already in the system. For conferences, courses, or self-directed activities, you may need to upload certificates of completion, transcripts, or documentation of your work.
4. Confirm all mandatory trainings are complete. Make sure your CPR/First Aid, child abuse, dyslexia, disability instruction, and Virginia history trainings are on file.
5. Submit your renewal application and pay the $50 fee online.
6. Receive your renewed license. Processing times vary, but you'll receive confirmation through the VALO portal once your renewal is approved.

License Types: Ten-Year Renewable vs. Collegiate Professional

Virginia has two main license types that most classroom teachers will encounter:

• Ten-Year Renewable License: The standard license for experienced Virginia educators. Requires 270 PD points per 10-year cycle. Offers the widest range of accepted PD activity types, including publication of books and journal articles.
• Collegiate Professional License: Issued to teachers who hold a bachelor's degree and have completed an approved teacher preparation program. Also requires 270 PD points per 10-year cycle. Has slightly fewer accepted activity categories but covers all the major PD types.

Both licenses have the same renewal fee ($50) and the same core mandatory training requirements.

What Happens If You Miss Your Renewal Deadline?

If your Virginia teaching license expires, you cannot legally teach in a Virginia public school. Your school division will be notified, and your employment status could be affected.

Virginia does not charge a late fee for expired license renewals, but you will still need to complete all 270 PD points and all mandatory trainings before your renewal can be processed. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to gather documentation for older activities.

If your license has been expired for an extended period, you may need to meet additional requirements. Contact the VDOE Office of Licensure directly to discuss your specific situation.

The bottom line: don't let it expire. Even though there's no late fee, an expired license creates real employment problems.

Special Situations

School Counselors

In addition to all the standard mandatory trainings, school counselors in Virginia must complete mental health disorder recognition training as part of their renewal cycle. Make sure this is documented in your VALO profile.

Out-of-State PD

Professional development completed in another state can count toward your Virginia renewal as long as it falls into one of Virginia's approved activity categories. Keep all certificates of completion and upload them to VALO.

College Coursework Conversions

If you take college or university courses, they count toward your PD points. Virginia uses a standard conversion: each semester credit from an accredited institution earns you professional development points. Check with VDOE for the exact point-per-credit conversion that applies to your license type.

Fees at a Glance

Action	Fee
Standard renewal (Ten-Year Renewable License)	$50
Standard renewal (Collegiate Professional License)	$50
Late renewal	$50 (no additional late fee)

Your Renewal Checklist

1. Find your license expiration date in VALO
2. Set a calendar reminder 12 months before expiration
3. Review your current PD point total in VALO
4. Plan PD activities to reach 270 points across the 10-year cycle
5. Complete all mandatory trainings: CPR/First Aid, child abuse recognition, dyslexia awareness, disability instruction, and Virginia history
6. If you're a school counselor, complete mental health disorder recognition training
7. Upload documentation for any activities not already recorded
8. Log in to VALO and submit your renewal before your expiration date
9. Pay the $50 fee and save your confirmation

Stay on Top of Your Renewal

Virginia's renewal requirements can be updated by the VDOE and the Virginia Board of Education. The best way to stay informed is to subscribe to renewal reminders so you know when requirements shift in your state.

For a full breakdown of Virginia teacher license types, fees, and accepted PD activities, visit the ChalkReady Virginia page.