West Virginia Educators LOVE Happy Teacher Professional Development!

 

  • How to Renew Your WV License

    ​In West Virginia, educators must renew their licenses periodically, with specific requirements varying based on the license level:​

    Professional Teaching Certificate (3-Year):

    • Complete 6 semester hours of coursework (with a 3.0 GPA) related to:
    • A Master’s degree related to education, the public school program, your current or future endorsement area(s), or county-prescribed credit based on evaluations
    • Hold a Master's +30 salary classification
    • Be 60 years of age or older

    Professional Teaching Certificate (5-Year)

    To move from a 3-year to a 5-year certificate, educators must meet one of the above requirements plus one of the following:

    • Successfully complete a Beginning Educator Internship with at least 2 years of teaching (1 year in WV)
    • Hold 5 years of teaching experience under a valid license from another state
    • Have been initially licensed in WV before January 1, 1992

    Permanent Teaching Certificate

    To qualify for a permanent license:

    • Hold a 5-Year Professional Certificate
    • Have a master’s degree in an education-related field
    • Have 5 years of teaching experience, including 2 years in the endorsement area and at least 1 year in a WV school system

    Happy Teacher Professional Development Graduate Courses can help you fulfill West Virginia’s six semester hours renewal requirement.

    • Renewal credits must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university. All of our university partners, including Upper Iowa University and Adams State University, are HLC-accredited.
    • You can choose multiple courses to meet the five-semester-hour requirement, including 1-, 2-, and 3-semester-hour courses.

    How many hours are listed on the certificate of completion?

    • 1 semester credit = 15 hour certificate 
    • 2 semester credits = 30 hour certificate 
    • 3 semester credits = 45 hour certificate 

    Happy Teacher Professional Development also supports West Virginia educators on the path to earning a Master’s in Education through our proud partnership with Upper Iowa University. Together, we offer a flexible, career-aligned graduate program for only $10,000!

    Important: Renewal requirements are subject to change. We recommend consulting the West Virginia’s Department of Education’s website to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

    Here are courses popular with West Virginia educators:

    Explore Courses 

  • Invest in Yourself—Increase Your Pay! 

    Would you like to earn an extra $5,000 per year? Over the course of your career, that could add up to $100,000, $200,000, or even $350,000 more! Our high-quality, self-paced online courses help teachers meet licensure renewal requirements while advancing on the salary schedule. Designed to be practical, engaging, and immediately useful in the classroom, our accredited courses make professional development simple and affordable. Use our Return on Investment Calculator and see how much more you can earn with Happy Teacher. Start investing in your future today!

    Increase My Salary 

  • Take Your Career to the Next Level with a Master’s in Education!

    Did you know that earning a master’s degree could add $15,000+ to your annual salary? That’s over $375,000 more across a 25-year career—just by moving up the pay scale!

    And the best part? You can earn your M.Ed. for $10,000! Happy Teacher has partnered with Upper Iowa University to bring you a flexible, affordable online Master’s in Education program—plus, you’ll save $2,660 on tuition by transferring 12 Happy Teacher semester credits into UIU’s program.

    Choose from Teacher Leadership, ESL, Special Education, or Talented and Gifted and gain the skills to increase your salary, open new career doors, and make a greater impact in education.

    Invest in yourself today—start your master’s degree journey with Happy Teacher and UIU!

    Earn My Master's Degree 
  • Online & Self-Paced

    Learn at your own convenience, anytime, anywhere.

  • Graduate Level Courses

    Offered in partnership with HLC-accredited universities, recognized nationwide.

  • Affordable

    High-quality professional development at a budget-friendly price.

  • Taught by Teachers

    Courses are created and delivered by experienced educators with real classroom experience.

  • Rewards Program

    Earn Happy Teacher Cash for referrals and completing courses!

  • Interest-Free Payment Plans

    Flexible payment options available at checkout.

  • Degree Eligible

    Apply up to 12 credit hours with our university partners.

  • Easy-to-Use Platform

    Our simple, intuitive platform that makes learning seamless.

  • Monthly Schedule

    Stay on track with a structured schedule for efficient course completion.

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