Special Education Licensure Program

The special education licensure only option is available for those students who wish to pursue endorsement in special education and do not meet the MS degree admission requirements, or hold a conditional/provisional license in special education and wish to complete licensure requirements. The Special Education Teacher Licensure Only Program meets Virginia Department of Education certification and endorsement requirements for any one or more of the following areas: early childhood special education , special education: general curriculum (mild disabilities), early childhood special education , special education: adapted curriculum (severe disabilities): and visual impairment . Graduates find employment as special education teachers within the continuum of services provided for children with special needs, administrative staff members in public and private schools, educational therapists, and psycho-educational diagnosticians. Graduates from this program may also serve as key members of child study teams and are prepared to address the educational, emotional, and physical needs of students with disabilities.

Regular admittance requires

1. Admission to Old Dominion University as a non-degree seeking graduate;
2. Cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program;
3. Passing Praxis I, SAT or ACT score requirements as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education;
4. An interview and recommendation for admittance from a department representative, Teacher Education Services advisor, or site director; and
5. Submission of an application for admittance into the Darden College of Education Teacher Licensure Only Program. Applications may be obtained by writing or in person from the Special Education Licensure Only Program, Room 104, Child Study Center, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529.  You may also find the application on the TES website by following this link http://education.odu.edu/tes/pdf/LicensureOnlyApplication.pdf.

Provisional admittance requires

1. Admission to Old Dominion University as a non-degree seeking graduate student;
2. Cumulative GPA of 2.50-2.74 for all college credit courses taken in the baccalaureate degree program;
3. Passing Praxis I, SAT or ACT score requirements as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education;
4. An interview and recommendation for admittance from a department representative, Teacher Education Services advisor, or site director; and
5. Submission of an application for admittance into the Darden College of Education Teacher Licensure Only Program.

Licensure Only Program Continuance Requirements / Checklists

1. Students must complete the Pre-task Rating Form at time of admission.
2. successful completion of all courses required for licensure in an endorsement area(s), including undergraduate liberal arts and sciences content or passing scores on the PRAXIS II: Elementary Education Content Knowledge;
3. maintenance of a GPA of 3.0 with a B- or better in all course work*;
4. passing scores on Praxis II prior to licensure if required by the Virginia Department of Education; and
5. computer literacy (transcript evidence of the successful completion of a basic computer course within two years of admission OR completion of ECI 430/530 (304) OR demonstrated evidence of proficiency in the Virginia Department of Education's Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel).
   
   Checklists:
   

   Checklist for Early Childhood Special Education Licensure Only

   Checklist for Special Education; Adapted Curriculum (Severe Disabilities)  Licensure Only

   Checklist for Special Education; General Curriculum (Mild Disabilities) Licensure Only

             Checklist for Visual Impairment Licensure Only

*Graduate Continuance Regulations (From the 2006 - 2008 University Catalog.)

• At the end of each semester-fall, spring, and summer-the graduate continuance director reviews records of students who do not maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Graduate students, whether degree or non-degree seeking, who do not have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 will be placed on probation.
  
• Probation/Suspension Policy for Graduate Students
  Graduate students on probation will have 12 credit hours to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.00. If they fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.00 after completing the next 12 credit hours, they will be placed on indefinite suspension and prevented from enrolling in graduate courses. This does not affect the student's status with regard to undergraduate courses.
  
• Reinstatement Policy for Suspended Graduate Students
  All academic suspensions at the graduate level are for an indefinite period of time. Reinstatement is never automatic. Reinstatement may be permitted under certain circumstances. Graduate students suspended while in a degree-seeking program must receive approval from the graduate program director prior to seeking reinstatement to the graduate degree program. Students must make a formal appeal in accordance with the Reinstatement Policy. See page 44 of the 2006-2008 graduate catalog for more details.

Licensure Only Program Exit Requirements

1. Completion of the Post Task Rating Form when notified by program. 
2. Passing scores on the Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA) and the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) prior to internship/student teaching.
3. Passing scores on the Special Education Exit Exam
   When all program requirements have been met, the Licensure Only Program will provide a Verification of Course Work (VDOE form DA 035)* to the student.