West Virginia Alternative Teacher Certification Program
MathTrack Institute offers an innovative, self-paced, Option-3 alternative certification program for those with a bachelor's aiming to become licensed 5 to Adult math teachers. This supportive program guides you through every step to become a teacher in West Virginia.
West Virginia teacher certification can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be.
Pursuing teaching licensure on your own can be daunting. How is a transition to teaching program different from an education degree? How long does it take to get a license? What kind of license do you need to earn?
The good news? You're in the right place. MathTrack is the only math-specific licensure pathway in the US and we are here to help you answer these questions and more.
How to Become a Teacher in West Virginia
MathTrack Institute's Alternative Certification Program merges digital curriculum with practical, job-specific instruction, providing a comprehensive pathway to math teacher licensure and teaching excellence.
1) Earn your Bachelor's Degree.
During enrollment, we will ask for a copy of your official transcript. MathTrack reviews these transcripts to check that your degree is finished, you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and the degree-issuing institution is regionally accredited.
2) Pass the content assessment.
Before being officially admitted into an alternative certification program, you must first pass the content exam for the subject you wish to teach. MathTrack Institute provides a variety of test supports including 5165 preparation!
There may be other exams, like the Core Combined 5752 Praxis Test if your bachelor's degree has less than a 3.0 GPA prior to working in a classroom.
3) Complete a Teacher Certification Program, including residency
Engage with your teacher certification program's required coursework to build the essential teaching skills you’ll need. MathTrack offers an Option 3 program with residency in West Virginia.
4) Apply for Licensure.
The final step is to apply for your West Virginia math teaching certificate or transferrable teaching license! Then enjoy being the life-changing math teacher you've always wanted to be!
“This is a life-changing opportunity for me. I wasn’t sure I could teach math, but with MathTrack I’m now leading all Middle School classes in my school.”
— Erica Baker, MathTrack Candidate Teacher (Previously a substitute teacher)
Why choose MathTrack's West Virginia Certification Program?
Learn from leading experts in math education.
MathTrack is dedicated to the improvement of the math education space, including solving the math teacher shortage. We specialize in math because the subject requires unique skills and solutions that are often missed in general education training. Our team is dedicated to serving math educators through specialized training, innovation, and strategies that can be adapted to your needs. You can read more about our approach to training and related research in our blog.
Get support to pass licensure tests during the program.
It is common for transition to teaching or other alternative certification programs to require the passing of these tests before enrollment, leaving you to tackle one of the biggest barriers to licensure on your own. MathTrack is with you every step of the way, including preparing for, scheduling, and taking licensure exams. MathTrack support provides practice tests, personalized advising, content tutoring, and more while you are enrolled in our teacher training.
Complete residency at the school you want to work at.
An in-class experience is a licensure requirement in most states, and with MTI you can complete your residency at the school of your choice. MathTrack is a West Virginia Option 3 program with a residency component. Classroom observations will be performed by mentor teachers and administrators at your school and there is flexibility in they types of courses and students you can teach during this phase of the program.
Online courses mean you can make progress anytime, and anywhere.
Whether it be working full time, taking care of your family, or other responsibilities, MathTrack knows you're busy. That is why our program is accessible online, and self-paced, making it possible to complete coursework during prep periods, evenings, or whenever you have the time.
Explore MathTrack's West Virginia Teacher Certification Program
Additional licensure program information
Acceptance Eligibility
MathTrack Transition to Teaching can only accept candidates with an existing bachelor's degree, but your degree does not have to be in math.
During enrollment we will ask for a copy of your official transcript. MathTrack reviews these transcripts to check that your degree is in fact finished, you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and the degree-issuing institution is locally accredited. If you are concerned about your degree meeting these expectations feel free to contact us to learn more. If there is anything MathTrack can do to help you get licensed, we will do our best find a way.
Program costs
Tuition costs are $5,000 per candidate. Additionally, candidates are responsible for 3rd party fees to cover costs such as test fees, CPR, and school safety training (see FAQ below for more information).
Program Length
The MathTrack Transition to Teaching program was designed to be completed in 12-15 months. This is so you have time to complete online coursework prepare for tests, and meet residency requirements. However, every candidate is different and the program is ultimately self-paced. This means that:
- There are no due dates for coursework, but MathTrack may send you reminders or nudges to help keep you motivated.
- Program milestones will unlock automatically as you complete coursework.
- Residencies can begin whenever your residency plan is approved and you have passed the Praxis mathematics content exam.
- You can prepare for and take licensure exams anytime during the program.
“I feel like you all took everything I was trying to learn about teaching math on my own and put it into one program!"
— Natural Baptiste, Educator
Common Questions
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to contact us!
What are the admission requirements? Who is and is not eligible?
If you have a regionally-accredited bachelor’s degree, you can be provisionally enrolled in the West Virginia Alternative Professional Teaching Certification Program. Upon the completion of the math content exam you will receive full acceptance status.
What actually happens in the program?
MathTrack is a combined Transition to Teaching program and digital curriculum platform that provides job-specific instruction, licensure and blended-learning tools to train you to be an effective math teacher. Within that, you’ll get
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Virtual, self-paced, online classes
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Videos, modules/lessons, online assignments, interactive discussions
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Support from community of fellow educators
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Support and interaction with instructors
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Real world practice along with online training (on the job training/ apprenticeship)
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Support from content experts in learning math
Proprietary sequencing of mathematical concepts to help you learn the math you will need to know to be an effective math teacher in the shortest amount of time possible!
What support will I have along the way?
You’ll have support from a number of different places! We have a great team of coaches, instructors and teaching assistants to help answer your questions, you will have access to the community of other aspiring teachers who are going through the program with you, and other resources like help centers, private math tutoring, teaching tools, and more.
Ultimately, the program is tailored to you! We help you set your learning goals to meet your needs, then set up a timeline to match your needs. We will help you “fill your back-pack” with all the tools you will need to be a successful teacher.
Is this program synchronous or asynchronous?
MathTrack's Transition to Teaching Program is primarily asynchronous though the candidate has support from MathTrack instructors and tutors.
What tests do I need to pass? How many times can I take them?
You’ll need to pass two Praxis tests: Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 (5624) and Secondary Mathematics for grades 5-12 (5165).
Those seeking a transferable teaching license must pass the EdTPA.
You must pass the math content test before beginning your residency.
The tests can be taken multiple times, but you must wait 30 days between not passing the test and taking it again. MathTrack will help you prepare for these tests!
Can I teach while enrolled?
You will be able to teach with a West Virginia-clinical experience permit. That makes you the full teacher of record for the classes you are teaching. You will be required to have a mentor teacher in the building with you and will have observations.
What can I teach after I pass the licensure tests?
After you are licensed, you are now a full teacher! MathTrack is a West Virginia Department of Education-approved Education Preparation Program for Secondary (grades 7-12) mathematics licensure.
What other costs are associated with the program?
There are some third-party fees for parts of the T2T program and licensure that are not covered by the tuition. These fees are typically around $500 and may include CPR training, QPR (suicide prevention) training, the costs of the licensure exams, or other fees that vary by state.
What happens if I don't finish?
Your progress will be saved and you are more than welcome to pick it back up anytime in the future, should you be interested again.
What does job placement look like after I complete the program?
It somewhat depends if your school is sponsoring you and if you have an agreement with them. We do not currently place candidates in teaching jobs after they’ve completed our program. The good news for you is that there is high demand for math teachers across the nation!
How is MathTrack different than other Transition to Teaching programs?
Unlike other T2T programs who provide a generic approach to licensure, MathTrack is specific to math and provide ongoing math content, teaching practice, and test prep supports.
Can I complete residency hours before I'm enrolled in the residency course? I've already been a teacher for a while.
No, pre-residency courses must be completed and a Praxis content exam must be passed before any teaching hours are counted towards residency. Once you reach the residency course, you will be provided additional information about your residency hours.
What are the GPA requirements to be accepted?
Per state requirements, a minimum 2.5 GPA is required to be considered into the Transition to Teaching Program.