Teaching License from West Virginia to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Usually, with conditions — Florida issues its own teaching certificate to a holder of a comparable West Virginia teaching certificate, usually without its tests. It is not an automatic exchange: apply to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification and meet any condition it sets for your credential.
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Coming from West Virginia, Florida is a comparatively smooth move — but "reciprocity" still means applying to Florida for its own credential, not carrying your West Virginia license across. Florida issues its own certificate to a teacher holding a comparable West Virginia certificate, usually without its tests; a credential it does not treat as comparable takes a different route. The requirements below are what Florida still asks.
What changes, West Virginia → Florida
| West Virginia (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | WVDE does not publish the Form 20R (reciprocity) fee on any page reachable on 2026-08-07 - wvde.us returns HTTP 403 to automated requests and the fee sentence does not appear in official-domain search results for that form. For calibration, the parallel out-of-state route Form 20A is stated at 100 USD, and several unrelated WV forms (20T, 20WV, 28) are stated at 35 USD, so the 20R amount cannot be inferred safely. Fingerprinting is 47.25 USD paid directly to IdentoGo and is not submitted with the application | $75 ($75 processing fee per subject for an initial Florida certification application (non-refundable), per the FLDOE Certification Application Fee Schedule; district fingerprint/background screening costs are separate) |
| Processing time | WVDE publishes no numeric processing range; the Office of Certification does not begin processing until the online payment clears | A specific board processing time is not published on the reviewed FLDOE pages |
| Licensing authority | West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) - Office of Certification | Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Apply for an Official Statement of Status of Eligibility, then the certificate, with the Bureau of Educator Certification.
- Provide a valid (unexpired, not revoked) standard out-of-state certificate comparable to the Florida Professional Certificate, OR a currently valid NBPTS certificate.
- If not all Professional Certificate requirements are met, obtain a Temporary Certificate (valid three school years, non-renewable) to teach while completing them.
- Complete the fingerprint-based background screening through the employing Florida school district.
- Pay the fees ($75 ($75 processing fee per subject for an initial Florida certification application (non-refundable), per the FLDOE Certification Application Fee Schedule; district fingerprint/background screening costs are separate)). Processing time: A specific board processing time is not published on the reviewed FLDOE pages.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida accept a West Virginia teaching license?
Usually, with conditions — Florida issues its own teaching certificate to a holder of a comparable West Virginia teaching certificate, usually without its tests. It is not an automatic exchange: apply to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification and meet any condition it sets for your credential.
Will I have to retake tests moving from West Virginia to Florida?
Florida's FTCE exams are NOT required for the reciprocity route: a valid standard educator's certificate from another state that is comparable to the Florida Professional Certificate (same or higher training level, comparable subject) qualifies the holder for the Florida Professional Certificate without the FTCE; a valid National Board (NBPTS) certificate qualifies the same way. Applicants who lack a comparable standard certificate are instead issued a Temporary Certificate and must pass the required FTCE within its term.
Can I teach in Florida right away?
Yes, once the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) - Bureau of Educator Certification issues your Florida certificate; for a comparable certificate it usually comes without Florida's tests. Build its processing time into your start date.
What does the West Virginia-to-Florida transfer cost and how long does it take?
$75 ($75 processing fee per subject for an initial Florida certification application (non-refundable), per the FLDOE Certification Application Fee Schedule; district fingerprint/background screening costs are separate). Processing time: A specific board processing time is not published on the reviewed FLDOE pages.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- FLDOE - Certified Teacher or Administrator (two reciprocity routes to the Professional Certificate; comparable standard cert or NBPTS; FTCE not required; 3-year non-renewable Temporary Certificate) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- FLDOE - Certification Application Fee Schedule ($75 per subject) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WVDE - Professional Teaching Certificate (Reciprocity from Out-of-State), Form 20R - valid out-of-state professional certificate, GPA 2.5/3.0, superintendent recommendation or Form 4B, certificate valid three years ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WVDE - Professional Teaching Certificate (Out-of-State), Form 20A - 100 USD application fee; must pass all WVBE-required exams ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WVDE - Out-of-State Teachers (chooses between Form 20R and Form 20A) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WVDE - Certification Application Process (fees non-refundable, online payment only; IdentoGo fingerprinting 47.25 USD paid directly) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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