The bill amends sections 18A-3-2a and 18A-3-4 of the West Virginia Code to introduce a new pathway for obtaining a professional teaching certificate. Specifically, it allows individuals who hold a bachelor's degree and have ten years of teaching experience, along with a valid teaching certificate in good standing and no unsatisfactory evaluations, to apply for a permanent teaching certificate without the need for additional coursework. This new provision is marked as subsection (h) under section 18A-3-2a and is effective immediately upon passage.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that existing certificates and their validity periods will remain unchanged, ensuring that current holders retain their rights to renew or make their certificates permanent. This is stated in section 18A-3-4, which emphasizes that the new provisions will not affect the validity of certificates already in force at the time of the bill's enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18A-3-2a
Committee Substitute: 18A-3-2a, 18A-3-4
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 18A-3-2a, 18A-3-4
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18A-3-2a