Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →VirginiaTeachers
Does community-college-level credit count for Virginia renewal?
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Community college credit for Virginia teacher renewal counts under option 1: 8VAC20-23-110 accepts college coursework from any accredited two-year or four-year institution, and VDOE's Renewal Manual gives 30 points per semester hour with a passing grade. Self-paced courses from a provider that is not a college are a different question.
What the rule says about two-year colleges
The regulation describes acceptable college coursework as content that gives new information and is offered on campus, off campus or through extension by any accredited two-year or four-year institution. The Renewal Manual uses the words regionally accredited two-year or four-year college or university. Either way, a course at an accredited community college is named in the rule.
There is no extra rule for lower-level courses in the text. The test is whether the course gives new information and develops your teaching, subject content or skills, and whether your division approves it.
What a course must show
The manual lists four criteria for college credit. Keep them in mind when you pick a course.
When you ask for approval, send the course description printed from the college catalog with the college name, course number, title and credit hours. VDOE asks for that detail when it reviews a course, and your division will usually want the same. A course in your teaching subject, or in learning, development or classroom practice, is the easiest to justify as new information that improves your teaching.
- Gives new information
- Taken for credit, not audited
- Passing grade, or a pass on a pass/fail course
- Verified by an official transcript
| Item | What to keep |
|---|---|
| Before | Written approval and the course description from the catalog |
| During | Syllabus and dates |
| After | Official transcript from the college |
| Points | Credit hours x 30 for semester hours |
What it costs
Northern Virginia Community College charges Virginia residents $232.05 per credit for Fall 2026 to Summer 2027, including fees and a textbook programme that students can opt out of. A 3-credit course is about $696, so two courses for 180 points cost about $1,392. Add the $50 renewal fee.
Many community colleges offer online sections, which suit teachers who need evening or summer study.
Self-paced courses with credit recommendations
UPI Study, Sophia and similar providers are not colleges. Their courses carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations, and the credit reaches a college transcript only if a college agrees to post it. UPI Study is not accredited. TESU, UoPeople and Newlane are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit.
Whether VDOE treats credit posted that way as option 1 college coursework is not settled by the regulation's text, so do not assume it. Your division may instead approve a self-paced course as an option 8 professional development activity at one point per clock hour. Ask in writing first.
A safe plan
If you need college credit points with certainty, take an accredited community college or university course and keep the official transcript. If you want lower-cost content study, such as Educational Psychology or Abnormal Psychology through UPI Study PRO at $99 a month, get your division's written approval and point value before you start. Either way, finish the required trainings separately, because points do not replace them.
- Community college: direct option 1 route
- Self-paced: only with written approval
- Required trainings: always separate
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your division superintendent's designee, or VDOE if you are not employed, to confirm in writing which option a course counts under and how many points before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Do online community college courses count?
The regulation accepts courses offered on campus, off campus or through extension by an accredited institution. An online course from an accredited community college, taken for credit with a passing grade, fits. Get prior approval first.
Does an audited course count?
No. The manual says courses must be taken for credit. An audited course has no grade and would not meet the passing grade criterion, even though tuition is often the same.
Can out-of-state college courses count?
The manual refers to regionally accredited colleges and universities without limiting them to Virginia. Check with your division that the college and course qualify, and keep the official transcript. If you are not employed by a Virginia division, send VDOE a written pre-approval request with the catalog description.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Abnormal Psychology
Self-paced online Abnormal Psychology course (Psychology 180). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Research Methods in Psychology
Self-paced online Research Methods in Psychology course (Psychology 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Only after your division or VDOE confirms in writing which option a course counts under.
Sources
- Virginia Administrative Code: 8VAC20-23-110 Requirements for renewing a license (official)A: 270 professional development points within a 10-year validity period; 180 points for a five-year renewable license; no one is required to renew by earning credit at an institution of higher education. D, F, G, I: first aid/CPR/AED, dyslexia awareness, child abuse recognition and students-with-disabilities training. K: eight options; option 1 college credit offered by any accredited two-year or four-year institution. M: some options need advance approval by the employing agency; people not employed submit to the Office of Professional Licensure with official transcripts from an accredited two-year or four-year institution. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- VDOE: Virginia Licensure Renewal Manual (five-year renewable license, updated January 2023; read from the Internet Archive copy of https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/40586/638079887225000000) (official)Option 1 college credit: coursework from a regionally accredited two-year or four-year college or university, taken for credit, passing grade or pass; maximum 180 points; one semester hour = 30 points, one quarter hour = 20 points; verified by official transcript. Option 8 professional development activities: one point per clock/contact hour, minimum five hours per activity, prior approval if employed in a Virginia educational agency, maximum 180 points. $50 nonrefundable renewal fee. Since July 1, 2018 the Board issues ten-year renewable licenses; 270 points for ten-year renewals. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.