Virginia House and Senate Move to Speed Up Career and Technical Education Teachers

Sep 13, 2026, 9:00 AM ET

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Virginia legislators are taking on a major issue to meet the growing demand for skilled workers: the shortage in career and technical education teachers. The General Assembly has approved a bipartisan proposal to create an alternative path for CTE instructors. It now awaits the Governor’s approval.

Businesses in the state are struggling to fill gaps in their workforce. This is a problem that Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration. CTE programs, while seen as an important pipeline for future workers are also faced with the same staffing issues as public schools.

“The shortage will worsen in the next five-years, and demand for these programs has increased,” said Sen. Adam Ebbin of Alexandria, D., who sponsored Senate Bill 877, at a Senate Subcommittee Hearing last month.

Virginia reported more than 708800 students enrolled at least one CTE class during the 2022-2023 school year. Ebbin said. Filling teaching positions is still a challenge, especially for career changers who face what Ebbin called “unrealistic” coursework requirements to teach in their specialties.

Ebbin’s legislation and House Bill 2018, aim to address this problem by allowing CTE teachers to receive a temporary license for a maximum of three years. Candidates must hold a high school diploma or an equivalent, as well as a license or special certificate in the subject they wish to teach.

Construction, manufacturing, transportation, and public safety are among the programs affected. Candidates would not be required to meet all Virginia Board of Education licensing requirements, unlike the traditional method of teacher licensure.

Del. Bonita Antony, D-Norfolk who authored the bill in the House, and has since transitioned from being an engineer to a teacher, highlighted the bill’s wider impact. She said that by addressing the teacher shortages in Virginia and supporting CTE, this bill will strengthen Virginia’s classrooms and workforce.

According to Sam Rasoul of the House Education Committee, D-Roanoke, her bill was modified in order to be more aligned with the Senate’s version. The Senate version was “more narrowly focused.”

The equivalency framework was a key addition in the House version, which is designed to keep licensure up to date with industry standards. Some Northern Virginia school divisions have backed the legislation, as well as the Virginia Manufacturers Association and SkillsUSA Virginia Foundation.

Some education advocates are concerned about cutting out essential coursework. Virginia Education Association Policy analyst Chad Stewart said to a Senate Subcommittee in the last month that cutting out key teaching courses, such as classroom management, could harm new instructors.

Stewart stated that “we think these teachers will be more likely stay in the classroom with these skills.” These are also three-hour classes that you can take in three years, while on your provisional licence. This is not something we consider to be overbearing. These are essential courses for all teachers who want to be effective in their teaching and provide the best education for all students. .”

The legislation continues to move forward despite the heated debate. The Senate Education and Health Committee sent HB 2018 for full Senate consideration on Thursday.

Ebbin’s version of the Bill passed the Senate on Monday with an unanimous vote of 40-0. It now goes to the House.

Email the Norfolk School Board:
Tiffany Moore-Buffaloe, tiffany.buffaloe@nps.k12.va.us,
Sarah DiCalogero, sarah.dicalogero@nps.k12.va.us,
Tanya Bhasin, tbhasin@nps.k12.va.us,
Adale Martin, amartin@nps.k12.va.us,
Kenneth Paulson, ken.paulson@nps.k12.va.us,
Jodi Slaughter, jodi.slaughter@nps.k12.va.us,
Alfreda Thomas, alfreda.thomas@nps.k12.va.us,

Email the Alexandria Board/Council:
Alyia Gaskins, alyia.gaskins@alexandriava.gov,
Sarah Bagley, sarah.bagley@alexandriava.gov,
Canek Aguirre, canek.aguirre@alexandriava.gov,
John Taylor Chapman, john.taylor.chapman@alexandriava.gov,
Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi, abdel.elnoubi@alexandriava.gov,
Jacinta E. Greene, jacinta.greene@alexandriava.gov,
Sandy Marks,

Email the Alexandria School Board:

Email the Norfolk City Council:
Kenneth Alexander, mayor@norfolk.gov,
Martin Thomas, martin.thomas@norfolk.gov,
Courtney Doyle, courtney.doyle@norfolk.gov,
Mamie Johnson, mamie.johnson@norfolk.gov,
John Paige, john.paige@norfolk.gov,
Thomas Smigiel, thomas.smigiel@norfolk.gov,
Jeremy McGee, jeremy.mcgee@norfolk.gov,
Carlos Clanton, carlos.clanton@norfolk.gov,

Alexandria Norfolk Virginia Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Aaron Rouse Abdel Elnoubi Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi Abigail Spanberger Adale Martin Adam Ebbin Adele McClure Alex Askew Alexandria City Council Alfonso Lopez Alfreda Thomas Alyia Gaskins Amy Laufer Angelia Williams Graves Anne Tata Atoosa Reaser Barbara Favola Barry Knight Betsy Carr Bill DeSteph Bill Wiley Bonita Anthony Briana Sewell Bryce Reeves Buddy Fowler Canek Aguirre Carlos Clanton Charlie Schmidt Charniele Herring Chris Runion Christie Craig Christopher Head Cia Price Cliff Hayes Courtney Doyle Creigh Deeds Dan Helmer Danica Roem Danny Diggs David Marsden David Reid David Suetterlein Debate Debra Gardner Delores McQuinn Delores Oates Destiny LeVere Bolling Don Scott Education Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Elizabeth Guzmán Ellen McLaughlin Emily Jordan Eric Phillips Eric Zehr Garrett McGuire Glen Sturtevant Glenn Youngkin Governor Gretchen Bulova Health High School Hillary Kent Holly Seibold Irene Shin Israel O'Quinn Jacinta E. Greene Jacinta Greene Jackie Glass Jas Jeet Singh Jason Ballard Jay Leftwich Jeion Ward Jennifer Boysko Jennifer Carroll Foy Jeremy McGee Jeremy McPike Jessica Anderson Jodi Slaughter John Chapman John McAuliff John Paige John Taylor Chapman Joseph McNamara Josh Thomas Joshua Cole Justin Pence Kacey Carnegie Kannan Srinivasan Karen Hamilton Karen Keys-Gamarra Karrie Delaney Kathy Tran Katrina Callsen Keith Hodges Kelly Convirs-Fowler Kenneth Alexander Kenneth Paulson Kimberly Pope Adams Lamont Bagby Lashrecse Aird Laura Cohen Lee Ware Legislation Leslie Mehta Lily Franklin Lindsey Dougherty Louise Lucas Luke Torian Luther Cifers Madison Whittle Mamie Johnson Mamie Locke Manufacturing Marcus Simon Margaret Franklin Mark Downey Mark Obenshain Mark Peake Martin Thomas Marty Martinez May Nivar Michael Michael Feggans Michael Jones Michael Webert Michelle Maldonado Mike Cherry Mitchell Cornett Nadarius Clark Nicole Cole Norfolk Norfolk City Council Norfolk School Board Northern Virginia Otto Wachsmann Patrick Hope Paul Krizek Phil Hernandez Phillip Scott Policy Public Schools Rae Cousins Rasoul Richard Stuart Rip Sullivan Robert Bloxom Rodney Willett Rozia Henson Russet Perry Ryan McDougle Saddam Salim Sam Sam Rasoul Sandy Marks Sarah Bagley Sarah DiCalogero School Schools Schuyler VanValkenburg Scott Scott Surovell Scott Wyatt Senate Shelly Simonds Stacey Carroll Stella Pekarsky Tammy Mulchi Tanya Bhasin Tara Durant Teachers Terry Austin Terry Kilgore Thomas Smigiel Tiffany Moore-Buffaloe Tim Griffin Timmy French Todd Pillion Tom Garrett Tommy Wright Tony Wilt Transportation Travis Hackworth Virgil Thornton Virginia Virginia House Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Vivian Watts Wendell Walker Will Davis Will Morefield William Stanley Wren Williams