Certificate of Graduate Studies in Career Switcher

Location: Online

Total Credit Hours: 24+

Next Session Start: August 25, 2025

Approved Degree Plan: Download PDF

Credential Prep: Licensure-Eligible

Have you always felt called to teach but are stuck in your current career? Prepare yourself for a career in the classroom with the Certificate of Graduate Studies in Career Switcher. Expand your knowledge and skills as you transition into teaching and learn about the latest cutting-edge teaching practices, all taught from a Christian worldview. Earn your teaching certification in just a few semesters at Regent and advance your career in education right away!

Gain an understanding of what it means to teach different ages and acquire invaluable classroom management skills.
Learn how to create and implement lesson plans and develop strategies for effective classroom communication.
Develop the confidence to excel at working in different educational environments and gain contacts in local school districts.

New Career Options Through the Career Switcher Program

The Career Switcher Program promotes elementary, middle or high school (Pre-K-12) teaching opportunities in the state of Virginia upon the successful completion of all program requirements. Learn to deliver a successful curriculum that meets the educational needs of today’s students.

Be Mentored for 1 Year

Gain one-on-one mentorship for one year through Regent University after completing your Career Switcher courses.

Pursue a Teaching Career Online

Join the only Career Switcher program in Virginia that’s been fully online for the past ten years, allowing you to complete your degree while managing a busy schedule.

Military Stipends Available

If you are Active Duty or a Veteran be sure to ask about Regent’s limited number of special military stipends – you may well be eligible! Regent’s alumni include former and retired service members from all branches of the military who are now teaching throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our program is designed to meet your needs and enables you to start even before you’ve left the military. Regent’s Military Resource Center is dedicated to helping you identify your military benefits and walk you through the steps of enrollment, financial aid and how to reach your academic and career goals.

Align Yourself with Excellence

Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2024). Its programs have also been recognized among the Top 10 Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia for 12 years in a row by the U.S. News & World Report, 2024. Regent graduates are empowered to make a difference in lives, which has led to 900+ alumni being recognized as Teachers of the Year in Hampton Roads since 2004.

Join an Accredited Career Switcher Program

The School of Education’s educational leadership and teacher preparation programs and the College of Arts and Science’s bachelor’s in education programs are awarded full national accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for a period of seven years, to 12/31/2030.

The School of Education’s Career Switcher program is awarded recertification by the Virginia Department of Education for a period of seven years, to 2/2/2028.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

Looking to earn your Master’s in Education? With an M.Ed., you can qualify for more teaching roles and advance your career. After completing the Level I or Level II requirements, acquire your M.Ed. with just a few additional courses. Visit the Master’s in Education – M.Ed. Degree for Career Switchers page for more information.

Career Opportunities

On completing this Career Switcher program, you can:

Assess and evaluate students under the mentorship of a seasoned instructor.
Smoothly transition from your former career to teaching.
Manage a classroom and develop a curriculum.

Career Opportunities

Elementary School Teacher (Pre-K-3; Pre-K-6)
Middle School Teacher (6-8)
High School Teacher or Secondary School Teacher (6-8; 6-12)

Featured Courses

Table listing featured courses with course code, name, and credit hours.
Code	Name	Credits
EFND 531	Exploring the Curriculum	3	Understand the presuppositions of worldviews and then examine content for evidence of different worldviews. Integrate character principles into the school environment and curriculum. Examine curriculum content and its relationship to cognitive development as a tool for designing instruction to promote higher-level thinking.
EFND 532	Classroom Management for Transitioning Teachers	3	Develop an understanding and application of classroom and behavior management techniques. Effective intervention strategies will be presented and practiced. Diverse approaches to classroom management will be presented based on upon behavioral, cognitive, affective, social and ecological theory and practice. Teacher/student relationships are examined together with classroom community building.
EFND 533	Teaching Students Effectively	3	Focus on classification and sequencing learning outcomes, and the differentiation of instruction. Review the principles of learning, the application of skills in discipline-specific methodology, communication processes, reading in the content areas, selection and use of resources, including media and technology. Examine the relationships among assessment, instruction, and measuring and documenting individual student progress.
EFND 534	Assessment & Evaluation Techniques	3	Using the principles of educational measurement, construct and interpret valid assessments using a variety of formats in order to measure student attainment of essential skills in a standards-based environment. Develop the ability to analyze assessment data to make decisions about how to improve instruction and evaluate and improve student performance. Emphasis will be placed on the design of “alternative” and traditional assessment instruments.
EFND 535	Child & Adolescent Growth & Development for Transitioning Teachers	3	A study of the physical, cognitive, cultural, social/emotional, spiritual, and psychological development of children and adolescents with an emphasis on knowing and understanding theories of human development and incorporating children’s individual differences to guide learning experiences.

Students should refer to their catalog or audited degree plan (ADP) for required courses to complete their degree.

Steps to Licensure & Course Sequence

Steps to Licensure

The Career Switcher program consists of two levels: Level I and Level II. Upon completing the Level 1 requirements, Career Switchers can secure their provisional teaching license and get started in the classroom right away.

LEVEL I

Level I preparation includes a minimum of 180 clock hours of instruction, plus field experience. After completing Level I preparation, candidates are awarded a one-year Career Switcher Provisional License and are expected to obtain employment in a Virginia public or accredited non-public school. For Career Switcher Provisional License requirements, visit the Virginia Department of Education.

LEVEL II

Level II preparation is required by VDOE to be taken during a Career Switcher’s first year of teaching and consists of two courses and mentorships — trained mentors are assigned to assist candidates throughout their first year of employment. Format includes one year in a full-time, paid teaching position at a public or accredited non-public school. The online courses and mentorships take place during this time.

Course Sequence

Sequence of course offerings: Level I

From SU23 onwards all six Level I courses will be offered every semester. Candidates wishing to complete Level I in just one semester should plan to start in Sessions A, B, C, D, E, or F.

Sequence of course offerings: Level II

Fall Session B: EFND 536
Spring Session C: EFND 537

Admissions Requirements

2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Session	Semester Check-In	Session Start Date
Session A	Friday, August 9	Monday, August 19
Session M	Friday, September 6	Monday, September 16
Session B	Friday, October 11	Monday, October 21
Session C	Wednesday, January 8	Monday, January 13
Session T	Friday, January 31	Monday, February 10
Session D	Friday, March 7	Monday, March 17
Session E	Friday, May 2	Monday, May 12
Session F	Friday, June 13	Monday, June 23

Prerequisites

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and three years of full time professional work experience are required for both elementary and secondary tracks.

Additional Requirements:

CS (Elementary): If you are planning to teach either pre-K-3 or pre-K-6 in an elementary school, click here for an outline of admission requirements.
CS (Secondary): If you are planning to teach in either a middle or high school, you will need to pass the Praxis II in the subject area you plan to teach.

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your VDOE Application and Report on Experience

Submit your official VDOE Career Switcher Application and Report on Experience forms with a wet ink signature to the address below. To ensure your documents are correct prior to mailing the official copy, please submit an unofficial copy to regent.edu/items. Prospects are responsible for filing out the documents accurately; ~~and~~ incorrect forms can result in a prolonged review period for admissions.

Mailing Address:

Regent University
Enrollment Support Services
1000 Regent University Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Note: Prospects should not call the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) concerning this program; any questions will be answered by Regent University.

Step 4: Provide Praxis II Scores

We are able to accept an unofficial copy of your Praxis II exam in order to review your file for an admission decision. Please submit your unofficial scores to regent.edu/items.

For more information or to register for the Praxis, visit www.ets.org.
Preparation for Praxis II

Step 5: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Additional Requirements

Background Check: Because the program includes direct contact with students in field experiences, applicants to the Career Switcher Program must submit a background check. Regent University School of Education has entered into an agreement with CastleBranch, a private vendor that conducts background checks for many universities and educational institutions. After you are admitted into the program, you will be provided instructions to set up an online profile with CastleBranch and request your background check. Learn more.

First Aid, CPR, AED Training: Documentation that verifies completion of certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED). The certification or training program shall be based on the current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator, such as a program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Note: VDOE no longer accepts training certificates obtained from an online source – training must be conducted in person.

Tuition & Fees

2025-26 Tuition Rates

Certificate	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Total Credits	Tuition Cost for Certificate
Certificate in the Law & Higher Education	$250	9	$2,250
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Artificial Intelligence for Education	$250	12	$2,250
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Autism	$250	12	$3,000
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Career Switcher	$250	24	$6,000
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Christian Education	$250	9	$2,250
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership	$250	12	$3,000
Certificate of Graduate Studies in eLearning Design	$250	10	$2,500
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Gifted & Talented Education for Teachers	$250	12-14	$3,000-$3,500
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)	$250	10	$2,500
Certificate of Graduate Studies in TESOL – Adult Education-Collegiate	$250	15-18	$3,750-$4,500
Certificate of Graduate Studies in TESOL – K-12	$250	15	$3,750
Post-Master's Certificate in Advancing Leadership (CAL)	$250	9	$2,250

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (Online Students)	$750
Library Orientation	$50 (one-time)

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Related Programs

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