Short answer
How do Kanawha County teachers move to a higher salary class?
Kanawha teachers apply to the West Virginia Department of Education on Form 12 with an official transcript. BA+15 takes 15 eligible semester hours earned after the initial West Virginia professional license; MA+15, MA+30 and MA+45 take 45, 60 and 75 eligible hours. The new class is effective when the requirements were completed, but no more than three months before the department receives the application.
Source: Form 12, advanced salary classification, West Virginia Department of Education, and Kanawha County Schools Employee Handbook 2024-2025. Checked .
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How is the Kanawha County teacher salary schedule organized?
West Virginia law sets a state minimum salary schedule. W. Va. Code §18A-4-2 lays out rows for years of experience from 0 through 35 and columns for training classes: 4th Class, 3rd Class, 2nd Class, A.B., A.B.+15, M.A., M.A.+15, M.A.+30, M.A.+45 and Doctorate. Under W. Va. Code §18A-4-5a, a county may add supplements that are uniform for teachers with the same training and experience.
The department's Professional Salary Schedules by County for 2026-27 prints Kanawha's grid. Each cell is built from the state basic salary, state supplements, a 1984 county supplement and a county supplement. In Kanawha's 2026-27 grid the 4th, 3rd and 2nd Class rows carry no county supplements; from A.B. upward, both county supplements apply. Kanawha also posts its own salary schedules on its employment documents page; the latest one posted there is for 2024-2025. We do not reproduce the dollar figures. Our article on how to read a salary schedule explains the grid.
Which hours count toward a Kanawha salary class?
Because the state grants the class, the rules are in Policy 5202 (126CSR136), effective January 11, 2025, and on the Form 12 page:
- Hour counts. BA+15 is "15 eligible semester hours completed after receiving an initial West Virginia professional license." MA+15, MA+30 and MA+45 take 45, 60 and 75 eligible semester hours. Under section 22.2.d, a teacher whose master's took fewer than 30 hours needs 15, 30 or 45 hours beyond the degree.
- Relevance. Section 22.1 says the classes recognize coursework "which will contribute to the improvement of instruction or other services in the public schools." Section 22.2.b lists what graduate coursework after July 1, 1994 must be: related to public education, part of a degree program in education, content or professional coursework tied to the current licensure or an added endorsement, professional learning or special topics coursework approved by the department, coursework identified in the personnel evaluation process, technology for education, or coursework tied to the mission and goals of the state board.
- Accreditation. Section 9.10.e says coursework from non-accredited institutions is "not recognized for licensure or salary classification purposes," and Form 12 asks for an official transcript "from a regionally accredited college or university." "Passing grades are required."
- Undergraduate hours. Section 22.2.f allows up to 15 semester hours of related undergraduate coursework earned after the certificate was issued.
- No double counting. Section 22.2.c bars credit for duplicate coursework.
Kanawha's employee handbook sums it up: "A professional educator who completes college credit beyond the bachelor's degree may qualify for the BA +15, MA, MA +15, MA +30, MA +45, or doctorate salary classification." The West Virginia guide explains the relevance test in more detail.
Does Kanawha require approval before you take a course?
No district pre-approval form is published. The Form 12 page asks for the county superintendent's recommendation with the application, and the department decides whether each course is related to public education. Kanawha's certification page says "Each Kanawha County educator is solely responsible for maintaining their teaching license and filing the appropriate applications for the original license, renewal and any endorsement or advanced salary classification for which he/she is eligible," and that the office helps teachers plan "advanced degree course work through partnership opportunities with local colleges and universities." The handbook tells teachers to contact the Certification Specialist in Human Resources for the forms. Ask that office about a course before you enroll; our will my district accept it checklist lists what to ask.
When should you file, and when does the new class start?
There is no annual deadline. The clock is set by Policy 5202 section 9.10.a: the new class is effective "on the date that all requirements for the classification were completed not to exceed three months prior to WVDE's receipt of the application." Kanawha's handbook says the same in plain terms: "The employee must apply for the advanced salary classification within three months of eligibility in order for the classification to be effective as of the date of eligibility." You submit an official transcript and pay the department's processing fee online. Status can be checked on the department's certificate lookup. Our page on transcript deadlines explains why filing promptly matters.
Do the same hours count toward West Virginia license renewal?
They can. Renewal on Form 4T generally takes six credit hours related to public education, completed after the current certificate took effect, no more than five years old and with a minimum 3.0 GPA; teachers at MA+30 or above, or 60 or older, need no renewal coursework. A teacher whose hours qualify for both files both forms. Kanawha's handbook advises completing renewal credit "at least one year prior to the year in which the certificate expires" and notes that certification "generally expires on June 30th of the designated year." It also describes tuition assistance under Board Policy G69A for renewal or a shortage-area endorsement, where "Reimbursement will only be issued for courses leading to certification or endorsement in identified areas of need." The details are in the West Virginia renewal section of our West Virginia guide.
Where can Kanawha teachers earn graduate-level units?
Every district, Kanawha included, decides for itself whether a course counts for the purpose a teacher needs it for: a column move, a stipend, license renewal or an added endorsement. No provider, university or website can make that decision, so the rules above come first, and written approval from Kanawha's human resources office is the safest record to have before you pay.
Before you enroll: West Virginia, not the county, grants the salary class. Policy 5202, section 22.2.b, says graduate coursework used for advanced salary must be related to public education, such as "content and/or professional education coursework related to the current licensure," "professional learning/special topics coursework approved by the WVDE" or "coursework identified in the personnel evaluation process," and the Form 12 page asks for an official transcript "from a regionally accredited college or university." Match each course to one of those categories and ask Kanawha's certification office before you enroll.
| Question | What Kanawha says | What to look for on the provider's site |
|---|---|---|
| Type of unit | Kanawha: Regionally accredited, related to public education; BA+15 15 hours; MA+15, MA+30, MA+45 45, 60, 75 hours | Semester or quarter units, graduate-level or not, and the university named on the transcript and its accreditor |
| Grade | See units that count | Letter grade or pass/fail on the transcript |
| Deadline | Kanawha: None annual; file within 3 months of completion | Published grading and transcript-posting time, and any rush option |
| Approval | Kanawha: No district form published; superintendent recommends on Form 12 | Course descriptions or syllabi you can attach to an approval form |
| Price | Not set by the district | All-in price per credit, including any university or first-course fee (compare) |
Graduate-level credit providers, listed with the same facts
With those rules in hand, compare providers on the same points. Providers listed on this site, each with the same facts:
- Teacher Friendly: self-paced online, units through University of the Pacific; $336 first course for 3 credits (price notes)
- Credits for Educators: self-paced online, units through University of the Pacific; $297 for 3 credits (price notes)
- Teaching Channel: self-paced, units through a choice of eight universities; $489 for 3 credits (price notes)
- TLC Graduate Credits: self-paced, units through CSU Pueblo; $425 for 3 credits (price notes)
- Upward Teachers: self-paced, 1 to 6 months, letter grade, units through UMass Global; $240 sale for 3 credits (price notes)
- VESi: self-paced online, 2- or 3-unit courses on special-needs instruction, units through University of the Pacific; $444 for 3 credits (price notes)
The provider directory lists 28 providers and programs by what teachers need them for, and Compare sets published prices for 16 of them side by side, with transcripts from 11 universities. A listing on this site does not mean Kanawha has approved a provider or course; only the district can do that. TeacherPayGuide has commercial relationships with some providers it lists; how listings work.
Kanawha County salary questions teachers ask
Who grants a higher salary class in Kanawha County?
The West Virginia Department of Education, on Form 12 with the county superintendent's recommendation. The county then pays the class under its schedule.
How many hours do I need for BA+15?
Fifteen eligible semester hours completed after your initial West Virginia professional license.
What happens if I file Form 12 late?
The new class can be dated no earlier than three months before the department receives the application, so a late filing can lose months at the higher class.
Does reaching MA+30 change renewal?
Yes. The Form 12 page says a salary class of MA+30 or above allows renewal without additional coursework.
Where can Kanawha teachers take graduate-level courses for salary credit or renewal?
Kanawha decides which courses count, under the rules on this page, so check with human resources before you enroll. Providers that teachers compare include Teacher Friendly, Credits for Educators, Teaching Channel, TLC Graduate Credits, Upward Teachers and VESi. They differ in format, transcript university, grading time and price; the provider directory and the Compare page list 16 providers with the same facts for each.
Sources
- Form 12, advanced salary classification, West Virginia Department of Education. Checked
- Policy 5202 (126CSR136), Minimum Requirements for the Licensure of Professional/Paraprofessional Personnel and Advanced Salary Classifications, West Virginia Board of Education. Checked
- Professional Salary Schedules by County, 2026-27, West Virginia Department of Education. Checked
- W. Va. Code §18A-4-2, state minimum salaries for teachers. Checked
- W. Va. Code §18A-4-5a, county salary supplements. Checked
- Certification, Kanawha County Schools. Checked
- Employee Handbook 2024-2025, Kanawha County Schools. Checked
- Employment documents, Kanawha County Schools. Checked
- Form 4T, WV Professional Teaching Certificate Renewal, West Virginia Department of Education. Checked
Reviewed November 12, 2026 by TeacherPayGuide editors.Report an error