Teaching After Retirement

Bona Fide Break in Service

If you return to non-covered or part-time employment with the same employer, you must have a bona fide break in service of at least one full calendar month after your retirement date over a period you normally would work to continue receiving your retirement benefit. Summer breaks do not count toward satisfying the one-calendar month break in service.

School Board ERIPs for Teachers

If you are a teacher considering an early retirement incentive program (ERIP) offered by your school division, be aware that:

VRS retirement benefits will continue if you have a bona fide break in service of at least one full calendar month after your retirement date over a period you normally would work and return to the classroom on a non-covered, part-time basis.
Retirement benefits will cease if you return to a position that qualifies as covered employment under VRS.

K-12 Critical Shortage Positions

If you are licensed by the Virginia Board of Education, you may continue to receive your retirement benefits while working full time in a designated K-12 critical shortage area. You do not have to be retired from a teaching position.

To be considered for a critical shortage position, you must:

Be licensed by the Virginia Board of Education for the position you will hold.
Teach in an area designated as critical shortage by the Department of Education.
Have a bona fide break in service of at least 12 consecutive months between your retirement date and the date you wish to work in a critical shortage position. This break in service includes not working in any full-time, part-time or temporary position, including a summer school or substitute teaching position, with any VRS-participating employer.
Not have retired under a local school system’s early retirement incentive program (ERIP), unless you retired with an unreduced VRS retirement benefit. Any period of work you perform to satisfy the requirements of an ERIP will extend the number of months required to satisfy the bona fide break in service required for compliance with this program.
Not have taken a refund of your retirement contributions and interest in your member contribution account or deferred your retirement.