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K-12 Critical Shortage Positions

You may be eligible to teach or serve as a principal or assistant principal in a critical shortage position in a Virginia public school. You do not have to retire as a teacher or school administrator as long as you become licensed by the Virginia Board of Education for the position you will hold and meet eligibility requirements. Positions are full-time and temporary (non-covered) for the current school year, and, if you qualify, you will continue to receive your retirement benefits. You will not earn additional service credit, and you will not be eligible for VRS member benefits.

To be considered for a K-12 critical shortage position, you must:

  • Be retired from a VRS-covered position. Members of the State Police Officers' Retirement System, the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System and the Judicial Retirement System are not eligible.
  • Be hired by a Virginia public school division in a designated teacher critical shortage position.
  • Hold a Virginia Board of Education license for the position.
  • Have a break in service of at least six consecutive months between your retirement date and the date you wish to work in a critical shortage position. This break in service means not working in any full-time, part-time or volunteer position, including coaching and substitute teaching, with any VRS-participating employer, or working for a contractor with any VRS-participating employer.
  • Not have retired with a reduced VRS benefit under an early retirement incentive program (ERIP).
  • Not have retired under the Transitional Benefits Program or the Workforce Transition Act with an enhanced monthly VRS benefit.
  • Not be on VRS disability retirement.
  • Not have a prearranged commitment, either verbal or written, with the school division before your retirement date.

Specialized Student Support Positions

You may be eligible to return to work full time in a specialized student support position at a Virginia public school. Positions are full-time and temporary (non-covered) for the current school year. If you qualify, you will continue to receive your retirement benefits. You will not earn additional service credit, and you will not be eligible for VRS member benefits. To be considered for a specialized student support position, you must:

  • Be retired from an eligible VRS-covered position. Members of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System, the Virginia Law Officers’ Retirement System and the Judicial Retirement System are not eligible.
  • Be hired in a designated specialized student support critical shortage position for a Virginia public school division. Retirees in these positions are employed by the school board and include school social workers, school psychologists, school nurses, licensed behavior analysts, licensed assistant behavior analysts, and other licensed health and behavioral positions, such as speech-language pathologists, as determined by the Department of Education.
  • Have a break in service of at least six consecutive months between your retirement date and the date you wish to work in a specialized student support critical shortage position. This break in service means not working in any full-time, part-time or volunteer position with a VRS-participating employer, or working for a contractor with any VRS-participating employer.
  • Not have retired with a reduced VRS benefit under an early retirement incentive program (ERIP).
  • Not have retired under the Transitional Benefits Program or the Workforce Transition Act with an enhanced monthly VRS benefit.
  • Not be on VRS disability retirement.
  • Not have a prearranged commitment, either verbal or written, with the school division before your retirement date. For more information on critical shortage designations and how to apply, visit the Department of Education website at doe.virginia.gov or contact the school system where you would like to work.

Bus Driver Critical Shortage Positions

You may be eligible to return to work full time as a bus driver in a critical shortage position at a Virginia public school. Positions are full-time and temporary (non-covered) for the current school year. If you qualify, you will continue to receive your retirement benefits. You will not earn additional service credit, and you will not be eligible for VRS member benefits.

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

  • Be retired from a VRS-covered position. Members of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System, the Virginia Law Officers’ Retirement System and the Judicial Retirement System are not eligible.
  • Be hired in a designated bus driver critical shortage position for a Virginia public school division.
  • Have a break in service of at least six consecutive months between your retirement date and the date you wish to work in a bus driver critical shortage position. This break in service means not working in any full-time, part-time or volunteer position with a VRS-participating employer, or working for a contractor with any VRS-participating employer.
  • Not have retired with a reduced VRS benefit under an early retirement incentive program (ERIP).
  • Not have retired under the Transitional Benefits Program or the Workforce Transition Act with an enhanced monthly VRS benefit.
  • Not be on VRS disability retirement.
  • Not have a prearranged commitment, either verbal or written, with the school division before your retirement date.

For more information on critical shortage designations and how to apply, visit the Virginia Department of Education website at doe.virginia.gov or contact the school system where you would like to work.

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