The purpose of continuing education requirements is to improve educator effectiveness, leading to better outcomes and learning for students.
Most educators need to earn 100 clock hours every five years in order to renew their certificate. Continuing education credits are known as “clock hours” because educators receive one clock hour per hour of continuing education. The organizations that offer courses are referred to as “clock hour providers.”
Clock hour offerings should:
- Be useful, applicable, and relevant to an educator’s role(s)
- Represent engaging, substantive, and quality adult learning
- Reflect foundational skills and practices rooted in current research
Individuals who complete clock hour courses should accumulate expertise with every hour they spend.
CLOCK HOUR PROVIDERS
Only organizations approved by PESB may offer clock hours to Washington State educators. Approved providers must adhere to rules laid out in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
Apply to be a clock hour provider
Organizations that want to offer clock hours must apply to PESB for approval. There is one application deadline each year and approval is for a period of one year (October 1 – September 30). The 2024-25 application is closed. The 2025-26 application will be open from March 1, 2025 through May 31, 2025.
Questions on the clock hour provider approval process should be directed to clockhoursPESB@k12.wa.us.
View lists of present and past clock hour providers on the OSPI website.
Eligibility
The following organizations are eligible to become an approved clock hour provider (WAC 181-85-045)
- Accredited college or university (WAC 181-85-025)
- Nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations, with the exception of 501(c)4 organizations. These organizations must provide documentation of current non-profit or not-for-profit status. 501(c)4 organizations are prohibited from becoming an approved provider.
- Educational Service Districts (ESDs)
- State-approved private schools (WAC 180-90-112)
- Local, state, or federal agencies
- Educator preparation programs approved by the Professional Educator Standards Board
Note: All school districts, charter schools, and compact schools in Washington are automatically approved as clock hour providers; automatically approved providers are required to follow clock hour provider regulations.
Clock hour providers are responsible for knowing and adhering to all applicable rules governing Washington State approved clock hour providers. Rules are laid out in WAC 181-85; selected rules are highlighted on this page.
If an organization is interested in using pdEnroller to offer clock hour courses, visit the pdEnroller – ESD 112 webpage for more details.
Annual approval process
Clock hour providers are approved for a period of one year and must apply annually for approval.
In the annual approval process:
- Clock hour committee members, the designated administrator, and the website must be identified.
- Applicants must describe how they will meet the program standards and recordkeeping requirements.
- Applicants will provide other information as requested by PESB.
Some providers must include additional information:
- Equity providers must include their mission and vision statements. They must also state their experience and expertise in providing professional development to educators generally, as well as specific experience and expertise in equity-based practices;
- Nonprofit or not-for-profit providers must include proof of their current nonprofit status.
Provider requirements
Clock hour committee
Each clock hour provider must have a committee or board of directors that provides prior approval for clock hour offerings (WAC 181-85-045). This group is referred to as the clock hour committee.
The clock hour committee will be composed of individuals who may include:
- Teachers
- Educational staff associates (ESAs)
- Administrators
- Paraeducators
- Community members, or
- Representatives from colleges and universities
An organization’s board of directors may serve as its clock hour committee.
Prior approval of courses
Before offering a course, the clock hour committee must approve the:
- Date of course
- Number of clock hours being offered
- Course objectives and program agenda
- Instructors and their qualifications
- Relation of course to clock hour standards (181-85-200, 181-85-202)
Clock hours may not be issued retroactively.
- Approval by the clock hour committee must happen prior to the course. (181-85-045)
- Participants must register prior to taking courses. Providers must keep records of this. (181-85-205)
- When partnering with another organization, an approved clock hour provider cannot provide blanket approval of all courses from that organization. The approved clock hour provider must follow all relevant policy for approving each individual course from another organization. (181-85-200)
Activities which may not serve as clock hours
Clock hours may not be offered for:
- Individuals serving as the instructor for a course for which that individual is the only participant
- Routine staff meetings to discuss or explain operational policies or administrative practices
- Business meetings of professional associations to discuss operational policies or practices
- Social hours or actual mealtime. (181-85-030)
Audits and investigations
Clock hour providers are subject to audit. Providers found not to be in compliance with WAC chapter 181-85 will no longer be eligible to provide clock hours. (181-85-220) Appeals may be filed with PESB (181-85-225).
Beginning on October 1, 2025, approved providers of equity based school practices, leadership, and government-to-government clock hour courses will also be subject to a complaint process, which may include an investigation. The draft complaint process is available here.
Standards for clock hour courses
Clock hour providers must align their clock hour offerings to one or more applicable standards.
Course evaluations
Clock hour providers must provide course evaluations to all participants and collect responses.
The designated administrator must periodically report summaries of evaluations to the clock hour committee. Summaries of evaluations must be available to OSPI and/or PESB staff for review upon request.
Course evaluations must include, but are not limited to, the following:
-
- The extent to which the written objectives have been met
- Participant perception of relevance and quality of the course
- The extent to which the activities identified in the clock hour standards addressed by the course have been met
- The extent to which the course provided the opportunity for participants to reflect on next steps or implementation of the learning in their practice
- Suggestions for improving the course if repeated
Recordkeeping
Providers must keep the following for seven years (181-85-205):
- Documentation that the clock hour committee approved a course’s date, number of hours, objectives, relation to clock hour standards, and instructors and their qualifications before the course was offered
- Summary of course evaluations, and minutes showing that the committee reviewed these evaluations
- Participant registration list
The clock hour form must provide a space for the participant to indicate they are requesting fewer than the total number of clock hours offered due to partial attendance.
Upon request, providers must provide clock hour documentation to participants for seven years following the course.
Clock hour providers will give participants specific instructions regarding the need to retain clock hour documentation.
Organizations that want to offer clock hours must apply to PESB for approval. There is one application deadline each year and approval is for a period of one year (October 1 – September 30). The 2024-25 application is closed. The 2025-26 application will be open from March 1, 2025 through May 31, 2025.
Questions on the clock hour provider approval process should be directed to clockhoursPESB@k12.wa.us.
View lists of present and past clock hour providers on the OSPI website.
Eligibility
The following organizations are eligible to become an approved clock hour provider (WAC 181-85-045)
- Accredited college or university (WAC 181-85-025)
- Nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations, with the exception of 501(c)4 organizations. These organizations must provide documentation of current non-profit or not-for-profit status. 501(c)4 organizations are prohibited from becoming an approved provider.
- Educational Service Districts (ESDs)
- State-approved private schools (WAC 180-90-112)
- Local, state, or federal agencies
- Educator preparation programs approved by the Professional Educator Standards Board
Note: All school districts, charter schools, and compact schools in Washington are automatically approved as clock hour providers; automatically approved providers are required to follow clock hour provider regulations.
Clock hour providers are responsible for knowing and adhering to all applicable rules governing Washington State approved clock hour providers. Rules are laid out in WAC 181-85; selected rules are highlighted on this page.
If an organization is interested in using pdEnroller to offer clock hour courses, visit the pdEnroller – ESD 112 webpage for more details.
Annual approval process
Clock hour providers are approved for a period of one year and must apply annually for approval.
In the annual approval process:
- Clock hour committee members, the designated administrator, and the website must be identified.
- Applicants must describe how they will meet the program standards and recordkeeping requirements.
- Applicants will provide other information as requested by PESB.
Some providers must include additional information:
- Equity providers must include their mission and vision statements. They must also state their experience and expertise in providing professional development to educators generally, as well as specific experience and expertise in equity-based practices;
- Nonprofit or not-for-profit providers must include proof of their current nonprofit status.
Provider requirements
Clock hour committee
Each clock hour provider must have a committee or board of directors that provides prior approval for clock hour offerings (WAC 181-85-045). This group is referred to as the clock hour committee.
The clock hour committee will be composed of individuals who may include:
- Teachers
- Educational staff associates (ESAs)
- Administrators
- Paraeducators
- Community members, or
- Representatives from colleges and universities
An organization’s board of directors may serve as its clock hour committee.
Prior approval of courses
Before offering a course, the clock hour committee must approve the:
- Date of course
- Number of clock hours being offered
- Course objectives and program agenda
- Instructors and their qualifications
- Relation of course to clock hour standards (181-85-200, 181-85-202)
Clock hours may not be issued retroactively.
- Approval by the clock hour committee must happen prior to the course. (181-85-045)
- Participants must register prior to taking courses. Providers must keep records of this. (181-85-205)
- When partnering with another organization, an approved clock hour provider cannot provide blanket approval of all courses from that organization. The approved clock hour provider must follow all relevant policy for approving each individual course from another organization. (181-85-200)
Activities which may not serve as clock hours
Clock hours may not be offered for:
- Individuals serving as the instructor for a course for which that individual is the only participant
- Routine staff meetings to discuss or explain operational policies or administrative practices
- Business meetings of professional associations to discuss operational policies or practices
- Social hours or actual mealtime. (181-85-030)
Audits and investigations
Clock hour providers are subject to audit. Providers found not to be in compliance with WAC chapter 181-85 will no longer be eligible to provide clock hours. (181-85-220) Appeals may be filed with PESB (181-85-225).
Beginning on October 1, 2025, approved providers of equity based school practices, leadership, and government-to-government clock hour courses will also be subject to a complaint process, which may include an investigation. The draft complaint process is available here.
Standards for clock hour courses
Clock hour providers must align their clock hour offerings to one or more applicable standards.
Course evaluations
Clock hour providers must provide course evaluations to all participants and collect responses.
The designated administrator must periodically report summaries of evaluations to the clock hour committee. Summaries of evaluations must be available to OSPI and/or PESB staff for review upon request.
Course evaluations must include, but are not limited to, the following:
-
- The extent to which the written objectives have been met
- Participant perception of relevance and quality of the course
- The extent to which the activities identified in the clock hour standards addressed by the course have been met
- The extent to which the course provided the opportunity for participants to reflect on next steps or implementation of the learning in their practice
- Suggestions for improving the course if repeated
Recordkeeping
Providers must keep the following for seven years (181-85-205):
- Documentation that the clock hour committee approved a course’s date, number of hours, objectives, relation to clock hour standards, and instructors and their qualifications before the course was offered
- Summary of course evaluations, and minutes showing that the committee reviewed these evaluations
- Participant registration list
The clock hour form must provide a space for the participant to indicate they are requesting fewer than the total number of clock hours offered due to partial attendance.
Upon request, providers must provide clock hour documentation to participants for seven years following the course.
Clock hour providers will give participants specific instructions regarding the need to retain clock hour documentation.
EDUCATORS
Clock hours serve several purposes for educators:
- Expanding your own knowledge of professional topics
- Obtaining and renewing a certificate
- Salary advancement (Note: salary advancement through clock hours is not overseen by PESB)
Flexibility and access
The board has adopted provisions for flexibility and access for educators across our state.
- The minimum time for which a clock hour course may be offered is one hour. (181-85-030)
- Continuing education units (CEUs) from accredited colleges or universities, whether in-state or out-of-state, are accepted as clock hours. Other non-credit bearing units, such as Professional Development Units (PDUs), are also accepted. Credits from these same institutions are accepted. (181-85-025)
- All educators who hold specific Department of Health (DOH) licenses, not just educational staff associates (ESAs), can use hours that satisfy the DOH licensure requirements as clock hours for continuing education. (181-85-077)
- Continuing education hours (STARS hours) from the Washington Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) are accepted as clock hours. (181-85-025)
Professional growth plans (PGPs)
Professional Growth Plans (PGPs) are job-embedded, self-directed professional development. With a PGP, teachers, administrators, paraeducators, and ESAs set their own goals, align them to certification standards, design an action plan, and collect evidence documenting growth towards achieving their goals. Educators then reflect on the process.
There is no cost to an educator for a PGP. One PGP may be completed per year and each PGP is worth 25 clock hours.
Obtaining clock hours from National Board Certification and renewal
Educators can receive clock hours for National Board Certification and renewal. The exact number of clock hours will depend on when the certificate was received or renewed.
Click here for more information on obtaining clock hours for National Board Certification.
Your records
Educators must retain their own records of continuing education hours for any audit conducted by OSPI. Intentional misrepresentation subjects the holder to revocation of their certificate. Educators retain records to address possible disputes, and for verification for a current or prospective employer. (181-85-085)
Documents to retain include:
- Clock hour forms
- College and university transcripts
- Official correspondence from clock hour providers verifying completion of clock hours
- Professional Growth Plan (PGP) documents including plans, required signatures, and evidence collected. (181-85-107)
Documents must be retained by the educator for one year after the lapse date of the certificate, or until audited by OSPI, whichever is earlier. (181-85-108, 181-85-109)
Questions
If you have questions about clock hours, please contact us at clockhoursPESB@k12.wa.us.
