Becoming an educator

All educators must receive a residency teacher certificate to teach in Washington State. There are several paths to receiving certification, depending on your personal experience. Certification is the first step to teaching in Washington. Discover which route to teaching is right for you (image).

Traditional route

• A traditional route to teaching is generally for individuals who would like to complete their teacher preparation program as part of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education. Find an approved teacher preparation program to begin your journey.

Alternative route

• Washington State offers alternative routes to teacher certification, residency programs where candidates work in schools while earning their certification. Alternative routes are designed for individuals who hold an associate’s degree or higher. Candidates are often career changers or individuals who already work in education and are ready to transition into a full time teacher position. Programs recognize your established career by offering efficient, convenient, affordable, and pragmatic alternate routes to earning a teaching certificate. Learn more about alternative routes to teaching.

High school teacher academies

• Many of Washington’s finest teachers felt their vocational calling years before they actually enrolled in a teacher certification program. Washington recognizes this calling with the Recruiting Washington Teachers (RWT) program aimed to “grow our own” diverse group of future teachers who more closely reflect the population of today’s children and youth. RWT grant funding supports the recruitment and preparation of a diverse group of high school students for future careers as educators in teacher shortage areas. Learn more about RWT.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

A CTE certificate is ideal for specialization or for educators who come from business and industry backgrounds. There are two routes available to earn a CTE certificate:

• CTE college and university route – This route includes a full teacher preparation program, and leads to both an initial CTE certificate and a residency teacher certificate. This route requires one year of industry experience (2,000 hours) in the occupational area. Learn more about this route.
• CTE business and industry route – This route is for people coming from a business and industry background who are interested in using their skills to teach in their area of business and industry expertise. This route requires three years of industry experience (6,000 hours) in the occupational area. Learn more about this route.

What tests can I expect to take?

All individuals hoping to become certified teachers in Washington must meet the testing requirements.

• WEST-B and WEST-E/NES – These are content knowledge assessments required prior to being certified to teach in a particular subject area. Learn more about the WEST-B or the WEST-E/NES.

Learn more about testing and assessments.

Fingerprinting, background check, and character and fitness supplement

Washington will not issue a teaching certificate until completion of a background check and fingerprinting.

In addition, at the time you apply for a certificate, you will be asked to fill out the character and fitness supplement, which asks about your legal history and other factors. You will also be asked to submit fingerprints for a background check by the state patrol and FBI.

See OSPI’s page on fingerprinting and background checks for more information.

There are a variety of diverse roles within the school system that don’t necessarily involve teaching in front of a classroom, but still play a part in fostering achievement in a student’s education. You can become certified to be an education staff associate.

Educational Staff Associate (ESA) certificates in Washington include:

• School behavior analyst
• School counselor
• School psychologist
• School occupational therapist
• School orientation and mobility specialist
• School physical therapist
• School nurse
• School speech-language pathologist or audiologist
• School social worker

Learn more

• Becoming certified
• Individual ESA certificates

Professional transitions to public schools ESA course

The Professional Transitions to Public Schools course is required for initial ESA certificates for school nurses, school occupational therapists (OTs), school physical therapists (PTs), school social workers, school speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or audiologists, and school behavior analysts. An individual who meets all other certification requirements, but has not yet provided verification of this ESA course, or out-of-state program completion, or three years experience, will be issued a temporary permit valid for one year allowing them to serve in the role. See a list of approved courses by role, below.

All ESA roles

*Attention course participants: Register early, as courses often fill up quickly. Attendees MUST register prior to the first day of the course.

Behavior analyst

School nurse

OT, PT, SLP or audiologist

**These courses are open for this specific provider’s program enrolled students only and are not open to people outside of the program.

Social worker

**These courses are open for this specific provider’s program enrolled students only and are not open to people outside of the program.

Administrators in the Washington education system include principal, program administrator, CTE director, and superintendent.

• Learn more about becoming certified in one of these career opportunities.

Paraeducators provide the majority of instruction in programs designed by the Legislature to reduce the opportunity gap.

The Paraeducator Certificate Program ensures statewide professional standards and training for paraeducators so they are equipped to support diverse student learning.

• Learn about the new employment requirements and training

Additionally, Washington paraeducators have access to Apprenticeship in Education programs, which provide a pathway to an Associate’s Degree for classified staff members who work in their normal position in their school district while taking college courses at a 50% discount to complete their degree.

• Learn about Apprenticeship in Education programs

Washington’s geographical and cultural diversity often surprises newcomers and residents alike. Known as the Evergreen State, our landscape encompasses deserts, grasslands as well as forests and mountains. Our students are equally diverse, a dynamic population who is ready to grow intellectually and emotionally. Want to teach in Washington? It’s likely your certificate will qualify towards our teacher certificate.

• Learn more about out-of-state license transfers.

In accordance with HB1009, educators who identify themselves as military servicemembers or military spouses receive expedited certificate processing once their application is completed.

Applications are completed through the E-Certification system.

Upon completing your application, contact the OSPI Professional Certification Office at 360-725-6400 for expedited processing.