Alternative routes to teacher certification

Route 1 is designed for district staff with an associate’s degree (or equivalent in credit hours).

Candidates enroll in a program for approximately two years to complete both their bachelor’s degree and certification requirements, including a one-year residency in the school district where they work.

Entry requirements

• Associate’s degree
• Employment at a school district when applying for a program
• District or building validation of qualifications, including one year of student interaction and leadership
• Meet the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements, including fingerprinting, a background check, and character references
• One attempt of the statewide basic skills assessment

Route 2 is designed for district staff with bachelor’s degrees.

Candidates enroll in a program for one to two years to prepare for certification, including intensive coursework and a one-year residency and student teaching in the school district where they work.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Employment at a school district when applying for a program
• District or building validation of qualifications, including one year of student interaction and leadership
• Meet the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements, including fingerprinting, a background check, and character references
• One attempt of the statewide basic skills assessment, and one attempt of the subject matter assessment before student teaching begins

Route 3 is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree, who are not employed in the district at the time of application.

Candidates enroll in a program for one to two years to prepare for certification, including intensive coursework and a one-year residency and student teaching in a school district.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• External validation of qualifications, such as reference letters and letters of support from previous employers. This includes demonstrated experience with students or children.
• Meet the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements, including fingerprinting and a background check
• One attempt of the statewide basic skills assessment, and one attempt of the subject matter assessment before student teaching begins

Route 4 is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree, who are employed in the district with a limited certificate.

Candidates enroll in a program for approximately one year to prepare for certification, including intensive coursework and a one-year residency in the school district where they work as a teacher with a limited certificate.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Employment at a school district with a limited certificate, such as a conditional or emergency substitute certificate, when applying for a program
• External validation of qualifications, such as reference letters and letters of support from previous employers. This includes demonstrated experience with students or children.
• Meet the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements, including fingerprinting, a background check, and character references
• One attempt of the statewide basic skills assessment, and one attempt of the subject matter assessment before student teaching begins

Each alternative route program has its own application process and entry requirements, in addition to the statewide requirements. Contact programs directly to learn more.

Eligible veterans or national guard members who meet an alternative route program’s entry requirements will be given admission preference.

Each provider sets the tuition for its alternative route program. Contact the programs directly to learn more.

Some providers are recipients of the Alternative Routes Block Grant (ARBG), which provides funding to programs and their district partners to support candidates. Contact awarded programs directly to learn more. Find additional resources for financial assistance at TeachWA.org.