Here are the most-requested links and Web sites:

Teacher Certification Testing
• Overview

Basic Skills Testing
• WEST-B Test Selection, Dates, Sites, Registration
• WEST-B Study Guides
• CBEST Testing in California and Oregon
• PRAXIS I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)

Endorsement Testing
REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED Acceptance of a PRAXIS II test taken prior to 9/1/09 ends with certification applications postmarked 9/1/09 or later.
• WEST-E Test Selection, Dates, Sites, Registration
• WEST-E Study Guides

Regionally Accredited Colleges & Universities:
Accreditation by one of these bodies is the basis for recognition of credits and degrees:

• Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools, Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
• North Central Association of Colleges & Schools, Higher Learning Commission
• Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, Commission on Colleges
• Western Association of Schools & Colleges

Use at least two of these sources to confirm regional accreditation:
• Web U.S. Higher Education (alpha or by state)
• U.S. Department of Education
• Council for Higher Education Accreditation


Public Schools, Private Schools, Colleges, Libraries Lookup:
• U.S. Dept. of Education: National Center for Ed Statistics

Certification in Other States:
• Teaching Certification Requirements in Other States

Washington State Information:
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
• College Contacts at Washington Colleges & Universities
• Jobs in Washington

Click on your situation below to get the right Washington state teacher certification application:

Substitute Teaching:

• I have an Associate or Bachelor degree, have not started a college preparation program for teaching, and would like to be an Emergency Sub
  
• I am student teaching and would like to sub for my master teacher [click to email us with the name of your college]
  
• I have finished my college teacher preparation program, but my Residency certificate won't be processed by my Washington college for some time and I would like to be an Emergency Sub.
  
• I am from out-of-state, have a Bachelor degree, finished my teacher preparation work, and would like to apply for my lifetime Substitute Certificate.
  
• I have a Washington teacher certificate and would like to add the lifetime Substitute certificate (also keeps fingerprints on file for certification purposes if you anticipate a lapse in regular certification).
  
  
  Entry Level (Residency & Initial certification):
• I have certification in another state and want to apply for Washington teacher certification.
  
• I have a RESIDENCY teacher certificate with no expiration date, and it has been two calendar years since the issue date on my Residency certificate. Also, I have finished two consecutive years of successful service as a teacher with the same Washington school (exclude substitute teaching)
  since the issue date on my Residency certificate.
  
• My RESIDENCY teacher certificate is about to expire and I do not have two consecutive years of successful service as a teacher with the same Washington school (exclude substitute teaching) since the issue date on my Residency certificate.
  
• My RESIDENCY teacher certificate is about to expire, I already received my Residency Reissue, and I need more time to finish ProCert. [Click here to find your college ProCert contact so you can request a 2-year Residency renewal.]
  
• My RESIDENCY teacher certificate will expire in one year and I have confirmed with a Washington college that I am ineligible to enroll in ProCert. [Click to email us.]
  
• I submitted a complete assessment packet for National Boards by the September before my certificate expires and I would like a two-year RESIDENCY Renewal.
  
• My INITIAL teacher certificate is about to expire and I need to apply for my next certificate.
  
• My INITIAL teacher certificate expired and I want to teach again.
  
  
  Advanced Level (ProCert & Continuing certification):
• My INITIAL teacher certificate is about to expire and I need to apply for my next certificate.
  
• I need to know more about ProCert.
  
• I have a new National Board certificate and want to apply for PROCERT.
  
• My PROCERT teacher certificate needs renewal [apply as soon as you earn 150 clock hours in your current cycle to add five years to your current expiration date].
  
• My CONTINUING certificate needs renewal [apply as soon as you earn 150 clock hours in your current cycle to add five years to your current expiration date].
  
• My CONTINUING certificate is about to expire and I won't have enough clock hours. [Note: Can use only once in your career and voids highly qualfied standing.]
  
• My CONTINUING certificate expired and I need to reinstate my certificate.

Don't see your situation? e-mail us for answers

OSPI is creating a new online service.

See the Professional Development Assistant (PDA)
This is a great place to store your educational background and employment information, where it is always available and automatically feeds into electronic certification.

NOTE: Even though this submits electronically, you will still need to print, sign, and mail a hard copy of the application as instructed with all required payments and documentation to the ESD.

Two events trigger the need for fingerprints:

1. Applying for Washington certification when you do not hold another valid Washington educator's certificate.
2. Applying for employment at a school where you are not currently employed. Also, school districts may request fingerprinting at any time.

• To schedule electronic fingerprinting at ESD 105
  call (509) 575-2885 and ask for a fingerprint specialist. Prepare your hands well before your appointment to avoid lengthy resubmits.
  
• If you cannot come to ESD 105, then request an ink-and-roll card coded specifically for Washington State educators from a Washington school district or by clicking here. Please specify your mailing address.

Tip! Make a note of the date when you are printed. All Washington schools can access your print information for two years from the time your record is approved by the FBI.

Save money!

For OSPI certification purposes, “official” transcripts do not have to be in sealed envelopes. This is true even if the transcript states that it becomes unofficial if the envelope is opened. Transcripts must be on official paper and may not be photocopies or scanned images. OSPI will mail your transcripts back to you after processing an application so that you can recycle them for other uses. Note: School districts may have a different policy on sealed and unsealed transcripts for employment and salary placement purposes.

Click here to request college transcript information from
state colleges.

Note: If courses are taken and passed but you will not have a transcript in time for a June 30 deadline, then you should submit all of your application materials, and provide a letter from the professor on university stationery indicating that you have passed the course(s). The letter should include name of course, course number, passed or grade, number and type of credits, and date completed. Application, fee, and available documentation must be postmarked by June 30th. Your application will be held until the completed official transcript with credits is received. You should request an official transcript, showing this coursework, as soon as it is available, and send it to ESD 105.

What can you teach?
Be aware both the state and federal rules come into play.

STATE ENDORSEMENTS
Schools must honor rules on teacher assignments covered in
WAC 181.82.105 and WAC 181.82.110

• Add and Endorsement to an endorsed certificate
• See a chart showing Pathway I and Pathway II shortcuts
• View funding available for shortage areas.

FEDERAL HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Schools seek to hire & place teachers according to the No Child Left Behind definition of highly qualified teachers(HQT).

• Read about HQT
• Download forms and worksheets

Know your certificate number.
For your protection, social security numbers are no longer used to locate your records. Your certificate number will remain the same on all of your certificates, from substitute to superintendent. Here are tips from fellow educators:

• Hang a copy of your current certificate next to your desk.
• Write it in the white space on the back of your driver's license.

Keep your human resources department happy by immediately providing copies of newly-issued certificates and temporary permits. If you cannot find your certificate, click to order a replacement certificate. $15 for 4-6 week replacement; $35 for immediate replacement. If you need your certificate number to fill out the order ask us.

Know when your certificate expires, and what it takes to keep it valid.
Plan this out several years ahead so that you will have time to do what is needed.

Also helpful . . .
• Teacher Help Sheet
• Learn more about the Teacher Professional Certificate

Avoid getting second-hand advice. Big mistakes are made by listening to well-meaning friends and fellow educators because there are many types of certificates. Wrong information can be costly. E-mail us for support or view OSPI's Certification Handbook.

And the Number One Thing to Know About Certification...

It is ultimately the certificate holder’s responsibility to keep certificates current. Human resources, ESD and OSPI staff may try to assist, but the onus is on the educator to know expiration dates and to complete next steps in certification. You may not perform in your role without valid certification.