Conditional ESA

This application is available for school counselor, school psychologist,school behavior analyst, school social worker, school nurse, school speech-language pathologist or audiologist, and school orientation and mobility specialist applicants who are working with an employer wanting to hire them based on their experience and expertise in a particular educational staff associate (ESA) area. The Conditional ESA Certificate is valid for two years or less.

This limited certificate is not available for full certificate holders.

This certificate must be initiated by an employer in Washington through the submission of a district request. Once the district request has been submitted, log into your E-Certification account to submit the application.

Requirements

For the School Counselor Applicant

• The candidate shall hold a bachelor's degree. Must submit official transcripts verifying degree
• The candidate must be enrolled in a state-approved school counselor preparation program, but not yet qualify for the Residency ESA Certificate (Form 4026E-1)
• Submission of fingerprints for a background check is required, if a valid certificate is not already on record

Reissue - A Conditional ESA Certificate for the role of school counselor may be reissued upon verification of continued enrollment in a state-approved school counselor preparation program (Form 4026E-1) and completion of 50 clock hours or equivalent course work since the issuance of the most recent Conditional ESA Certificate for the role, as verified by the employer. The course work must be designed to support the individual's knowledge or skills to better assist students in meeting state learning goals.

For the School Psychologist Applicant

• The candidate shall hold a bachelor's degree. Must submit official transcripts verifying degree
• The candidate shall have completed all required course work for a master's or education specialist degree in psychology/school psychology
• The candidate shall be enrolled in and have substantially completed a state-approved school psychologist preparation program (Form 4026E-1)
• The candidate shall be participating in the required internship
• Submission of fingerprints for a background check is required if a valid certificate is not already on record

Reissue - A Conditional ESA Certificate for the role of school psychologist may be reissued upon verification the candidate continues to meet all conditions for the first issuance of the certificate (Form 4026E-1) and completion of 50 clock hours or equivalent course work since the issuance of the most recent Conditional ESA Certificate for the role, as verified by the employer. The course work must be designed to support the individual's knowledge or skills to better assist students in meeting state learning goals.

For the School Behavior Analyst Applicant

Applicants must meet at least one of the following qualification options:

Option A- Hold a valid Assistant Behavior Analyst License through the Washington State Department of Health. The district, educational service district, or approved private school must provide a supervisor who meets the Department of Health requirements for a supervisor of assistant behavior analysts; OR

Option B- Hold a valid Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCABA) Certificate from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). The district, educational service district, or approved private school must provide a supervisor who meets the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) requirements for a supervisor of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCABA); OR

Option C- Hold a bachelor's degree and be enrolled in, or have completed, the coursework requirements for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Certificate from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), as verified by the institution providing the BACB Verified Course Sequence FORM 4025E-1

Reissue- The Conditional Certificate may be reissued upon request from the employing local school district, approved private school, or educational service district, provided all conditions for the issuance of the certificate are met. The requesting school district, approved private school, or educational service district shall verify that the fifty continuing education credit hours earned as a requirement for reissuance of the certificate are designed to support the individual's professional growth, and enhance the individual's knowledge or skills to better assist students in meeting state learning goals. A Conditional ESA Certificate for the role of school behavior analyst may be issued twice.

For the School Social Worker Applicant

• The candidate shall hold a bachelor's degree. Must submit official transcripts verifying degree
• The candidate shall be enrolled in a master's degree program for social work or social welfare (Form 4025E-1)
• Submission of fingerprints for a background check is required if a valid certificate is not already on record

Reissue - A Conditional ESA Certificate for the role of school social worker may be reissued upon verification of continued enrollment in a master's degree program for social work or social welfare (Form 4025E-1) and completion of 50 clock hours or equivalent course work since the issuance of the most recent Conditional ESA Certificate for the role, as verified by the employer. The course work must be designed to support the individual's knowledge or skills to better assist students in meeting state learning goals.

For the School Nurse Applicant

• The candidate must possess a state of Washington Registered Nurse License but does NOT yet hold a bachelor's degree or higher in nursing
• Submission of fingerprints for a background check is required if a valid certificate is not already on record

Reissue - A Conditional Certificate for the role of school nurse may be reissued for two years or less upon submission of a new application and evidence that requirements continue to be met, and completion of 50 clock hours or equivalent of course work since the issuance of the most recent Conditional ESA Certificate for the role, as verified by the employer. The course work must be designed to support the individual's knowledge or skills to better assist students in meeting state learning goals.

For the School Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist Applicant

• The candidate must have completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Must submit official transcripts verifying degree
• Submission of fingerprints for a background check is required if a valid certificate is not already on record

First Reissue - A Conditional ESA Certificate for the role of school speech-language pathologist or audiologist may be reissued if the candidate is enrolled in a master's degree program leading to an Initial ESA Certificate for the role (Form 4025E-1) and upon completion of 50 clock hours or equivalent course work since the issuance of the most recent Conditional ESA Certificate for the role, as verified by the employer. The course work must be designed to support the individual's knowledge or skills to better assist students in meeting state learning goals.

Second Reissue - A Conditional ESA Certificate for the role of school speech-language pathologist or audiologist may be reissued a second and final time upon verification by the degree provider that the individual is completing satisfactory progress in a master's degree program resulting in issuance of an Initial ESA Certificate for the role of school speech-language pathologist or audiologist (Form 4025E-1), and upon completion of 50 clock hours or equivalent course work since the issuance of the most recent Conditional ESA Certificate for the role, as verified by the employer. The course work must be designed to support the individual's knowledge or skills to better assist students in meeting state learning goals.

For the School Orientation and Mobility Specialist Applicant

• Applicants must have completed all requirements for an approved national certificate, with the exceptions of the internship and the assessment, as verified by the institution providing the coursework for the national certificate. The approved national certificates are the Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) certificate from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) and the National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC) from the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB).  
• The school employer must ensure the candidate has access to a mentor who meets the requirements for an intern supervisor set by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) or the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB). 

Reissue- The Conditional Certificate for the School Orientation and Mobility Specialist role may be reissued once upon request from the employing school district, approved private school, or educational service district (ESD), provided all conditions for the issuance of the certificate are met. The requesting school district, approved private school, or ESD shall verify that the 50 continuing education credit hours earned as a requirement for reissuance of the certificate are designed to support the individual's professional growth, and enhance the individual's knowledge or skills to better assist students in meeting state learning goals. 

Apply

This application must be initiated by your sponsoring school district.

If you have all necessary documentation to apply for this certificate, log in to: E-Certification