CTE Teacher and Director-Convert or Upgrade

Washington CTE Teachers and Directors can update their certification. This page outlines the requirements to upgrade to a higher-level certificate once the requirements are met, or to convert a certificate if it has expired or cannot be upgraded. 

Convert vs. Upgrade Guidance

Convert if BOTH apply:

• You hold or have held a CTE Occupational Information Specialist (OIS) or CTE Counselor certificate
• Meet additional requirements as needed (please review the information below) 

Upgrade if ONE of the following applies:

• You hold a valid certificate issued under current standards and have met the requirements to upgrade
• You hold an expired certificate issued under previous standards and qualify to upgrade 
• You are National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certified
• You hold or have held a second-tier certificate from an approved state (Reciprocity Information)
• You completed the Washington ProTeach Portfolio

Convert and Upgrade Options

Convert-CTE Occupational Information Specialist (OIS) or Counselor to Initial CTE Career Guidance Specialist

This is the first-tier certificate that an educator can apply for if they hold or have held a one-year CTE Occupational Information Specialist (OIS) or CTE Counselor certificate. 

Other Qualified Staff

The role of a career guidance specialist in a school can also be filled by other individuals, including ESA School Counselors, CTE Teachers, CTE Worksite Learning or Career Choices Teachers, and CTE Directors.

Requirements

• Must hold or have held a one-year CTE OIS or CTE Counselor certificate
• Must convert the certificate to the new Initial Career Guidance Specialist certificate
• Submission of fingerprints for a background check is required if a valid Washington certificate is not already on record
• Submit paper application with fee (Form 4073-Initial/Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist Application)

Upgrade-Initial to Continuing CTE Teacher

This is the second-tier certificate that an educator can apply for after holding an Initial CTE certificate and meeting the requirements below to upgrade their certificate.

Option 1 Requirements

• Must have completed all requirements for the Initial CTE certificate

• Must have completed 15 quarter hours or 150 clock hours of CTE educator training in the CTE-related field since the issuance of the Initial CTE certificate.

• Must provide documentation of two years of teaching/coordination in the CTE-related subject area with an authorized employer, e.g, school district or skills center (Form 4076F-CTE Continuing Teacher/Coordination of Experience Verification)

• Must attest to completion of a course or coursework on issues of abuse and emotional or behavioral distress in students 
  • This requirement may be entered into the educator's E-Certification account under "Clock Hours" or submit Form 4020G-Issues of Abuse Course Verification

Option 2 Requirements

• An educator who has earned or holds a valid National Board Professional Teacher certificate may use it to upgrade to the Continuing CTE certificate with documentation of two years of CTE teaching experience (Form 4076F-CTE Continuing Teacher/Coordination of Experience Verification).

Upgrade-Initial to Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist

This is the second-tier certificate that an educator can apply for if they hold or have held a three- or five-year CTE Occupational Information Specialist (OIS) or CTE Counselor certificate. 

Other Qualified Staff

The role of a career guidance specialist in a school can also be filled by other individuals, including ESA School Counselors, CTE Teachers, CTE Worksite Learning or Career Choices Teachers, and CTE Directors.

Requirements

• Must hold or have held a three- or five-year CTE OIS or CTE Counselor certificate
• Must have 150 continuing education credit hours completed since the issuance of the initial certificate
• Submission of fingerprints for a background check is required if a valid Washington certificate is not already on record
• Submit paper application with fee (Form 4073-Initial/Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist Application)

Upgrade-Initial to Continuing CTE Director

This is the second-tier certificate that an educator can apply for after holding an Initial CTE Director certificate and meeting the requirements below to upgrade their certificate.

Option 1 Requirements

• Must have completed all requirements for the Initial CTE Director certificate
• Must have completed 150 continuing education clock hours or 15 quarter credits since the issuance of the first Initial CTE Director certificate
• Must provide documentation of two years of CTE director experience with a Washington state authorized employer (i.e., school district or skills center (Form 4074F-Continuing CTE Director Experience Verification)

Option 2 Requirements

• An educator who has earned or holds a valid National Board Professional Teacher certificate may use it to upgrade to the Continuing CTE certificate.