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 (review 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

• Hold or have held a one-year CTE OIS or CTE Counselor certificate
• Convert the certificate to the new Initial Career Guidance Specialist certificate
• Submit fingerprints for a background check if you do not already have a valid Washington certificate on record
• Submit Initial/Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist Application Form 4073 with processing fee.

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

• Completed all requirements for the Initial CTE certificate

• 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.

• 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 (Continuing Teacher/Coordination of Experience Verification Form 4076F)

• Attest that you have completed  a course or coursework on issues of abuse and emotional or behavioral distress in students
  • Enter this requirement into your E-Certification account under Clock Hours or submit the Issues of Abuse Course Verification Form 4020G.

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 (Continuing Teacher/Coordination of Experience Verification Form 4076F).

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

• Hold or have held a three- or five-year CTE OIS or CTE Counselor certificate
• Completed 150 continuing education credit hours since the issuance of the initial certificate
• Submit fingerprints for a background check if you do not already have a valid Washington certificate on record
• Submit Initial/Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist Application Form 4073 with processing fee.

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

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

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.