Teacher Assessments

Washington has two testing requirements: basic skills and content knowledge area testing. 

If you are an out-of-state certificated educator who is seeking certification in Washington, the testing requirements must be successfully completed within one calendar year of issuance of the Residency Teacher First Issue (FI) temporary permit, or your passing score from your state's teacher certification exam may be used to meet Washington's basic skills or content knowledge test requirement. If you have documentation that clearly shows you passed the exam, you may email, fax, or mail a copy of those results to the Professional Certification Department at OSPI.

Basic Skills Test Requirement

Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic (WEST-B)

The applicant must successfully complete each subtest for reading, writing, and mathematics for the WEST-B or any approved alternative. The subtests can be mixed and matched with any of the acceptable basic skills tests. 

Content Knowledge Test Requirement

Washington Educator Skills Tests-Endorsements (WEST-E)/ National Evaluation Series (NES)

The following endorsements require completion of the WEST-E/NES or approved alternative tests:

*Please see additional notes below, as additional requirements may exist for the desired endorsement area(s). 

Additional Requirements by Endorsement

*Bilingual Education

Please note that individuals who hold an ELL endorsement may add the Bilingual Education endorsement via testing only. In addition to successfully completing the Bilingual Education WEST-E test, applicants must complete one of the following assessments:  

• The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in a world language (other than English)
  • Score of Advanced-Low or higher. Please visit the ACTFL Language Testing International site for more information.  
• Avant STAMP 4S or 3S 
  • Score of 7 or higher on all sections. Please visit the Global Seal of Biliteracy STAMP 4S/3S Testing page for additional information. 
• Avant STAMP WS
  • Score of 7 or higher on both parts. Please visit the Global Seal of Biliteracy STAMP WS Testing page for further information.  
• ALTA Speaking/Listening and Writing Assessment
  • ILR score of 2 or higher. Please visit the Global Seal of Biliteracy ALTA Testing page for more information.  

Please see the Dual Endorsement page for information on how to meet the requirements for the Bilingual Education endorsement.

*Deaf Education with ASL Proficiency

Applicant must hold or meet requirements for the deaf education endorsement and demonstrate ASL proficiency in one of the following ways: 

• Option 1: Complete the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) at 3+ or higher 
• Option 2: Hold American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) certification (requires ASLPI at 3+ or higher). 

*English Language Learner (ELL)

Educators who hold the Bilingual Education endorsement may add the ELL endorsement via Test Only. Please see the Dual Endorsement page for information on meeting the requirements to obtain the ELL endorsement.

*Science

Educators must hold a Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, or Physics endorsement before adding the General Science endorsement via Test Only. Please see the Dual Endorsement page for information on meeting the requirements to obtain the General Science endorsement.

*World Languages

 In addition to successfully completing the designated world languages WEST-E test above, applicants must also complete one of the following assessments: 

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in the designated world language

• Score of Advanced-Low or higher. Please visit the ACTFL Language Testing International site for more information.

Avant STAMP 4S or 3S

• Score of 7 or higher on all sections. Please visit the Global Seal of Biliteracy Avant STAMP 4S/3S Testing page for more information. 

Avant STAMP WS

• Score of 7 or higher. Please visit the Global Seal of Biliteracy Avant STAMP WS Testing page for more information.

ALTA Speaking/Listening and Writing Assessment

• ILR score of 2 or higher. Please visit the Global Seal of Biliteracy ALTA Testing page for more information. 

Additional Language-Specific Requirements

World Languages-Arabic: In addition to the designated world language WEST-E test, applicants for Arabic must complete one of the following options:  

• Option 1: The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Arabic with a score of Advanced-Low or higher.
  • Please visit the ACTFL Language Testing International site for more information. 
• Option 2: Avant Arabic Proficiency Test (APT) with a score of 7 or higher on all four parts.
  • Please visit the Global Seal of Biliteracy APT Testing pagefor more information.  

World Languages-American Sign Language: Individuals must meet one of the following options:  

• Option 1: Hold American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) Certification  
• Option 2: Complete the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview Assessment (ASLPI) with a Proficiency level of 3+ or above, and the Designated World Language WEST-E test 100. 

World Languages-Latin: ACTFL does not administer tests for Latin. For the Latin world language endorsement, a candidate must take the new WEST-E: DWL and the WEST-E: Latin exam. Please visit the Language Testing International site for more information. 

Alternative Tests

In Place of the WEST-B

Candidates from outside the state may submit an official score report verifying they have taken one of the following:

• CBEST-used in California and Oregon)
• NES Essential Academic Skills Test-National)
• Praxis I-See acceptable Praxis I exams
• National Boards-Individuals who hold a valid National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certificate are exempt from the WEST-B.
• Equivalent out-of-state certificate-Individuals who hold an equivalent second-tier educator certificate from another state approved by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) are exempt from the WEST-B.
  • Oregon CTL or PTL issued since January 1999 (accepted until 7/1/2017)
  • Wisconsin Master's Educator License
  • Ohio five-year Professional Teaching License
• ACT and SAT
• Additional PESB Equivalent Tests

In Place of the WEST-E/NES

Candidates from outside the state may submit an official score report verifying they have taken one of the following:

• Alternative content knowledge test systems-Please visit the PESB Equivalent Tests page for details.
  • Please Note: Even if a test is listed on this page, it does not guarantee that all test versions and codes, subject and grade level areas will be accepted.
• National Boards-Individuals who hold a valid NBPTS certificate in a subject area or grade level comparable to one of the Washington endorsement areas are exempt from testing requirements in that area.
  • Please see the National Board section on the PESB Endorsements page. 

WEST-B, WEST-E, and NES Test Information and Registration

• Washington Educator Skills Tests site
• Professional Educator Standards Board Educator Assessment page

Score Reporting

• If you are submitting scores for the WEST-B, use report code #399 to have your test score sent to OSPI electronically. 

• If you took a Pearson-administered assessment in another state and would like to have your test results reported to the OSPI electronically, you can complete and submit an Out-of-State Score Reporting Request Form. Mail the form and required payment directly to Pearson at the address on the form. Do not mail the form to OSPI.