Certification response times may be temporarily delayed over the next several weeks due to staffing changes and scheduled closures. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Certification Office Contacts & Resources page.
Certification Department
360-725-6400
Additional Contact & Resources
This page provides guidance for educators applying for certification in Washington for the first time. Certification pathways are based on your role and how you completed your preparation program, including in-state, out-of-state, and international pathways.
The sections below outline certification options for teachers, career and technical educators (CTE), administrators, educational staff associates (ESAs), educational interpreters, paraeducators, and special categories. Review the role-specific pages for detailed requirements and application steps.
If you are currently completing a program, please check with the certification officer at your institution to make certain the appropriate steps have been completed before applying for the Classroom Teacher or Student Teaching certificate.
Select this option if any one of the following applies to you:
Completed a teacher preparation program in Washington or any other state.
Hold or previously held a full teaching certificate in another state and have at least three years of teaching experience outside Washington.
Held a second-tier certificate from an approved state.
Are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
Select this if you are currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program and are starting student teaching.
Select this if you are a military-affiliated personnel or spouse and have had a Permanent Change of Station.
Select this if you completed your degree(s) and/or a teacher preparation program at an institution in a country outside of the United States.
Standard certificate you may apply for if you have completed a sovereign tribal government’s language/culture teacher certification program.
Select this option if any one of the following apply to you:
Select this if you hold or have held a one-, three-, or five-year CTE Occupational Information Specialist or Counselor certificate.
Select this for CTE Director certification information.
If you are currently completing a program, please check with the certification officer at your institution to make certain the appropriate steps have been completed before applying for any of the following certificates.
Select this option if any one of the following apply to you:
Select this option if any one of the following apply to you:
The Residency ESA certificate is the first-tier full certificate, and the Professional ESA certificate is the second-tier full certificate issued in the state of Washington for the roles below. Select the ESA role to learn more about the certification.
If you have completed a Washington state program for the school counselor or school psychologist role, you must check with your institution for the next steps in your application process.
The Initial ESA certificate is the first-tier full certificate, and the Professional ESA certificate is the second-tier full certificate issued in the state of Washington for the roles below.
Select this if you completed your degree(s) and/or a preparation program specific to serving in the ESA role in PK–12 schools (ages birth to eighteen years) through an institution outside of the United States.
The Educational Interpreter certificate authorizes service in the role of educational interpreter for the deaf. The Initial Educational Interpreter certificate is the first-tier full certificate, and the Professional Educational Interpreter certificate is the second-tier full certificate issued in the state of Washington. Select this to learn more about the Educational Interpreter certification.
Select this if you have completed the Fundamental Course of Study and additional required professional development for first-time paraeducator certification, or if you are a paraeducator who is currently working toward meeting requirements for the Subject Matter or Advanced Paraeducator certification.
Select this if you have completed all your state of Washington program requirements and have been recommended for certification by your institution.
Select this if you are student teaching and your employer needs you to substitute for your mentor teacher in their absence.
Select this if you are student teaching and your employer needs you to substitute for your mentor teacher in their absence.
Select this if you have completed your state of Washington administrator program requirements and have been recommended for certification by your institution.
This certificate is available to applicants who meet full certification requirements for the specific ESA roles.
Select this if you are working with an employer that wants to employ you based on experience and expertise, but you do not qualify for a full teaching certificate.
Select this if you are working with a state of Washington school district or skill center that wants to hire you for a position based upon your experience and expertise in a specific specialty area.
Select this if you are working with a Washington employer and have completed a bachelor's degree but have not yet completed your principal preparation program and master's degree.
Select this option if both of the following apply to you:
Select this if you are working with an employer that wants to hire you based on your experience and expertise in the role of educational interpreter for the deaf, but you do not qualify for the full Initial Educational Interpreter certificate.