CTE Career Guidance Specialist

This page explains how to apply for your first CTE Career Guidance Specialist certificate in Washington state. It covers both the Initial and Continuing certificates, who qualifies for each, and the requirements you must meet.

Washington Offers Two Types of CTE Career Guidance Specialist Certificates 

• Initial CTE Career Guidance Specialist certificate is the first-tier credential for CTE Educators who hold a one-year Occupational Information Specialist (OIS) or CTE Counselor certificate. 
• Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist certificate is the second-tier credential for CTE Educators who hold a three-or five-year Occupational Information Specialist (OIS) or CTE Counselor certificate. 

No Current Programs 

If you do not hold or have ever held a one-, three-, or five-year CTE OIS or CTE Counselor certificate, there are currently no programs offered in Washington to gain this certificate, and no out-of-state programs have been approved by the Professional Educator Standards Board.

Eligibility for OIS and CTE Counselors

Career and Technical Educators with an Occupational Information Specialist (OIS) or CTE Counselor certificate issued before July 1, 2018, will be considered to have met the requirements to obtain a CTE Career Guidance Specialist 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.

Initial CTE Career Guidance Specialist

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

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 certificate is not already on record
• Submit paper application with fee (Initial/Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist Application - Form 4073)

Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist 

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

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 (Initial/Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist Application - Form 4073)