Superintendent

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

Washington Offers Two Types of Superintendent Certificates

• Initial certificate is the first-tier, full credential for new superintendents.
• Professional certificate is a second-tier, full credential for superintendents who hold a valid Initial certificate in the Superintendent role. 

Certification for Superintendent Positions

This certification is for district-level leadership in the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent roles, and there are no restrictions on the number of times the Initial Superintendent certificate may be issued. Certifications for the Superintendent roles are not required by the state of Washington, but may be required by a school district as part of their hiring standards.

Initial Superintendent

In-State Applicant

This application is for educators who have completed their administrator preparation program (Superintendent) and have been recommended for their certificate by a Washington state-approved administrator program.

Institution Approval Required

 You will NOT be able to apply for this certificate until your institution initiates it. 

Requirements Verified by Program

• Hold or have held a regular Teacher, Educational Staff Associate, Principal, or Program Administrator certificate
• Complete a master's degree
• Complete a state-approved administrator preparation program
• Submit fingerprints for a background check if you do not already have a valid Washington certificate on record

Out-of-State Applicant

This application is for administrators who have completed an out-of-state preparation program through an accredited institution or who hold or have held a full teaching certificate in another state with at least three years of out-of-state or out-of-country teaching experience.

Requirements

• Complete a master's degree (must submit official transcripts showing degree conferral)
• Must hold or have held a valid regular Teaching, Educational Staff Associate, Principal, or Program Administrator certificate
• Complete of one of the following options:
  • Option 1: Complete a state-approved superintendent preparation program, submit Administrator Program Completion Verification Form-4001E
  • Option 2: Three years of full-time experience and a copy of an out-of-state superintendent certificate, submit Experience Verification Form-4020F-1
  • Submit fingerprints for a background check if you do not already have a valid Washington certificate on record

Professional Superintendent

This application is for Administrators who qualify to upgrade their Initial Superintendent certificate to the second-tier Professional Superintendent certificate. 

No Limit on Reissuance

There are no restrictions on how many times the Initial Superintendent certificate may be issued. Initial Superintendent certificate holders are not required to upgrade to the second-tier Professional Superintendent certificate. However, if you wish to pursue the second-tier certificate, you can apply once you have met the requirements to upgrade.

Requirements

• Complete 180 days of experience as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or deputy superintendent, 30 days of which need to be with the same school district (Professional Experience Verification Form 4020F)
• Complete one of the following options:
  • Option 1: Complete 60 quarter hours (40 semester hours) of graduate-level study in education, completed after the bachelor's degree 
  • Option 2: hold a doctorate in education
• 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.
• Submit fingerprints for a background check if you do not already have a valid Washington certificate on record