How to Apply for a Certificate

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Certification Department
360-725-6400
Additional Contact & Resources

Welcome to the central application process navigation hub for educator certification in Washington state, explaining how educators apply through OSPI. To begin, review the page navigation below to identify the correct step in the application process based on your situation.

Step 1: Review Certificate Requirements

First-Time Certification

Select this for requirements and information on the various types of educator roles applicants can apply for if they have never held that type of certification before, including first-time teachers, career and technical educators (CTE), administrators, educational staff associates (ESA), paraeducators, and internationally trained teachers.

Reissue or Renew a Certificate

Select this for application options for already certified educators who need to either reissue their residency first issue certificate after completing the required experience in their role or renew their five-year certificate, including teachers, career and technical educators (CTE), administrators, educational staff associates (ESA), paraeducators, First Peoples’ language/culture certificate holders, emergency substitutes, and conditional certificate holders.

Substitute and Limited Certification

Select this for certification options that allow individuals who have not met complete educator certification requirements to serve in schools under specific conditions, such as a substitute, emergency substitute, conditional teacher, etc. These certificates are typically initiated by a school district or employer and are intended to help fill urgent staffing needs when a fully certified educator cannot be found.

Add an Endorsement or Upgrade a Certificate

Select this for information on certification pathways for educators already certified in Washington who want to move to a higher-tier certificate, convert a certificate to a different type, or add endorsements.

Step 2: Create an Educational Data System (EDS) Account

Please Note: Educators can skip this step if they already have an EDS account.

E-Certification Login and Help

Select this to create an account and learn about the E-Certification (eCert) System, Washington State’s online platform for managing educator certification through the Education Data System (EDS). eCert allows users to apply for, reissue, or renew various educator certificates, check application and certificate status, and download official certificate documents.

Step 3: Complete a Fingerprint and Background Check

Please Note: Educators can skip this step if they hold a valid Washington educator certificate or if results are on file within the last two years.

Requirements

Fingerprint and background checks are required by state law for:

New district employees and contractors with regularly unsupervised access to children
Applicants who do not possess a valid Washington certificate at the time of application

Fingerprints and Background Checks

Select this for information on fingerprinting and background checks for certification, including contact information, links to forms and resources, alternative fingerprinting options for applicants, information for private school applicants, and answers to frequently asked questions about the process. Washington State law requires fingerprinting and background checks for most applicants for educator certification and for school employees or contractors who will have regular, unsupervised access to children.

Step 4: Gather Necessary Documents and/or Complete Professional Development

Examples:

Official transcripts with degree conferral
Program and/or experience verification
Valid license (if applicable) and/or out-of-state certificate(s)

Certification Forms

Select this to view a list of downloadable forms educators in Washington state may need during the certification process.

Teacher Assessments

Select this for information about accepted out-of-state tests and Washington state basic skills and content knowledge area tests.

Continuing Education Clock Hours

Select this to learn more about Washington State’s requirements for continuing education that certified educators must complete to maintain their certification. The page provides information on approved clock-hour providers (such as public school districts and organizations approved annually by the Professional Educator Standards Board), guidance on using clock hours from STEM, Equity, Leadership, or Government-to-Government training toward renewal, and on how Department of Health license hours can count as clock hours.

Step 5: Log in to E-Certification to Apply

Go to My Applications
Select E-Certification
Select Apply for a Washington Credential Here

Apply Online: E-Certification Portal

Before Applying, Educators Should Know That

All documents must be in Portable Document Format (PDF)
eCert does not save progress
- Add/edit Education and Work History before starting or after submitting the application
- Have contact information of three references (non-related)
- Be prepared to pay application fee(s)

Professional Certification Fee Schedule

Select this to view a list of professional certification Fees applicants must pay for various educator certification services in Washington State. Fees are not refundable once an application is submitted.

Fees Non-refundable

Please review guidance and requirements carefully. Applications submitted before eligibility is met cannot be approved, and application fees are nonrefundable.

Application Processing Status

Select this for information on the review timeframe of educator certification applications.