Initial/Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist Certificate

This is the first tier certificate that an educator can apply for if they have completed either the university route or the business and industry route program and hold the required experience.

If you do not hold or have ever held a one, three, or five year CTE Occupational Information Specialist (OIS) or one, three, or five year CTE Counselor, there are currently no programs offered in Washington to gain this certificate.

Initial CTE Career Guidance Specialist Requirements

Career and Technical Educators with a valid one-year occupational information specialist or CTE counselor certificate issued prior to July 1, 2018, may apply for the Initial CTE career guidance specialist certificate and will be considered to have met the requirements to obtain an initial CTE career guidance specialist certificate.

Initial

• Must hold or have held a CTE Counselor or CTE Occupational Specialist (OIS) Certificate
• Must convert the certificate to the new Initial Career Guidance Specialist Certificate by submitting the paper application (attach form 4073)

Initial Renewal (valid for 5 years)

• In order to renew the initial career and technical education career guidance certificate completion of at least ten quarter hours of college credit or one hundred continuing education credit hours or four annual professional growth plans since the issuance of the initial or renewed certificate.
• 15 continuing education credit hours must be related to the knowledge and skill areas WAC 181-77-081
• Complete paper application Form 4073

Expired Certificate Requirements:

• Must complete 100 continuing education credit hours or 4 annual PGPs within the previous five years from the date of the renewal application.
• Must provide proof of continuing education credits or 4 annual PGPs with renewal application.
• Complete paper application Form 4073

Clock Hour Note: Educators applying to renew an expired certificate must submit documentation of completed clock hours or equivalents to the Certification Department for review with their application. Educators cannot use the same clock hours to satisfy multiple clock hour-specific requirements (STEM, Equity, Leadership, etc.).

Continuing CTE Career Guidance Specialist Requirements

Career and Technical Educators with a valid three- or five-year occupational information specialist or CTE counselor, certificate issued prior to July 1, 2018, may apply for the Continuing CTE career guidance specialist certificate and will be considered to have met the requirements to obtain an initial CTE career guidance specialist certificate.

Continuing

• Must hold or have held a three- or five-year CTE counselor or CTE OIS certificate
• Must have 150 continuing education credit hours with verification. Clock hours must be entered into the PD section of your E-Cert account.
• House Bill 1426 (2021) issued new certificate renewal requirements beginning July 1, 2023.
• Complete paper application (attach form 4073)

Continuing Renewal (valid for 5 years)

• In order to renew the continuing career and technical education career guidance certificate completion of at least ten quarter hours of college credit or one hundred continuing education credit hours or four annual professional growth plans prior to the expiration date of the continuing certificate.
• 30 continuing education credit hours must be related to the knowledge and skill areas WAC 181-77-081
• House Bill 1426 (2021) issued new certificate renewal requirements beginning July 1, 2023.
• Complete paper application Form 4073

Expired Certificate Requirements:

• Must complete 100 continuing education credit hours or 4 annual PGPs within the previous five years from the date of the renewal application.
• Must provide proof of continuing education credits or 4 annual PGPs with renewal application.
• Must meet the House Bill 1426 (2021) issued new certificate renewal requirements listed above beginning July 1, 2023. 
• Complete paper application Form 4073

Clock Hour Note: Educators applying to renew an expired certificate must submit documentation of completed clock hours or equivalents to the Certification Department for review with their application. Educators cannot use the same clock hours to satisfy multiple clock hour-specific requirements (STEM, Equity, Leadership, etc.).