Foreign Trained Applicants Teacher Certification

Foreign-trained applicants who completed a program in another country must submit documentation verifying the equivalency of their program, as demonstrated by both the degree and program requirements below:

Foreign–Trained Teacher Requirements

Degree Requirement

Documentation verifying the equivalency of their degree, as demonstrated by either:

• A transcript evaluation performed by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, the Academic and Credential Records Evaluation and Verification Services, Association of International Credential Evaluators, INC., GEO Credential Services or Institution of Foreign Credential Services. * 
  OR
• A transcript from an accredited U.S. college or university indicating acceptance of your degree as equivalent to theirs.

Program Requirement

Foreign-trained applicants who completed a program in another country must submit documentation verifying the equivalency of their program, as demonstrated by either:

• Form 4030 completed and signed by a representative from the college/university where you completed your training.
  OR
• If unable to obtain Form 4030, submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation review performed by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, the Academic and Credential Records Evaluation and Verification Services, Association of International Credential Evaluators, INC., or Institution of Foreign Credential Services. * 
  OR
• A copy of a full, regular teaching certificate issued by another state (valid or expired) and three years of out-of-state teaching experience (Form 4020F-1). 

*Note: A course-by-course evaluation may serve to verify both degree and program equivalency requirements. A document-by-document evaluation may meet the degree requirement, and a course-by-course evaluation may meet the degree and program requirements.

Additional Requirements

• Must take a basic skills test (WEST-B or a PESB-approved alternative).
• Must pass a content area test for each endorsement sought (WEST-E or PESB-approved alternative). May submit copies of score reports for review. See Teacher Testing.
• Submission of fingerprints for a background check is required if a valid certificate is not already on record

*Transcript Evaluation Note: Transcripts submitted from all U.S. Territories DO NOT require a transcript evaluation. Transcripts submitted from Canada may not require a transcript evaluation. 

Foreign–Trained ESA Applicant Requirements

Foreign-Trained ESA Applicants

Applicants who completed the required degree outside of the United States must submit documentation verifying the equivalency of the required degree in addition to other requirements for the ESA certificate in the respective role.

Degree Requirement

Documentation verifying the equivalency of their degree, as demonstrated by either:

• A transcript evaluation performed by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, the Academic and Credential Records Evaluation and Verification Services, Association of International Credential Evaluators, INC., GEO Credential Services or Institution of Foreign Credential Services.
  OR

• A transcript from an accredited U.S. college or university indicating acceptance of your degree as equivalent to theirs

Program Requirement

Foreign-trained applicants who completed a preparation program specific to the ESA role for serving in PK–12 schools (ages birth to eighteen years) outside the United States may submit documentation verifying the equivalency of their program, as demonstrated by either:

• Form 4030 completed and signed by a representative from the institution where you completed your preparation program (this would not be a degree-only program).
  OR
• Form 4098E (school counselor or school psychologist role) completed and signed by a representative from the institution where you completed your preparation program (this would not be a degree-only program).
  OR
• Form 4099E (school behavior analyst, school nurse, school occupational therapist, school orientation and mobility specialist, school physical therapist, school social worker, school speech-language pathologist, or audiologist) completed and signed by a representative from the institution where you completed your preparation program* (this would not be a degree-only program).
  OR
• Form 4020F-1 Verifying three or more years of experience in the role outside of Washington State. If an educational certificate was required for serving in the role in PK–12 schools, applicants must also submit a copy of the certificate.

*Note: Those with the appropriate degree equivalent but not a preparation program or appropriate out-of-country/state experience specific to PK–12 school service may be required to complete a Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board-approved ESA course within one year of application submission (school behavior analyst, school nurse, school occupational therapist, school orientation and mobility specialist, school physical therapist, school social worker, and school speech language pathologist or audiologist roles only. More information is available on the ESA First-Time Applicant page. 

Additional Requirements

• See ESA First-Time Applicant page for additional role-specific requirements. 

*Transcript Evaluation Note: Transcripts submitted from U.S. Territories DO NOT require a transcript evaluation. Transcripts submitted from Canada may not require a transcript evaluation. 

Apply

If you have all the necessary documentation to apply for this certificate, log in to: E-Certification