Educator Clock Hour Information

To maintain their certification, educators are required by law to complete continuing education credits throughout their careers. These credits are offered through “clock hours,” which are units of credit assigned to educators at a professional development or training event. 

Renewal vs. Reinstatement

• My certificate is still valid:
  You are applying for renewal. Your clock hours must have been completed after the issue date of the certificate you are renewing. If the certificate was valid for less than five years, clock hours must have been completed within the five years before you apply.
• My certificate has expired:
  You are applying for reinstatement. You must submit documentation of completed clock hours or equivalent activities with your application for review by the Certification Department.

Clock Hour Requirements Overview

Please Note: Educators cannot use the same clock hours to satisfy multiple clock hour-specific requirements (STEM, Equity, Leadership, etc.).

Accepted Types of Hours 

Clock Hours or Equivalents

Courses offered by Approved Clock Hour Providers

• Sixty minutes of instructional time is the equivalent of 1 clock hour

College or university credit courses

• One quarter hour of college credit is the equivalent of 10 clock hours
• One semester hour of college credit is the equivalent of 15 clock hours

Instruction in coursework provided by a vocational-technical college

• Sixty minutes of instructional time is the equivalent of 1 clock hour

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or other noncredit-bearing units provided by an accredited institution of higher education

• Sixty minutes of instructional time is the equivalent of 1 clock hour

STARS hours issued by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

• Sixty minutes of instructional time is the equivalent of 1 clock hour

Department of Health License Hours

• Sixty minutes of instructional time is the equivalent of 1 clock hour

Activity-Based Continuing Education Credit Hours

Individuals are eligible for the continuing education credit hours described in this section for up to seven years following the completion date of the indicated activity (WAC 181-85-033). Documentation of completed continuing education credit hours must be done on OSPI In-Service Registration Forms. 

• Educator preparation program review team (Form 1128-13)
  • 25 equivalent clock hours for serving on an educator preparation program review team.
• External assessment for professional certification (Form 1128-5)
  • 150 equivalent clock hours
• First peoples' language, culture, and oral tribal traditions (Form 1128-4)
  • Documentation of clock hours for renewing the First Peoples' certificate
• Government-to-government relationships with federally recognized tribes
  • 5 equivalent clock hours for completing the professional learning. 
• Mentors and field experience supervisors (Form 1128-1)
  • 30 equivalent clock hours awarded for serving as a mentor or field experience supervisor.
• National board certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
• Paraeducator Fundamental Course of Study (Form 1128-10)
  • 28 equivalent clock hours for completing the paraeducator FCS.
• Paraeducator Subject Matter coursework certificates (Form 1128-11)
  • 20 equivalent clock hours for completing the coursework for the English Language Learner or Special Education Paraeducator Subject Matter certificate. 
• Professional Educator Advisory Board (PEAB) Member (Form 1128-12)
  • 10 equivalent clock hours for serving on an educator preparation program's PEAB.
• Professional Growth Plan (PGP) (Form 1128-8) 
  • A PGP based on work educators have completed may be submitted for 25 clock hours 
• Professional growth team (Form 1126-1)
  • 3 equivalent clock hours awarded for collaboration as a member of a colleague's PGP
• School accreditation site visit team (Form 1128-9)
  • 10 equivalent clock hours awarded for serving on a school accreditation site visit team.
• Scorers for the Washington ProTeach Portfolio assessment (Form 1128-7)
  • 10 equivalent clock hours awarded for one full scoring session during a calendar year.
  • 10 equivalent clock hours awarded for training as scorers for the Washington ProTeach Portfolio assessment.
• Scorers for the Washington teacher performance assessment (Form 1128-6)
  • 10 equivalent clock hours awarded for each four assessments scored.
  • 10 equivalent clock hours awarded for training as scorers for the Washington teacher performance assessment.

Acceptable Clock Hour Documentation

Clock hours and equivalents are not eligible unless there is acceptable documentation (WAC 181-85-107).

• OSPI in-service registration forms 
• Official transcripts or certificates of completion from an accredited college or university
• A letter or certificate of completion, achievement, or professional development documenting continuing education units (CEUs), credits, or clock hours (holders of a Department of Health License Only)
• *Pre-approved provider transcript
• pdEnroller Transcript
• Payment voucher issued by North Central Educational Service District (ESD 171)
  • A WA State Clock Hour In-Service Certification Form from the Archdiocese of Seattle.

*Pre-Approved Transcript Providers

If an approved clock hour provider (public school districts and accredited institutions only) wishes to use documentation other than the OSPI 1125 Form, please complete the request form to initiate the transcript approval process. Once the transcript is reviewed, the school district or institution will receive notification of approval, and a copy of the transcript will be kept on file with OSPI. If changes are made to the transcript, the organization should provide OSPI with an updated copy. 

Currently Approved Transcript Providers

• Auburn School District
• Battle Ground Public Schools
• Bethel School District
• Burlington-Edison School District
• Colville School District
• Dieringer School District
• Enumclaw School District
• Issaquah School District
• Kennewick School District
• Kiona-Benton City School District
• Mead School District
• Monroe School District
• Sedro-Woolley School District
• Selah School District
• Spokane Public Schools
• Walla Walla Public Schools
• White River School District