Know when your certificate expires and what it takes to keep it valid. It is ultimately the certificate holder’s responsibility to keep certificates current. Human resources, ESD, and OSPI staff may try to assist, but the onus is on the educator to know expiration dates and to complete the next steps in certification. You may not perform in your role without valid certification. Avoid getting second hand advice as there are many types of certificates and wrong information can be costly. Contact the Human Resource Department or refer to the Certification Office at OSPI.
Teacher Certification Help Sheet
Certification Specialist:
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Heather Tonder, Olympic ESD 114 360.478.6868 certification@oesd.wednet.edu
Certification Links:
- Apply for Washington Teacher Certification
- Types of Certificates
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Residency Teacher Certification After Completion of Provisional Status The first certificate issued is the Residency Certificate (provisional status) which is valid until completion of provisional status employment (first two years). This certificate may then be reissued with a five year expiration date.
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Procert Application The Professional Certificate is the advanced level certificate. It is normally awarded to holders of the Residency Certificate who enroll in and complete a professional certification program at a Washington college/university, but sometimes be awarded to out-of-state applicants in lieu of the Residency. Learn More About the Teacher Professional Certificate (Procert)
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Procert Renewal (Note: apply as soon as you earn 150 clock hours in your current cycle to add five years to your current expiration date.)
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Continuing Cert Renewal with 150 clock hours earned (Note: apply as soon as you earn 150 clock hours in your current cycle to add five years to your current expiration date.)
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Continuing Cert Renewal not enough clock hours earned (Note: can only use once in your career.)
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Substitute Certificate: The substitute certificate enables someone to substitute for any regular classroom teacher for up to 30 consecutive school days. The substitute certificate requires the same level of preparation as a regular certificate.
- If you do not qualify for a regular teacher certificate……
- Limited Teaching Certificates (are available to meet the needs of employers who cannot find enough teachers with regular certificates)
- College & University Educator Programs
- OSPI – New Online Professional Development Assistant This is a great place to store your educational background and employment information, where it is always available and automatically feeds into electronic certification. Note: Even though this submits electronically, you will still need to print, sign and mail a hard copy of the application as instructed with all required payments and documentation to the ESD.
Teacher Testing – Teachers must pass a basic skills test and (for each endorsement) an endorsement test.
Basic Skills Testing: If applying from out-of-state for a residency certificate, applicants must pass a basic skills test within 12 months of receiving their first temporary Residency permit. Those who have a passing score on the CBEST or Praxis I test may submit official score reports in lieu of the WEST-B.
Endorsement Testing
- WEST-E (Praxis II) Applicants must pass an endorsement test (WEST-E) in each endorsement area desired within 12 months of receiving their first temporary Residency permit.
State Endorsements – What can you teach?
Federal Highly Qualified: Schools seeks to hire and place teachers according to the No Child Left Behind definition of highly qualified (HQ).
