The Top 10 Things To Know About Certification

• Teacher Testing:
– Teacher Certification Testing Overview
– OSPI Teacher Assessments Information

– WEST-B Test Selection, Dates, Sites, Registration
– WEST-B Study Guides
– CBEST Testing in California and Oregon
– PRAXIS I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)

• Endorsement Testing:
Important Note: Acceptance of a PRAXIS II Test taken prior to 9/1/2009 ends with certification applications postmarked 9/1/2009 or later.
– WEST-E Test Selection, Dates, Sites, Registration
– WEST-E Study Guides

• Professional Certificaton Testing (for teachers with residency certification only):
– ProTEACH Portfolio Assessment

• Regionally Accredited Colleges and Universities: Accreditation by one of these bodies is the basis for recognition of credits and degrees:
– Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
– North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
– Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
– Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
– Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Use at least two of these sources to confirm regional accreditation:
– Web U.S. Higher Education (alphabetically by university or by state)
– U.S. Department of Education - Accreditation
– Council for Higher Education Accreditation

• Public Schools, Private Schools, Colleges, and Libraries Search: U.S. Dept. of Education: National Center for Education Statistics

• Teaching Certification Requirements in Other States

• Washington State Information:
– Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) - Certification
– College Contacts at Washington Colleges and Universities

Substitute Teaching:
• I have an associate's or bachelor's degree, have not started a college preparation program for teaching, and would like to be an emergency sub .
• I am a student teaching and would like to sub for my master teacher. (Click to e-mail us with the name of your college.)
• I have finished my college teacher preparation program, but my residency certificate won't be processed by my Washington college for some time and I would like to be an emergency sub.
• I am from out of state, have a bachelor's degree, finished my teacher preparation work, and would like to apply for my lifetime substitute certificate.
• I have a Washington teacher certificate and would like to add the lifetime substitute certificate. (This also keeps fingerprints on file for certification purposes if you anticipate a lapse in regular certification.)

Entry Level (Residency and Initial Certification):
SPECIAL NOTICE: A teacher may use only ONE type of RENEWAL after the reissuance yields a firm expiration date.  If time runs out before a teacher on a residency certificate applies for their professional certificate, then RESIDENCY CERTIFICATION RUNS OUT and only substitute teaching is available with a sub certificate.

• I have certification in another state and want to apply for Washington teacher certification.
• I have a RESIDENCY teacher certificate with no expiration date, and it has been two calendar years since the issue date on my residency certificate.  Also, I have finished two consecutive years of successful service as a teacher with the same Washington school (not counting substitute teaching) and already signed a contract for my third year with them.
• My RESIDENCY teacher certificate is about to expire and I have not signed a contract for a third year as a teacher with the same Washington school since the issue date on my residency certificate.
•  My RESIDENCY teacher certificate is about to expire.  I already received my residency reissue, and I need more time to finish my college ProCert program. (Click here to find your college ProCert contact so you can request a two-year Residency Renewal.)
• My RESIDENCY teacher certificate expires in 2011 (not 2012 or later) and I need more time to finsh the ProTEACH Portolio Assessment (Click here to email us with your name and date of birth)
•  My RESIDENCY teacher certificate expired and I am ready to return to teaching.  I have had my certificate reissued, but have not used a renewal option yet and have 15 quarter credits earned since my residency was reissued. (Click here to email us with your name and date of birth)
•  I submitted a complete assessment "box" for National Boards by the spring before my certiifcate expires and I would like a two-year RESIDENCY renewal.  I have not used any type of renewal yet.
• My INITIAL teacher certificate is about to expire and I need to apply for advanced CONTINUING.
• My INTIIAL teacher certificate expired and I want to teach again.

Advanced Level (Professional and Continuing certification):
• I need to know more about the advanced certificate after a RESIDENCY -- I think it's called the PROFESSIONAL.
• I have a new National Board certificate and want to advanced to the PROFESSIONAL certificate.
• My advanced PROFESSIONAL teacher certificate needs renewal. (To add five years to your current expiration date, apply as soon as you earn 150 clock hours earned after your issue date or have earned a National Board certificate.)
• My INITIAL teacher certificate is about to expire and I need to apply for my next certificate.
• My CONTINUING certificate needs renewal. (To add five years to your current expiration date, apply as soon as you earn 150 clock hours in your current cycle or have earned a National Board certificate.)
• My CONTINUING certificate is about to expire and I won't have enough clock hours. (Note:  Can use only once in your career and requires appoval of a school district.)
• My CONTINUING certificate expired and I need to reinstate my certificate.

Don't see your situation? E-mail us for answers.

OSPI's Professional Development eCert system is a great place to store your educational background and employment information so it is always available.  Your background information automatically feeds into electronic certification when you submit an application online. The eCert system is only 50% developed, so if you experience difficulty locating the correct form, navigating the system, or finding the submit button, please email us for help. Further development of the system is contingent on funding (state tax revenue).

NOTE:  Even though this submits your information electronically to the ESD and OSPI, 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.

1.  Applying for Washington certification when you do not hold another valid Washington educator's certificate.

2.  Applying for employment at a school where you are not currently employed.  Also, school districts may request fingerprinting at any time.

To schedule electronic fingerprinting at ESD 105, call (509) 575-2885 and ask for a fingerprint specialist.  Prepare your hands well before your appointment to avoid lengthy resubmittals.

If you cannot come to ESD 105, request an ink-and-roll card coded specifically for Washington state educators from a Washington school district  by e-mailing here.  Please specify your mailing address.

Tip:  Make a note of the date when you are printed.  All Washington schools can access your print information for two years from the time your record is approved by the FBI.

For OSPI certification purposes, "official" transcripts do NOT have to be in sealed envelopes. This is true even if the transcript states that it becomes unofficial if the envelope is opened.  Transcripts must be on official paper and may not be photocopies or scanned images.  OSPI will mail your transcripts back to you after processing an application so that you can recycle them for other uses.  NOTE:  School districts may have a different policy on sealed and unsealed transcripts for employment and salary placement purposes.

Click here for links to request college transcript information from Washington state colleges.

NOTE:  If courses are taken and passed, but you will not have a transcript in time for a June 30 deadline, you should submit all of your application materials, and provide a letter from the professor on university stationery indicating that you have passed the course(s).  The letter should include name of course, course number, passed or grade, number and type of credits, and date completed.  Application, fee, and available documentation must be postmarked by June 30.  Your application will be held until the completed official transcript with credits is received.  You should request an official transcript, showing this coursework, as soon as it is available, and send it to ESD 105.

Be aware both the state and federal rules come into play.

State Endorsements:
Schools must honor rules on teacher assignments covered in WAC 181.82.105 and WAC 181.82.110 .
• Add an endorsement to an endorsed certificate
• See a chart showing Pathway I and Pathway II shortcuts
• View funding available for shortage areas

Federal Highly Qualified:
Schools seek to hire and place teachers according to the No Child Left Behind definition of "highly qualified teachers" (HQT).
• Read about HQT
• Download forms and worksheets

For your protection, Social Security numbers are no longer used to locate your records.  Your certificate number will remain the same on all your certificates, from substitute to superintendent.  Here are tips from fellow educators:

• Hang a copy of your current certificate next to your desk.
• Write it in the white space on the back of your driver's license.

Keep your human resources department happy by immediately providing copies of newly-issued certificates and temporary permits.  If you cannot find your certificate, click to order a replacement certificate.  ($15 for 4-6 week replacement; $35 for immediate replacement.)  If you need your certificate number to fill out the order, ask us.

Plan this out several years ahead so you will have time to do what is needed.

Also helpful:
• Teacher Certification Help Sheet
• Learn more about the Teacher Professional Certificate

Human resources, ESD, and OSPI staff may try to assist, but the onus is on the educator to know expiration dates and to complete next steps in certification.  You may not perform in your role without valid certification.

If your certificate expires and you do not hold another valid certificate (such as a lifetime substitute certificate) then you will incur the expense and delay of waiting for your fingerprints to clear before you may perform in your role again. This can take you out of your school for 4-8 weeks or more.  Plan ahead!