Washington Teacher Certification

General Requirements

Teachers in public and private schools in Washington State are required to hold a teaching certificate. The regular teaching certificate (e.g. Residency, etc.) is an official document which attests to minimum prerequisites:

Age. (18 years old)
Moral Character & Fitness. A background check which includes obtaining fingerprints and being screened by both the Washington State Patrol and the FBI.
Degree. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university
Preparation Program. A state-approved teacher preparation program at a regionally accredited college/university is required. Programs typically include content (what to teach) methodology (how to teach), and a student teaching experience (internship, or practicum).
Basic Skills Test. 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 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. For information on test registration/administration, contact National Evaluation Systems at (800) 784-4999 Online registration is available at http://www.west.nesinc.com
Endorsement Test Endorsement Test If applying after August 31, 2005 applicants must pass an endorsement test (WEST-E) in each endorsement area desired. Teachers with 3 years of experience may take up to 12 months to meet this requirement. All others must meet this requirement immediately. For information on test registration/administration, see http://www.ets.org/praxis/prxwa.html or contact Educational Testing Service at (800) 772-9476.

Question: What if I have not completed a degree/program as described above?

Answer: If you do not qualify for a regular teaching certificate in Washington State, you may still be eligible for a limited certificate, if your prospective employer cannot find enough teachers with regular certification:

Conditional Certificate (for expertise in a specific subject)
Emergency Certificate (if a program is substantially completed)
Emergency Substitute Certificate (for subs not otherwise qualified)
Intern Substitute Certificate (for student teachers to sub for their supervising teacher)
For more Information on Limited Certificates