Certificate Renewal for Washington Teachers

 

Certificate Renewal for Washington Teachers

initial out of state continuing
residency professional

WA Clock Hours can be earned from an approved provider at the conversion rate of:

1 seat hour = 1 clock hour

1 semester credit = 15 Clock Hours

Initial License

Washington's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) requires completion of a Bachelor's Degree and an approved teacher preparation program to then complete testing to earn an Initial Teacher Certificate. Once held, the Initial Teacher Certificate may only be renewed one time by meeting the following OSPI guidelines:

In order to renew, the educator must have completed the coursework requirement for the Continuing Certificate, which are:

• Must complete 100 clock hours or equivalent college credits or PGPs or a combination of any of the three options

OR

• Submit a valid National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) Certificate. The National Board Certificate must be renewed prior to applying for renewal of your teaching certificate.

STEM NOTE: For Continuing Certificate holders with specific endorsement areas, must complete the STEM Requirements as part of their renewal clock hours.

OR

• Complete 10 semester college credits since the issuance of the most recent Initial Certificate.

STEM Requirements:
Beginning on September 1, 2019 renewal applications for residency, professional, initial and continuing teacher and CTE certificates must document completion of at least 15 clock hours, or at least one goal from an annual professional growth plan (PGP, with an emphasis on STEM integration to meet this renewal requirement.

Continuing License

You may apply to upgrade from an Initial Teacher to a Continuing Teacher Certificate once the following requirements are met:

• Must have a Master's degree from an accredited college/university OR 45 quarter/30 semester hours of upper division or graduate-level post baccalaureate study

• 180 days of teaching experience, 30 days of which must be in one school district. Substitute teaching, out-of-state teaching, and teaching in more than one district is acceptable

• Must attest to completion of an Issues of Abuse course

• The certificate currently or previously held may be valid or expired provided that the other requirements have been met.

Renewal

• Must complete 100 clock hours or equivalent college credits or PGPs or a combination of any of the three options

OR

• Submit a valid National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) Certificate. The National Board Certificate must be renewed prior to applying for renewal of your teaching certificate.

STEM NOTE: For Continuing Certificate holders with specific endorsement areas, must complete the STEM Requirements as part of their renewal clock hours.

OR

• Complete 10 semester college credits since the issuance of the most recent Initial Certificate.

STEM Requirements:
Beginning on September 1, 2019 renewal applications for residency, professional, initial and continuing teacher and CTE certificates must document completion of at least 15 clock hours, or at least one goal from an annual professional growth plan (PGP, with an emphasis on STEM integration to meet this renewal requirement.

Residency License

Out of state certificated teachers or Initial Teaching Certificate holders may convert to a Residency Teaching Certificate to maintain currency and continue working toward a permanent certificate. Requirements include:

• Must have qualified for an Initial Certificate or Provisional Certificate

• Must not have held a Continuing or Professional certificate

• The certificate currently or previously held may be valid or expired

Renewal

A Residency Teaching Certificate is valid for two years. renewal requirements must be met prior to application and prior to the certificate expiration date, to include:

• Must attest to completion of an Issues of Abuse course

• Must complete 100 clock hours or equivalent college credits or PGPs or a combination of any of the three options

Subsequent renewals require:

•100 clock hours or equivalents must be completed from the date of issuance through the expiration date of the current certificate.

STEM NOTE: For all Residency renewal applicants submitting after 9/1/2019, they must complete the STEM Requirements as part of their renewal clock hours.

STEM Requirements:
Beginning on September 1, 2019 renewal applications for residency, professional, initial and continuing teacher and CTE certificates must document completion of at least 15 clock hours, or at least one goal from an annual professional growth plan (PGP, with an emphasis on STEM integration to meet this renewal requirement.

Professional License

Conversion from Initial Teaching Certificate or Residency Teaching Certificate to a Professional Teaching Certificate requires:

• Completion of the Professional Certificate Assessment (ProTeach)

OR

• Hold a certificate from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards

OR

• Complete a program in another state that has been approved by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) as comparable to Washington's standards

AND

• Must attest to completion of an Issues of Abuse course

Renewal

Once held, renewal of a Professional Teaching Certificate requirements include:

•100 clock hours or equivalents must be completed from the date of issuance through the expiration date of the current certificate.

STEM NOTE: For all Residency renewal applicants submitting after 9/1/2019, they must complete the STEM Requirements as part of their renewal clock hours.

STEM Requirements:
Beginning on September 1, 2019 renewal applications for residency, professional, initial and continuing teacher and CTE certificates must document completion of at least 15 clock hours, or at least one goal from an annual professional growth plan (PGP, with an emphasis on STEM integration to meet this renewal requirement.

TCL offers WA Clock Hours through ESDs and offers graduate-level credit from regionally accredited universities.

WA online self-paced courses
WA online structured courses
WA site-based courses

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[content updated July 2021]