The Professional ESA Certificate enables the holder to serve in the role.

If you DO NOT KNOW what kind of Washington certificate you hold, send an email with your full name (name used at the time of certification), date of birth, certificate number (if known), and social security number (optional) to cert@k12.wa.us

If you hold a VALID PROFESSIONAL ESA CERTIFICATE you have the following options:

• Renew Professional ESA Certificate
• Substitute Certificate
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standard Certificate (NBPTS) (school counselors only)

If your PROFESSIONAL ESA CERTIFICATE has EXPIRED you have the following options: Renew a Professional Certificate, Substitute Certificate

To renew the Professional Certificate, 150 clock hours of approved continuing education study and/or equivalent academic credit must be completed since the issuance of the most recent certificate. All continuing education credit hours shall relate to EITHER:

• one or more of the three standards outlined in WAC 181-78A-540
• one or more of the five salary criteria specified in RCW 28A.415.023

Some clock hours must be related to the standards, and some must relate to salary criteria.

Provided, that a professional ESA school counselor certificate may be renewed based on the possession of a valid school counselor certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards at the time of application for the renewal of the professional ESA certificate. Such renewal shall be valid for five years or until the expiration of the National Board Certificate, whichever is greater; or

Provided, that a professional ESA school psychologist certificate may be renewed based on the possession of a valid nationally certified school psychologist certificate issued by the National Association of School Psychologists at the time of application for the renewal of the professional ESA certificate. Such renewal shall be valid for five years or until the expiration of the national certified school psychology certificate, whichever is greater.

For further information regarding clock hours, please use the left sidebar.

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