The Professional Teacher Certificate enables the holder to teach in endorsed subject areas.

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 TEACHER CERTIFICATE you have the following options:

• Renew Professional Teacher Certificate
• Apply for a Substitute Certificate
• Add an Endorsement to a Certificate
• Apply for a National Board for Professional Teaching Standard Certificate (NBPTS)

If your PROFESSIONAL TEACHER 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

Or
In lieu of the above clock hours, present a copy of a valid certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

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

For further information regarding clock hours, click here.

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