How to Become a Teacher in Washington: Requirements & Certification 2026
Washington certifies new teachers through a Residency Certificate: a bachelor's degree, an approved Educator Preparation Program with a student teaching placement, the required basic-skills and endorsement-specific content assessments, and a background check. The Professional Educator Standards Board sets the certification standards and approves preparation programs, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction issues the certificate.
Washington runs a two-agency system that trips up a lot of first-time applicants: OSPI issues your certificate, but the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) sets the standards your preparation program has to meet. You'll deal with both. The good news is the general path into the classroom is straightforward, and Washington's own labor data shows real demand behind it. More on that below.
Choose What You Want to Teach
Start with grade level and subject, because it determines which preparation program and which content-area exam you'll need. If you're drawn to one subject, secondary or middle school certification lets you specialize. If you'd rather cover multiple foundational subjects, elementary certification is the better fit. The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's website lists endorsement areas by grade band, and a college advisor at your prep program can walk you through which one matches your goals.
Complete a Bachelor's Degree and Educator Preparation Program
Like every state, Washington requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, plus completion of a PESB-approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP). Most accredited Washington colleges offer a blended track that folds the EPP into your undergraduate degree, so you finish both at once. If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, skip to "Alternative Teaching Certification in Washington" below.
Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
Every EPP combines coursework with fieldwork: classroom observation hours with a qualifying mentor teacher, building toward a formal student teaching placement near the end of the program. Exact hour requirements vary by program, so confirm specifics with your program's department head.
Student teaching is where the program stops being theoretical: you'll write lesson plans, teach them, grade the results, and adjust, all while a mentor teacher observes and coaches you through a live classroom.
Alternative Teaching Certification in Washington
If you already have a bachelor's degree, Washington doesn't require you to start a new four-year program. The state offers four alternative routes, sorted by your current degree level and whether you're already employed by a school district. PESB requires alternative-route candidates to be pursuing a geographic or content shortage area, but which endorsements qualify varies by approved provider and by year, so check PESB's current program listings for what's available now rather than relying on a fixed list.
District Staff With an Associate Degree (Route 1)
Route 1 is for current district employees who hold an associate degree or equivalent. You work toward your bachelor's degree while completing a mentored residency and the certification requirements.
District Staff With a Bachelor's Degree (Route 2)
Route 2 is for current district employees who already hold a bachelor's degree. You complete a mentored residency and the required assessments while continuing to work.
Bachelor's Degree Holders Not Employed by a District (Route 3)
Route 3 is for candidates who hold a bachelor's degree but aren't currently employed by a school district. You complete a mentored residency and the required assessments as you work toward certification.
District Staff on a Limited Certificate (Route 4)
Route 4 is for bachelor's degree holders employed by a district under a qualifying limited certificate, such as a conditional or emergency substitute certificate, while they complete full certification requirements.
Every alternative route includes a one-year mentored residency and 540 hours of student teaching, on top of the required content assessments, letters of reference, demonstrated experience with students, fingerprinting and a background check, and age, character, and personal-fitness standards.
Pass the Tests Required for Teacher Certification in Washington
Testing trips up more candidates than any other step, mostly because people underestimate how early it comes.
Basic Skills Assessment
Washington requires all candidates to take a basic-skills assessment covering reading, writing, and math. Since 2019, the state no longer requires a specific passing score on this test. The Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic (WEST-B) is the default option, but approved alternatives include the SAT, ACT, Praxis Core, and other equivalent assessments. Most preparation programs still want this done before admission, so plan to sit it early rather than treating it as a formality before graduation.
Content Knowledge Assessments
Which exam applies depends on your specific endorsement: Washington uses WEST-E, NES, ACTFL, and other assessments depending on the subject and grade band. There's a case-by-case exception process for candidates who don't pass the required content exam. Your program's advisor can confirm the exact exam code and point you to study guides and practice materials.
Apply for Your Washington Teacher Certification
Application Requirements
Washington offers several certificate types, each for a different situation:
Residency Certificate: for candidates who've earned a bachelor's degree, completed an approved preparation program (or logged 3 years of verified teaching experience), and hold a qualifying certificate from another state.
Nonimmigrant Exchange Teacher Certificate: the visiting teacher signs the application, the district reviews it and completes fingerprinting, and a processing fee is paid to the OSPI Professional Certificate office before the district approves them as teacher of record.
Substitute Certificate: good for life once issued, but it requires the same level of preparation as a standard teaching certificate. It isn't available to Washington program graduates seeking their first certificate.
Limited Teaching Certificate: used when a district can't find a certified teacher for a specific area. School boards can hire someone with subject expertise but no teaching certificate under conditional, emergency, or transitional teaching status.
Foreign Trained Certificate: for candidates trained outside the U.S. You'll submit transcripts and translations to OSPI for evaluation before certification can proceed.
Student teachers placed in Washington need a pre-residency clearance before their placement, showing enrollment in an approved program and good moral character. If you're already in a Washington-based preparation program, your school typically handles this for you.
Contact Information
Old Capitol Building
PO Box 47200
600 Washington Street, S.E.
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
(360) 725-6000
TTY (360) 664-3631
Find a Teaching Job in Washington
Once you're certified, Washington districts post openings through several third-party databases rather than one central portal: Educational Service Districts (ESDs), Retire-Rehire, and the Washington Education Joblink. Shortages persist in languages, sciences, special education, and math, in both public and private schools.
Professional Teacher Association
New teachers can join the state's labor union, the Washington Education Association.
Retirement Benefits for Public School Teachers
Public school teachers access their pensions through Washington's Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) upon retirement.
Private Schools in Washington
Washington has 782 private schools, which help absorb some of the shortage. Tenure, pay, and benefits often work differently than in public schools, and some private schools don't offer retirement benefits at all.
Teacher Shortage Areas in Washington
The U.S. Department of Education's Teacher Shortage Area list has flagged these areas in Washington in recent years:
- Elementary Education PreK-12
- Special Education, All Exceptionalities PreK-12
- Science PreK-12
- ESOL, Bilingual Education PreK-12
- Language Arts PreK-12
- Health and Physical Fitness PreK-12
- Career and Technical Education (Vocational Technology, Family and Consumer Science, Agro-Science and Natural Resources) PreK-12
- Mathematics PreK-12
- Social Studies PreK-12
- World Languages, Spanish PreK-12
- Music PreK-12
- Art PreK-12
- Reading PreK-12
- History PreK-12
- Computer Science PreK-12
Washington Teacher Salary and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington's teacher salaries run well above the national median. Kindergarten teachers earned a median annual salary of $99,960 in Washington as of May 2025, compared to $62,680 nationally. Elementary school teachers earned $102,350 in Washington versus $63,970 nationally, and middle and secondary teachers followed the same pattern, both above $102,000.
Job growth is the other place Washington stands apart from the national trend. Nationally, most core K-12 teaching roles are projected to decline slightly through 2034. Washington's own labor market data runs the opposite direction: Projections Central estimates elementary teaching positions in Washington will grow about 8% between 2024 and 2034, with roughly 2,980 openings a year. Kindergarten, middle, and secondary teaching roles show similar growth in the state, each in the 8% range.
| Occupation | WA Median Annual Wage | WA Job Growth (2024-2034) |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $99,960 | +8.1% |
| Elementary School Teachers | $102,350 | +8.0% |
| Middle School Teachers | $102,140 | +8.0% |
| Secondary School Teachers | $102,670 | +8.0% |
Number of Public and Private School Teachers by Grade
The following BLS table shows the number of teachers employed in Washington across public and private schools, by grade level, as of May 2025:
| Grade Level | Number of Teachers |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 5,270 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 28,980 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 10,510 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 14,880 |
Continue Your Education and Professional Development
Certification isn't a one-time event. Renewing your Residency Certificate and later your Professional Certificate both require ongoing continuing education, tracked in clock hours or through a Professional Growth Plan (PGP) submitted to your district. Requirements and deadlines change from time to time, so check OSPI's current renewal guidance for your specific timeline.
Moving to a Professional Certificate
The Professional Certificate is the advanced tier. OSPI offers several paths to it, including an approved out-of-state advanced credential or National Board certification. Requirements have changed over the years, so confirm your current options on OSPI's Professional Certificate page before you plan around a specific path.
Professional Development in Washington
OSPI's Teaching and Learning initiative coordinates professional development statewide, focused on learning-standards development, state assessment support, and K-12 policy alignment. Questions about specific requirements go to OSPI directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a teacher in Washington?
Most candidates finish in four to five years: a four-year bachelor's degree with an embedded Educator Preparation Program, or a bachelor's degree followed by a shorter post-baccalaureate or alternative route if you already hold a degree in another field.
Do I need a master's degree to teach in Washington?
No. A bachelor's degree plus an approved preparation program is the minimum requirement to teach in Washington.
What tests do I need to pass for Washington teacher certification?
You need to meet Washington's basic-skills assessment requirement (WEST-B or an approved alternative like the SAT, ACT, or Praxis Core) and pass the content assessment tied to your endorsement, such as WEST-E, NES, or ACTFL, depending on the subject. There's a case-by-case exception process if you don't pass the required content exam on your first attempt.
Can I become a teacher in Washington without a teaching degree?
Yes, through one of Washington's four alternative routes, which are sorted by your current degree level and whether you're already employed by a school district. Every route still requires the applicable assessments, a mentored residency, and a background check.
Who oversees teacher certification in Washington?
PESB establishes certification and preparation standards and approves preparation programs. OSPI administers certification and issues your certificate. You'll interact with both over the course of certification.
- Two agencies, one process: PESB sets the certification standards, and OSPI issues the certificate.
- The basic-skills test still applies, but the passing score doesn't: Washington dropped the required passing score on the WEST-B (or its approved alternatives) back in 2019.
- Four alternative routes exist, sorted by degree level and district employment: all still require a mentored residency, testing, and a background check.
- Washington pays and grows above the national trend: median salaries and 2024-2034 job growth both run ahead of the national picture for core K-12 roles.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.
Certification tells you what's required. It doesn't tell you which program fits your schedule, your budget, or the endorsement you're after. The sponsored programs on this page include options for candidates who already hold a degree in another field, if the traditional four-year track isn't your path.