Washington Teacher Licensure Guide for Online Master's Students

Who Licenses Teachers in Washington, and Which Exams Does It Use?

Washington licenses teachers through Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the exams it requires are the WEST/NES, the Washington Educator Skills Tests and National Evaluation Series.

For the programs themselves, the online master's in education programs at universities in Washington are ranked at the in-state price, and the national and specialty lists cover schools in other states.

How Do I Get a Washington Teaching License With an Online Master's?

Getting a Washington teaching license with an online master's depends on finishing any state's approved preparation program, because the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction lets an out-of-state program completer apply for the Residency (First Issue) certificate. The program, traditional or an approved alternate route, must include a defined course of study and supervised student teaching or an internship.

The same page asks only for a bachelor's degree or higher, shown by official transcripts, so a master's is not the gate for classroom teaching. A Professional certificate, the second tier, follows from an approved advanced certificate elsewhere, National Board certification or the ProTeach Portfolio. Our secondary education and special education rankings do not record state approval.

Which Exams Does Washington Require for Teacher Certification?

Washington requires two kinds of exams for teacher certification, and OSPI names them as a basic skills test, the WEST-B or an approved alternative, and a content knowledge test, the WEST-E or NES, for the endorsement sought. Reading, writing and mathematics subtests can be mixed and matched across acceptable basic skills tests.

An out-of-state certificated educator may finish testing within one calendar year of the Residency temporary permit, or submit a passing score from the home state's exam as proof. School counselors take a comprehensive exam, and OSPI accepts the NCE or Praxis 5422 at a passing score of 159. Washington builds its teacher requirement on the WEST and NES tests, and takes the Praxis only as an alternative, since candidates from outside the state may submit Praxis I scores in place of the WEST-B.

Can I Transfer a Teaching License to Washington From Another State?

A teaching license can transfer to Washington from another state, since OSPI accepts a full, regular certificate, valid or expired, with three years of out-of-state teaching. The applicant still passes the basic skills and content tests, or shows qualifying out-of-state scores, and submits fingerprints if no valid Washington certificate is on record.

A teacher who holds an advanced-level certificate that the Professional Educator Standards Board has approved as comparable can apply for the Professional certificate once the Residency requirements are met. The 2020 Education Commission of the States comparison below cannot show that an expired certificate still qualifies at OSPI today.

Does NC-SARA Membership Cover Teacher Certification for Washington Online Master's Students?

Washington online master's students should not read NC-SARA membership as covering teacher certification. NC-SARA says SARA does not address licensing board approval for teacher education, and the state has been a member since May 2014 through WICHE. SARA lets a participating school operate in Washington under one set of rules, and OSPI alone certifies teachers. What SARA adds is a notice duty: schools must say whether a program meets licensure requirements in the student's state.

What Should I Ask an Online Program Before Enrolling From Washington?

Before enrolling from Washington, an online program should state in writing whether its curriculum qualifies you for certification. 34 CFR 668.43 directs a school advertising licensure preparation to list the states where it found the program meets and misses requirements, with advance notice to you where it missed or never checked.

Then ask the Washington questions. Will the program complete OSPI's Program Completion Verification Form 4020E? Does its student teaching or internship satisfy the defined course of study OSPI expects? Which WEST-E or NES test matches your endorsement? Can the student teaching happen near where you live?

Which License Do Washington Principals and School Counselors Need?

Washington principals need a master's degree, a regular teacher, ESA or CTE certificate, and three years of school-based instructional experience, plus a state-approved administrator program or three years as an out-of-state administrator holding a certificate in the role.

A school counselor needs a master's in counseling and a comprehensive exam, plus either any state's approved PK-12 counselor program or three years of out-of-state counselor experience. If the degree is not titled for the role, a letter from the registrar or the department head can show the coursework was completed. See educational leadership and school counseling programs.