for School Counselor and School Psychologist (if you hold a valid Initial ESA Certificate at time of application or are eligible for late application):

• EXPERIENCE - The candidate must have completed 180 days of experience in the role (or the equivalent of 180 days of full-time service), of which 30 days must be in the same district.
• DEGREE - The candidate must have completed role-specific academic requirements:
  School Counselor - Hold a master's degree with a major in counseling*.
  School Psychologist - Hold a master's degree with a major or specialization in school psychology*.
  School Social Worker - Hold a master's degree in social work*.
• PEER REVIEW - The candidate must have completed a college-level course that includes peer review while employed in the role. This requirement must have been completed since the issue date of the initial ESA certificate, must be at least one quarter or semester hour, and must be post graduate/master’s.
• EXAM - The candidate must have completed a written, comprehensive exam relevant to the field of specialization. If you did not complete such an exam as part of your master’s degree program, there are acceptable alternatives.
• ISSUES OF ABUSE - The candidate must have taken coursework in issues of abuse, which must include information related to identification of physical, emotional, sexual, and substance abuse; the impact on learning and behavior; the responsibilities of an ESA to report abuse or to provide assistance to victimized children; and methods of teaching about abuse and its prevention.

for School Social Worker (as of 7-1-2011):

• DEGREE AND PROGRAM/COURSE - The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school social worker.
• PROFESSIONAL GROWTH PLAN - The candidate shall have completed a professional growth plan or forty-five quarter hours (thirty semester hours) or 450 clock hours specific to the role of school social worker.
• EXPERIENCE - The candidate shall provide documentation of one hundred eighty days of full-time equivalent or more employment in the respective role with an authorized employer -i.e., school district, educational service district, state agency, college or university, private school, or private school system -and at least thirty days of such employment with the same employer.

for School Occupational Therapist, School Physical Therapist, School Nurse, and School Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist:

• The candidate must have completed 180 days of experience in the role (or the equivalent of 180 days of full-time service), of which 30 days must be in the same district.
• Academic Requirements:
  School Occupational Therapist - Hold a baccalaureate or higher degree in occupational therapy from an American Occupational Therapy Association-approved program.
  School Physical Therapist - Hold a baccalaureate or higher degree in physical therapy form an American Physical Therapy Association-accredited program.
  School Nurse - Hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a National League of Nursing accredited program.
  School Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist - Hold a master's degree* in speech pathology or audiology from a college or university program accredited by ASHA.
• License requirements:
  School Occupational Therapist - Hold a valid Washington State license as an occupational therapist.
  School Physical Therapist - Hold a valid Washington State license as a physical therapist.
  School Nurse - Hold a valid Washington State license as a registered nurse (RN).
  School Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist - Not applicable.
  
• Course requirements:
  School Occupational Therapist - Complete at least 15 quarter (ten semester) hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree in education, occupational therapy, or other health sciences.
  School Physical Therapist - Complete at least 15 quarter (ten semester) hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree in education, physical therapy, or other health sciences.
  School Nurse - Complete 45 quarter (30 semester) hours of postbaccalaureate course work in education, nursing, or other health sciences.
  School Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist - Not applicable.
• Exam Requirements:
  The candidate must have completed a written, comprehensive exam relevant to the field of specialization. (School speech-language pathologists or audiologists only.)
• The candidate must have taken coursework in issues of abuse, which must include information related to identification of physical, emotional, sexual, and substance abuse; the impact on learning and behavior; the responsibilities of an ESA to report abuse or to provide assistance to victimized children; and methods of teaching about abuse and its prevention.

* It is not necessary for a candidate who holds a master's degree or doctorate in another field to obtain the specified master's degree if he or she has completed all course work requirements relevant to the required master's degree.

For details on the documents needed and process to obtain this certificate, please see the application.