ALREADY CERTIFIED in Washington?

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

• Continuing ESA Certificate (all ESA roles)
• Professional ESA Certificate (School Counselor, School Psychologist ONLY)
• Initial ESA Certificate (Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, or Audiologist ONLY)
• Residency ESA Certificate Conversion (School Counselor, School Psychologist ONLY)
• Substitute Certificate (all ESA roles)

If your INITIAL certificate has EXPIRED you have the following options.

Process:

• Submit Form SPI/CERT 4098A (include in the application packet) along with official transcripts of all college/university course work and the appropriate FEE to an educational service district.
• If the applicant does not have a valid Washington State educational certificate of some type, they must also submit Form SPI/CERT 4020B and Form SPI/CERT 4020C (both included in application packet) and complete the fingerprinting process.

For School Counselors, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers only:
The Emergency Certificate enables the ESA to be assigned to the specific ESA role for up to one year.

Requirements:

• The candidate has completed all course work for a master's degree with the exception of the internship.
• The candidate must have substantially completed an ESA preparation program as a school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker, but has not yet qualified for the Residency ESA Certificate.
• The school cannot find anyone with a regular ESA certificate for the role.

Conditions:

• A qualified person who holds regular certification is not available or that the position is essential and circumstances warrant consideration of issuance of an emergency certificate.
• A candidate for emergency certification as a school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker is the best qualified of the candidates for the position as verified by the employing school district and has completed all course work for the required master's degree with the exception of the internship.
• A candidate for emergency certification as a school psychologist is enrolled in an approved school psychologist preparation program and is participating in the required internship.