The residency ESA certificate enables the holder to serve in the respective role. When you received your certificate you received an information flyer that explained requirements.

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 ESA RESIDENCY CERTIFICATE you have the following options:

• Renew/Reissuance of the Residency ESA Certificate (5 years)
  (upon completion of two successful years of service)
• Enroll in a Professional ESA Certificate Program or Apply for a Professional ESA Certificate
• Apply for a Substitute ESA Certificate

If your RESIDENCY has LAPSED you have the following options: Renew a Residency ESA Certificate, apply for a Residency ESA reissuance, Substitute Certificate

All individuals, who have not completed this process, should do so before pursuing renewal of the residency or the professional certificate.

The residency ESA certificate may be reissued to educational staff associates who:

• Complete two consecutive years of successful service in the role with a Washington public school or approved private school and have signed a third-year contract since the issuance of their residency ESA certificate.
• Have not completed two years of successful service in the role in Washington since the issuance of their residency ESA certificate with a defined expiration date.

Must request reissuance of the residency ESA certificate upon completing two years of successful service in the role and signing a third-year contract with a Washington public school or approved private school since the issuance of the residency ESA certificate.

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

The residency ESA certificate may be renewed once, in one of two ways:

1 Enroll in Professional ESA Certificate Program: Individuals who are enrolled in a professional ESA certificate program can obtain a renewal valid for two years. Must be enrolled in a Professional ESA Certificate Program Process: Request renewal through the Washington college at which you are enrolled in a professional ESA certificate program

2 Not Eligible for enrollment:  Individuals who are not eligible* for enrollment in a professional ESA certificate program can obtain a renewal valid for five years by showing completion of 15 quarter hours (10 semester hours) of study from a regionally-accredited college/university since the issuance of the residency ESA certificate. *Individuals with an expired residency ESA certificate or who are not employed in the role are not eligible for professional ESA certificate program enrollment. We recommend that individuals who are not employed pursue this renewal ONLY when they are ready to return to serving in the role in Washington to ensure that the validity will allow time to complete the requirements to obtain the professional ESA certificate. For details on the documents needed and process to obtain this certificate, please see the application (coming soon). top of page

Includes details on the documents needed and process to obtain certification.