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 RESIDENCY ESA CERTIFICATE you have the following options:

• Reissuance or Renewal of the Residency ESA Certificate (valid for 5 years upon completion of 2 successful years of service in the role)
• Apply for a Professional ESA Certificate or Enroll in a Professional ESA Certificate Program (School Counselor or School Psychologist ONLY)
• Initial ESA Certificate conversion (School Social Worker ONLY) (valid for 7 years)
• Continuing ESA Certificate (School Social Worker ONLY) (valid for 5 years)
• School psychologists in the process of obtaining the NCSP may apply for a one-time two-year renewal with verification of NCSP submission.
• School psychologists with Residency Certificates dated to expire June 30, 2013, 2014, or 205 may apply until June 30, 2016 for a one-time two-year extension.

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 three ways:

1 Individuals who are enrolled in a state-approved professional ESA certificate program can obtain a renewal valid for two years. (school counselor or school psychologist ONLY) Process: Request renewal through the Washington college or university at which you are enrolled in a professional ESA certificate program

2 Individuals who complete school counselor National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) assessment but do not earn National Board Certification may use that completed assessment to obtain a renewal valid for two years. (school counselor ONLY) 3 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. (school counselor or school psychologist ONLY) (school social workers, please contact our office as standards have changed for this role) *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. top of page

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