Fingerprints: Any applicant who does not hold a valid Washington certificate at the time of application must be fingerprinted for a state and national background check. We urge applicants to submit fingerprints as soon as possible. To submit fingerprints electronically in person (no inked card is required, and the process is often much faster) contact an ESD to arrange for scanning of fingerprints. 

If you are unable to come in person, you can request fingerprint cards by sending an email with your name and mailing address to cert@k12.wa.us.

Fee Payment: Fees are not refundable. Please ensure you select and submit the correct application as the OSPI $33 fee will not apply toward a future or corrected application and will need to be paid with each application submitted. Refund Policy

1. Request for Replacement Certificate or Request for Name Change on Certificate
(for individuals who hold or have held a Washington certificate and have lost it, or wish to change the name on their certificate) [eCert or Paper]
2. Substitute Certificate (any role)
   (for individuals who hold or have held a regular Washington certificate) [eCert or Paper]
3. Maintenance (renewal) of the Continuing Certificate (for individuals who hold valid Continuing certificates that require 150 clock hours for maintenance) [This form is the same for teachers, ESA's, and administrators] [eCert or Paper]
4. Verification of Active Duty Military Service (automatic extension of expiration date) (for individuals in Reserves/National Guard who are called up to active military service) [eCert or Paper]

1. Teacher Certification Application
   (for individuals who have never held a Washington teaching certificate and who have completed requirements outside Washington.  Most teachers moving to Washington use this application.) [eCert or Paper]
2. Foreign Credentials Evaluation 
   (college verification form & transcript evaluation services)
   (for individuals who are applying for the Residency certificate, who were prepared outside the U.S. This is required in addition to the teacher certification application) [eCert or Paper]
3. Residency Teacher Reissuance
   (for individuals who hold or have held a Washington Residency Teacher certificate, and have completed two years of employment in Washington since the Residency certificate was issued; OR for individuals who were issued a five-year Residency Teacher certificate but who have NOT completed two years of employment with one employer in Washington since the Residency was issued) [eCert or Paper]
4. Residency Teacher Renewal and Professional Teacher Application
   (for individuals who hold or have held a Washington Residency Teacher certificate and wish to renew or have completed the ProTeach external assessment and wish to obtain the professional teacher certificate) [eCert or Paper]
5. Initial Teacher Renewal And Continuing Application (for certificates held under standards in effect prior to Aug 31st 2000)
   (for individuals who hold an Initial Washington teaching certificate and want to renew the Initial or apply for the Continuing certificate) [eCert or Paper]
6. Conversion - Initial to Residency Teaching Certificate 
   (for individuals who hold or have held an Initial Washington teaching certificate, but are unable to renew the Initial or to apply for the Continuing certificate. Note: Contact OSPI Certification office to verify eligibility) [eCert or Paper]
7. Adding an Endorsement (through program, or NBPTS, or testing)
   (for individuals who already hold a valid Washington teaching certificate) 
   [for in-state programs, contact your college/university for an application] [eCert or Paper]
8. Maintenance (renewal) of the Continuing Certificate  
   (for individuals who hold a valid Continuing Teaching certificate that requires 150 clock hours for maintenance) [This form is the same for teachers, ESA's, and administrators] [eCert or Paper]
9. Continuing Certification Reinstatement  
   (for individuals who have held a Continuing Teaching certificate, which has lapsed. Note: Contact OSPI Certification office first to verify eligibility) [This form is the same for teachers, ESA's, and administrators] [eCert or Paper]
10. Renewal of the Professional Certificate  
    (for individuals who hold a valid Professional Teaching certificate that requires 150 clock hours to renew) [eCert or Paper]

1. Emergency Teacher
   (for individuals who have substantially completed a teacher preparation program - application must be approved by a school district which cannot find a certificated teacher in a specific endorsement area) 
   [This form is the same for teachers, ESA's, and administrators] [eCert or Paper]
2. Conditional Teacher  
   (for individuals who do not qualify for a regular teaching certificate - application must be approved by a school district which cannot find a certificated teacher in a specific endorsement area) [eCert or Paper]
3. Transitional Teaching Certificate  
   (for individuals with lapsed Continuing Certificate - application must be approved by a school district) [eCert or Paper]
4. First Peoples' Language and Culture Certificate - (application) [eCert or Paper]

1. Substitute Teacher Certificate (valid for life)
    (for individuals who have never held a Washington teaching certificate and who have completed requirements outside Washington) [eCert or Paper]
2. Substitute Certificate (valid for life)
   (for individuals who hold or have held a regular Washington certificate) 
   [This form is the same for teachers, ESA's, and administrators] [eCert or Paper]
3. Emergency Substitute Certificate
   (application must be approved by a school district which cannot find a certificated substitute...for individuals not fully qualified for issuance of a regular substitute certificate) [eCert or Paper]
4. Intern Substitute Certificate  
   (for individuals who are student teaching, to allow them to substitute for their cooperating teacher only) [eCert or Paper]

1. Maintenance (renewal) of the Continuing Certificate
   (for individuals who hold valid Continuing certificates that require 150 clock hours for maintenance) [This form is the same for teachers, ESA's, and administrators]
2. Renewal of the Professional Certificate  
   (for individuals who hold a valid Professional Teaching certificate that requires 150 clock hours to renew)
3. Clock Hour Equivalents (NBPTS)
   (For NBPTS assessment submission or certification)
4. Clock Hour Equivalents (Supervisor)
   (For individuals designated "supervisor" for the professional development of others)
5. Professional Growth Plan and Record of Continuing Education  
   (for individuals who wish to earn clock hours through completion of a professional growth plan)
6. Clock Hour Equivalents (First Peoples')
   (For in-service training or continuing education in first peoples' language, culture, or oral tribal traditions provided by a sovereign tribal government.
7. Clock Hour Equivalents (ProTeach Portfolio External Assessment)
   (For successful completion of the ProTeach Portfolio External Assessment per WAC 181-79A-206.

1. RUSH Request Form
   (for use by district superintendents/personnel directors and private school administrators)
2. College/University Forms
   (forms for use within Washington colleges/universities only)