In accordance with the Governor’s Proclamation 20-25, “Stay Home, Stay Healthy,” and to protect the health and safety of Washingtonians and our employees, at this time, there is restricted public access to the OSPI building. OSPI will continue serving the public via phone, email, and the website.
See OSPI’s COVID-19 guidance and resources for educators, students, and families.
Washington has two testing requirements: basic skills and content knowledge area testing. The testing requirements must be successfully completed within one calendar year of issuance of the first residency teacher temporary permit for first-time, out-of-state candidates.
If you are an out-of-state certificated educator who is seeking certification in Washington your passing score from your state's teacher certification exam may be used to meet Washington's basic skills or content knowledge test requirement.
If you have documentation which clearly shows you passed the exam, you may email, fax, or mail a copy of those results to the Professional Certification Office at Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Below you will find detailed information regarding both the basic skills and content knowledge requirement.
The applicant must successfully complete each subtest for reading, writing and mathematics for the West B or any approved alternative. The subtests can be mixed and matched with ANY of the acceptable basic skills tests.
If you are submitting scores for the West B, use report code #399 to have your test score sent to OSPI electronically. Test information and registration is available online.
In lieu of the WEST-B, candidates from outside the state may submit an official score report verifying they have taken one of the following:
If you took a Pearson administered assessment in another state and would like to have your test results reported to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction electronically you can print and submit a Request Form.
Mail the form and required payment directly to Pearson at the address on the form. Do not mail the form to Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Additional information regarding basic skills and endorsement test information visit the State of Washington Professional Educator Standards Board website.
The following endorsement areas require completion of the WEST-E/NES or approved alternative tests.
*Individuals will not only need to complete the WEST-E test in bilingual education but will also need to complete the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test and the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview at the Advanced-Mid level in a world language area. ACTFL does not administer tests for Latin. For Latin, a candidate must take the new WEST-E: DWL and the WEST-E: Latin. Language Testing International
**In addition to the designated world languages WEST-E test above, applicants must complete the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in the specific world language, scoring Advanced-Low or higher. Please visit ACTFL at Language Testing International.
*** There are two Board approved assessment options for the American Sign Language endorsement:
WEST-E/NES Test information and registration is available online.
In Lieu of the West E/NES, candidates from outside the state may submit an official score report verifying successful completion of the following alternative content knowledge test systems. Please visit the Professional Educator Standards Board for details.
If you took a Pearson administered assessment in another state and would like to have your test results reported to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction electronically you can print and submit a Request Form.
Mail the form and required payment directly to Pearson at the address on the form. Do not mail the form to Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certificate Exemptions
Individuals who hold a valid National Boards certificate in a subject area or grade level comparable to one of the Washington endorsement areas are exempt from testing requirements for that endorsement area. (See National Boards Exemption).
Additional information regarding basic skills and endorsement test information visit the State of Washington Professional Educator Standards Board website.