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Education Staff Associate (ESA) Professional Certificate

Professional Certificate

The professional certificate allows working ESA's to demonstrate competency of career level standards in their current position. The candidate must have a dated residency certificate and be in their 3rd contracted year in their certificated role with a public or private school or ESD. Part-time practitioners and ESA's assigned to more than one role are encouraged to discuss with a ProCert program director (listed below) whether their assignment/s provide sufficient opportunity to accomplish the ProCert standards. 

1

Entry Seminar:
Provides an orientation to the process and to the benchmarks; self-evaluation "audit;" and development of a Professional Growth Plan.

2

Professional Growth Plan Implementation:
Candidate gathers evidence on the benchmarks and develops capacity in the major areas of focus; may implement new strategies and participate in a variety of professional development activities.

3

Panel Presentation:

The Candidate presents evidence to a panel of experts.

School Psychologists

There is not a currently approved program for Professional Certification for school psychologists. School psychologists with an expiration date of June 2013, 2014, or 2015 on their Residency Certificate have been granted a one time 2-year extension. 
  • School psychologists holding a dated Residency Certificate should return here for updates on availability of a ProCert program. Contact Corll Morrissey or the OSPI Certification Office with School Psychology in the subject line with specific questions.
School psychologists may use the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) Certificate for the Professional Certificate: Click here.
  • Information on the NCSP process contact: NASP.
  • Those in the process of obtaining their NCSP may apply for a one time 2-year extension on their Residency Certificate.  Contact the  OSPI Certification Office for the verification process.

School Counseling Professional Certificate 

June 26 Panel Presentation Schedule Click here   

ProCert Candidates register to present: 

  • Click here after being cleared by the university supervisor.  

ProCert Panel Dates: 

  • June 26, 2013   Gonzaga University
  • September 28, 2013,   Renton Technical College

Handbook and Documents:

Counselor ProCert Begin the Process - Read thoroughly before contacting the ProCert program
Counselor ProCert Handbook 2012-13 
Counselor ProCert Narrative Template 2012-13
Counselor ProCert Definition of Evidence
Counselor ProCert Professional Growth Plan 

Currently Approved School Counselor ProCert Programs

 Prior to contacting a program read Begin the Process

  • Gonzaga University Cari Johnson johnsonc3@gonzaga.edu (509) 313-3501
  • Western Washington University Dr. Diana Gruman diana.gruman@wwu.edu 
  • 1-2 additional programs are anticipated to be approved for summer and fall 2013
 *School counselors may use the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification for the Professional Certificate: Click here.

School Counselors and Psychologists Certified Prior to September 2005:

Continuing Certification: An ESA receiving their first Washington certificate in School Psychology,School Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, School Nursing, or Speech-Language Pathology follow the Initial/Continuing track.  All ESA roles with a valid Initial Certificate apply to the Certification Office for the Continuing Certificate.

Peer Review for school psychology and school counselor programs. See the current list of programs offering peer review.

School Social Workers

School social workers are now on the Initial/Continuing track for certification. Those with Residency Certificates will apply to the local Education Service District for certification.

School social worker certification Frequently Asked Questions.