Educational staff associates (ESAs) provide education and health services to students in Washington State. PESB oversees assignment and credentialing policy for educational staff associates (ESAs). There are nine ESA roles.
ESAs providing services through telepractice are subject to the same Washington ESA certification and licensure regulations as those providing in-person services.
School behavior analyst
Credentialing requirements
School behavior analysts are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for behavior analysts. An individual must have a valid Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certificate from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) in order to obtain the school behavior analyst certificate. School behavior analysts are not required to have a Department of Health (DOH) behavior analyst license, although many of them do (RCW).
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide behavior analyst services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are supporting students with services as listed on the individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a behavior analyst license. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP (WAC).
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
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School counselor
Credentialing requirements
School counselors are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school counselors.
You can find a description of the school counselor role and requirements for certification in RCW.
School social workers or other ESAs, or individuals with a DOH mental health counselor license or other DOH license, cannot serve as school counselors without a school counselor ESA certificate. Although they cannot serve as school counselors, other ESAs can implement school counseling programs under SB 5030.
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide counselor services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are supporting students with services as listed on the individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a mental health counselor or marriage and family therapist license. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP (WAC).
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Learn more about:
- School counseling programs, SB 5030 (2021)
- School counseling certification, RCW 28A.410.043
- Requirements for school counselor ESA certification
- Conditional ESA certification
- Washington State approved school counselor preparation programs
- DOH mental health counselor license
- DOH marriage and family therapist license
- DOH credential search
- Related service providers
- OSPI information on school counseling
School nurse
Credentialing requirements
School nurses are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school nurses.
An individual must have a Department of Health (DOH) RN license in order to obtain the school nurse ESA certificate. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
School districts with less than 2,000 students can employ DOH licensed nurses without ESA certificates (RCW).
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide nurse services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are supporting students with services as listed on the individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a registered nurse license. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP (WAC).
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Learn more about:
School occupational therapist
Credentialing requirements
School occupational therapists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school occupational therapists.
An individual must have a Department of Health (DOH) occupational therapist license in order to obtain the school occupational therapist ESA certificate. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide occupational therapist services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are supporting students with services as listed on the individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as an occupational therapist license. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP (WAC ).
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
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School orientation and mobility specialist
Credentialing requirements
School orientation and mobility specialists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school orientation and mobility specialists.
Candidates must hold a valid certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS) certificate from the academy for certification of vision rehabilitation and education professionals (ACVREP), valid national orientation and mobility certification (NOMC) from the national blindness professional certification board (NBPCB), or other valid national certificate as approved by the professional educator standards board.
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide orientation and mobility specialist services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are providing services to students as listed under an individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant license, such as a COMS certificate. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP (WAC).
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
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School physical therapist
Credentialing requirements
School physical therapists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school physical therapists.
An individual must have a Department of Health (DOH) physical therapist license in order to obtain the school physical therapist ESA certificate. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide physical therapist services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are supporting students with services as listed on the individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a physical therapist license. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP (WAC).
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Learn more about:
School psychologist
Credentialing requirements
School psychologists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school psychologists. Find a description of the school psychologist role and the requirement for certification in RCW.
Individuals are not required to have a license from the Department of Health (DOH) in order to obtain the school psychologist ESA certificate. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide psychologist services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are supporting students with services as listed on the individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a psychologist license. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP (WAC).
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Learn more about:
School social worker
Credentialing requirements
School social workers are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school social workers. Individuals are not required to have a license from the Department of Health (DOH) in order to obtain the school social worker ESA certificate. Find a description of the school social worker role and the requirement for certification in RCW.
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide social worker services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are supporting students with services as listed on the individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a social worker license. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP. (WAC)
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Learn more about:
School speech language pathologist (SLP) and audiologist
Credentialing requirements
School SLPs and audiologists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for SLPs and audiologists.
Individuals are not required to have a license from the Department of Health (DOH) in order to obtain the SLP ESA certificate, although many SLP ESAs also have the DOH license. Some school districts set a local requirement of having both an ESA certificate and a DOH license, often to allow billing for school-based health care. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
Contracted providers
A district may contract with an external provider that is not an employee of the school district to provide speech language pathologist and audiologist services. ESA certification is not required for contracted providers unless they are supporting students with services as listed on the individualized education program (IEP). These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a speech language pathologist or audiologist license. ESA certification is required in order to provide specially designed instruction or related services under an IEP (WAC).
All contracted providers serving in these roles must hold the relevant state or national license. The requirements of state or national licensing, in addition to the school ESA certificate, differ for each of these roles. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Telepractice
School district SLPs and audiologists providing services through telepractice are subject to the same ESA certification and licensure regulations as those providing in-person services. School district SLPs and audiologists providing telepractice services are not required to have a DOH license unless needed for school-based health care billing purposes.
Some other states require individuals providing telepractice services to have the appropriate certificate for both the state they are providing services from, and the state they are providing services to, so it is important for individuals to inquire with both states.
For SLPs licensed by DOH, the Board of Hearing and Speech has developed telepractice guidelines (PDF).
