What is an endorsement?
An endorsement is the specific subject matter or content area listed on your teaching certificate in Washington State. All certificates must have at least one endorsement, and some endorsement areas cannot stand alone. For questions or details on adding an endorsement, please see the OSPI website.
How can I earn an endorsement?
Test-only process
Individuals must pass a WEST-E/NES test or an alternative approved through the PESB for the desired endorsement. Further testing information here.
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Choral Music
- Computer Science
- Dance
- Earth & Space Science
- English Language Arts
- General Music
- History
- Instrumental Music
- Mathematics
- Middle Level Humanities
- Middle Level Mathematics
- Middle Level Science
- Physics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Theatre Arts
- Visual Arts
- Designated World Languages
Health/fitness may be added through a test-only process if a qualifying score was achieved on the test by May 19, 2019, and an application for the endorsement is submitted by July 31, 2019. After May 19, 2019, the health/fitness endorsement may only be added through completion of an approved program plus a qualifying score on the relevant test.
Completing a preparation program plus a test
These endorsement may only be added by completion of an approved program plus passing a test. Find the list of approved programs here.
- Bilingual education*
- Deaf education
- Deaf education with ASL proficiency
- Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Special Education
- English Language Learner*
- Elementary Education
- Health Fitness
- Library media specialist
- Reading
- Special Education
- Traffic Safety
*Individuals who hold an ELL or Bilingual endorsement may add the other endorsement via passage of the appropriate required subject knowledge or language proficiency test(s).
This policy on adding endorsements does not apply to CTE initial/continuing certificates or to specialty endorsements.
National Board certification
Washington state teachers may add an endorsement through National Board certification, according to the table of National Board certificate areas and equivalent Washington state endorsements WAC 181-82a-204 (2)(b).
Out-of-state educators seeking certification in Washington are exempt from the WEST-E/NES requirement, if they hold a certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), and there is a direct equivalency between the endorsement sought and their National Board certificate area WAC 181-02-002(1).
| Adding endorsements & WEST-E exemptions | |
|---|---|
| NBPTS certificate area | WA endorsements |
| Art: early and middle childhood (3-12) | Visual arts |
| Art: early adolescence through young adulthood (11-18+) | Visual arts |
| Band: early and middle childhood (3-12) | General music; Instrumental music |
| Band: early adolescence through young adulthood (11-18+) | General music; Instrumental music |
| Early childhood generalist (3-8) | Early Childhood Education |
| English as a new language: early and middle childhood (3-12) | English Language Learners |
| English as a new language: early adolescence through young adulthood (11-18+) | English Language Learners |
| English language arts: early adolescence (11-15) | English language arts |
| English language arts: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | English language arts |
| Exceptional needs: early childhood through young adulthood (3-18+) | Special education |
| Exceptional needs: early childhood through young adulthood (3-18+), Deaf/Hard of Hearing |
Deaf education Deaf education with ASL proficiency may be added if ASL proficiency requirements are met in addition to National Board certification. |
| Exceptional needs: early childhood through young adulthood (3-18+), visually impaired | Teacher of the visually impaired |
| Exceptional needs: early childhood through young adulthood (3-18+) | Special education |
| Library media: early childhood through young adulthood (3-18+) | Library media |
| Literacy: early and middle childhood (3-12) | Reading |
| Middle childhood generalist (7-12) | Elementary education |
| Mathematics: early adolescence (11-15) | Middle level mathematics |
| Mathematics: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Mathematics |
| Orchestra: early and middle childhood (3-12) | General music; Instrumental music |
| Orchestra: early adolescence through young adulthood (11-18+) | General music; Instrumental music |
| Science: early adolescence (11-15) | Middle level science |
| Science: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Science |
| Science – biology: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Science; Biology |
| Science – chemistry: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Science; Chemistry |
| Science – earth and space: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Science; Earth and Space |
| Science – physics: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Science; Physics |
| Social studies and history: early adolescence (11-15) | Social studies; History |
| Social studies and history: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Social studies; History |
| Vocal: early and middle childhood (3-12) | General music; Choral music |
| Vocal: early adolescence through young adulthood (11-18+) | General music; Choral music |
| World languages: early adolescence through young adulthood (11-18+) | World language |
| WEST-E sub-test exemptions | |
| English language arts: early adolescence (11-15) | Middle level humanities sub-test 1 |
| English language arts: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Middle level humanities sub-test 1 |
| Social studies and history: early adolescence (11-15) | Middle level humanities sub-test 2 |
| Social studies and history: adolescence and young adulthood (14-18+) | Middle level humanities sub-test 2 |
More information about applying for a Washington teaching certificate can be found on OSPI’s certification website or by calling the certification office of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction at (360) 725-6400.
What is the dual endorsement requirement?
Beginning September 1, 2019, a teacher who obtains a bilingual education, English language learner, or science endorsement must earn and/or hold a second endorsement in another endorsement area.
- Read our FAQ (document) for additional details and information about this new requirement.
Can I teach out of endorsement?
You can teach outside of your endorsement area if certain conditions are met. Use the assignment rules and lookup tool to find matches between endorsements and preparation programs.
If individuals are assigned outside of their endorsement area, the following needs to happen:
- The out-of-endorsement assignment needs to be approved by the local school board.
- The district and the teacher “mutually develop a written plan” for assistance to the teacher. The plan needs to provide “a reasonable amount of planning and study time associated specifically with the out-of-endorsement assignment.” Plans might include mentoring, PLC time with teachers in the content area, taking a course, independent study, and so on. The plan does not have to include acquiring the endorsement, although it may.
- Teachers cannot be subject to non-renewal or probation based on evaluations of their teaching effectiveness in the out-of-endorsement assignments.
- There are other specific provisions in WAC related to teaching special education out-of-endorsement.
There are no out-of-endorsement provisions for CTE teachers.
What are specialty endorsements?
Educators can receive a specialty endorsement after demonstrating specific skills and knowledge in a highly specialized area of instruction. Specialty endorsements can appear on an educator’s certificate and provide visibility and evidence of their professional preparation and learning accomplishments.
Specialty endorsements are not connected to assignment policy and do not require passing a statewide assessment. A teacher must already hold a certificate with at least one other endorsement area before earning a specialty endorsement.
Specialty endorsement options for teacher certificates
- Environmental and sustainability education
- Gifted education
- Teacher of the visually impaired. Once an assessment is adopted by the Board for teacher of the visually impaired, it will become a regular endorsement.
- Elementary mathematics specialist
- Other specialty endorsements as approved by PESB
Specialty endorsement options for teacher, ESA, and administrator certificates
- Elementary computer science
- Secondary computer science
- Other specialty endorsements as approved by PESB
Learn more
- Approved endorsements of each preparation program provider
- Endorsement competencies
- WAC on certificate endorsements and assignment
- WAC on performance-based teacher certificates, including specialty endorsements
