Professional Educator Standards Board

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Approval

Any institution wishing to offer an educator preparation or endorsement program in Washington State must be approved by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). PESB oversees educator preparation programs for the following roles:

  • Residency teacher (traditional and Alternative Routes)
  • Residency principal
  • Residency program administrator
  • Initial superintendent
  • Initial career and technical education (CTE) teacher (plan 1 and plan 2)
  • Initial CTE administrator
  • Residency school counselor
  • Residency school psychologist

An approved residency teacher or CTE plan 1 program may also seek approval to offer an endorsement(s) or basic area endorsement(s).

Become a new program

The approval process to offer a new program, including Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification, is a three stage process:

1) Notification of intent. Prospective program leaders indicate to the Board and PESB staff that they will be seeking approval for a proposed educator preparation program. The notification of intent is included on the upcoming Board consent agenda. When approved, the notification of intent is added to the PESB website. 2) Pre-proposal. Prospective program leaders outline the framework of the proposed program. At this stage, program leaders must also fully qualify the need for the program. Prospective program leaders present the pre-proposal to the Board for an approval decision.3) Prospective program leaders prove a complete picture of the proposed programe, including evidence of strategies and program design.If approved, program leaders should be prepared to fully implement the proposed program. Prospective program leaders present the full proposal to the Board for an approval decision.

Learn more about the process to offer a new educator preparation program, required forms, and additional resources.

Offer an endorsement

To add an endorsement or basic area endorsement program, your institution must already be approved to offer a residency teacher or CTE plan 1 program.

The endorsement approval process is a one stage process. Learn more about the process to offer an endorsement, the required form, and additional resources.

Change or add to an approved program

Approved institutions notify PESB regarding any program changes. Learn more.

Alternative routes to teacher certification

  • If your institution is approved to offer Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification and would like to add to or change your Alternative Routes program, visit this page.
  • If your institution is not approved to offer Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification and would like to seek approval to start an Alternative Routes program, visit this page.

What is an alternative route?

Alternative Routes to Certification are non-traditional teacher preparation programs that operate as a partnership between a teacher preparation program and one or more school districts in order to develop teachers in state and local shortage areas. Read more about alternative routes programs.

Any institution wishing to add an Alternative Routes program must complete an Alternative Routes to Certification proposal and present it to the Board for approval.

What routes can our program offer?

There are four alternative routes that a program may offer, and a program may choose to offer one, all, or any combination of these routes, as it fits with their program design and the districts and candidates they seek to serve. Below is the description of each route:

  • Route 1 – Employed district staff, such as paraeducators, with an associate’s degree or equivalent.
  • Route 2 – Employed district staff with a baccalaureate degree.
  • Route 3 – Individuals with a baccalaureate degree who are not employed by a district.
  • Route 4 – Individuals with a baccalaureate degree whom the district will employ one a limited certificate while pursuing certification.

Course approval

PESB oversees the approval process for the following courses:

  • Professional transitions to public schools
  • Suicide prevention training

Learn more about the course approval process.

Notifications of intent to offer a new program

The first stage in the approval process to offer a new program is the notification of intent (NOI). The following programs have submitted NOIs for consideration.

Procedures to reestablish approval status

To reestablish approval status, the disapproved program must undergo the same procedures as a new program (WAC 181-78A-120). Learn more about the process to offer a new educator preparation program.