The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) oversees the approval process for the following courses:
- Professional transitions to public schools
- Suicide prevention training
- CTE career guidance specialist course of study
Who is required to take these courses?
- Professional transitions to public schools – School nurses, school occupational therapists (OTs), school physical therapists (PTs), school social workers, school speech language pathologists (SLPs) or audiologists, and behavior analysts are required to take this course for initial ESA certification.
- Suicide prevention training – School nurses, school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers are required to take this course when renewing an initial, continuing, residency, or professional certificate. This requirement begins September 1, 2020, for renewal of initial and residency certificates. This requirement is already in place for renewal of continuing and professional certificates.
- CTE Career Guidance Specialist Course of Study – Educators seeking a CTE career guidance specialist certificate must complete this course of study in addition to other requirements. Currently, there are no providers in the state offering this course of study.
Learn about the course approval process for providers
Note to course providers: All course information should be provided on the course proposal form, as the internal review team will not review supplemental materials such as course syllabi. Please note that Board meeting agendas have limited capacity. If the internal review team recommends a course proposal move forward on the consent agenda, it will go onto the agenda for the next upcoming Board meeting. If not, a presentation may be required and presentation slots are limited, so a provider’s opportunity to present may be delayed to a future Board meeting.
Professional transitions to public schools
Providers wanting to offer a new ESA professional transitions to public schools course must submit a course proposal to the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). Courses require re-approval every five years, and will remain approved until June 30 of the year they are scheduled for re-approval.
Course outcomes
Courses will be a minimum of fifteen hours, and must support candidates in meeting the following outcomes:
- Demonstrate an understanding of school and special education laws and policies (national, state, and local) and their application to decision-making processes in the educational setting;
- Understand and demonstrate knowledge of working within the culture of the schools, creating an environment that fosters safety, health, and learning for the students;
- Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate resources in the school setting;
- Demonstrate knowledge of collaboration with team members which may include parents, teachers, administrators, and others to support learning outcomes for all students;
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to support the outcomes for all students through strategies such as scientifically based practices, collaborative teaming, and ethical decision making;
- Use professional standards to inform professional growth planning;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the use of human, community, and technological resources.
Approval process for new courses
- Complete the ESA professional transition to public schools course proposal form and submit it to PESB at least 90 days before the PESB Board meeting at which they would like your proposal to be considered. (This is a modified deadline which begins with the November 2024 Board meeting)
- A separate proposal form must be completed for each course that you are applying to offer.
- PESB convenes a staff review team to review the course proposal form and completes a course review rubric.
- The review team provides you with feedback, and an overall recommendation of the course proposal.
- If the review team recommends approval of the course proposal, the recommendation is presented at the board meeting, listed as a consent agenda item. The Board always has the option to take an item off the consent agenda.
- If the review team does not recommend approval of the course proposal, you have the option to either present at the board meeting on the full agenda, or
revise the course proposal and re-submit it for a subsequent board meeting.
Due dates
Course proposal forms are due at least 90 days in advance of the PESB meeting to which you wish to bring your proposal for consideration. For upcoming proposal due dates, see below.
Board meetings | Course proposal form(s) due |
July 18, 2024 | May 17, 2024 |
September 19-20, 2024 | July 19, 2024 |
November 14-15, 2024 | August 16, 2024 |
January 30-31, 2025 | November 1, 2024 |
March 20-21, 2025 | December 20, 2024 |
May 22-23, 2025 | February 21, 2025 |
July 24, 2025 | April 25, 2025 |
September 19-20, 2025 | June 20, 2025 |
November 13-14, 2025 | August 15, 2025 |
Re-approval process
The re-approval process will be completed every five years, and follow the same steps as the approval process. Providers must submit a separate proposal form for re-approval to PESB for each course offered prior to June 30 of the school year indicated.
Approved through June 30 of the following school year | Course | Provider |
2023-24 |
COMD 405 “Speech-language pathology and audiology in the Schools” COMD 599 “Independent Study” (SLP or Audiologist) COMD 539 “Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology in Schools” |
Eastern Washington University |
2024-25 | Initial ESA Certification | Puget Sound ESD 121 |
SHS 471 (Speech-language pathology or audiologist) SHS 550 (Speech-language pathologist or audiologist) SHS 590 (Speech-language pathologist or audiologist) |
Washington State University | |
CSD 580 plus CSD 553 or CSD 555 (Speech-language pathologist or audiologist) | Western Washington University | |
2025-26 | EDSPE 554 Behavior Analysts in Schools | University of Washington |
Foundations for School Nursing | University of Washington – School of Nursing | |
SPHSC 550 (Public School Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology) | University of Washington | |
Introduction to School Nursing | Pacific Lutheran University Center for Continued Nursing Learning | |
Initial ESA Certification Course | NEWESD 101 | |
2026-27 | Rehab 576 Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice in Pediatrics; Rehab 582 Assistive Technology in Rehabilitation (Both courses are required to meet the certificate requirement for Occupational Therapist) | University of Washington |
School Nursing: Preparation for Initial Certification | WSU School of Nursing | |
CSD 590, Educational Audiology | Western Washington University | |
2027-28 | OTH 532/537 Occupational Performance in Children and Adolescents; OCTH 541, Technology for Enabling Occupations | Eastern Washington University |
Initial ESA Certification | ESD 113 | |
Rehab 502: Lifespan III, Pediatrics Rehab 517: Professional Seminar Series |
University of Washington, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program | |
TSOCW 542 “Social work in schools” | University of Washington-Tacoma | |
2028-29 |
SOCW 588 “Social work in schools” SOWK 559 “School Social Work and School Law” Initial ESA Certification Course (School Social Workers) |
University of Washington-Seattle Eastern Washington University UW SMART Center |
2029-30 | CMSD 550S “Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in the Schools” | Eastern Washington University |
SOWK 587: Social Work in Schools | Heritage University |
Resources
Suicide prevention training
Providers wanting to offer a new suicide training prevention course must submit a course proposal to the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). Courses require re-approval every five years. Courses will remain approved until June 30 of the year they are scheduled for re-approval.
Course standards
PESB uses the Department of Health (DOH) course standards for the three-hour suicide prevention training course content, which include:
- Content must be based on current empirical research and known best practices.
- Training must reflect sensitivity and relevance to the cultures and backgrounds of the relevant client or patient populations.
- A minimum of seventy minutes of the course must address screening for suicide risk. Content must include:
- When and how to screen a client or patient for acute and chronic suicide risk and protective factors against suicide;
- Appropriate screening tools, tailored for specific ages and populations if applicable; and
- Strategies for screening and appropriate use of information gained through screening.
- A minimum of thirty minutes of the course must address referral. Content must include:
- How to identify and select an appropriate resource;
- Best practices for connecting a client or patient to a referral; and
- Continuity of care when making referrals
Course approval process
- Complete the suicide prevention training course proposal form and submit it to PESB at least 90 days before the PESB Board meeting at which you would like your proposal to be considered. (This is a modified deadline which begins with the November 2024 Board meeting).
- A separate proposal form must be completed for each course you are applying to offer.
- PESB convenes a staff review team to review course proposal and completes rubric.
- The review team will provide feedback, and an overall recommendation of the course proposal. Feedback and recommendation will be included in board meeting materials alongside with the proposal form.
- If the review team recommends the course proposal, the recommendation is presented at the board meeting as a consent agenda item. The board always has the option to take an item off the consent agenda.
- If the review team does not recommend the course proposal, you have the option to either present at the upcoming board meeting on full agenda, or
revise the course proposal and re-submit it for a subsequent board meeting.
Due dates
Course proposal forms are due at least 90 days in advance of the PESB meeting to which you wish to bring your proposal for consideration. For upcoming proposal due dates, see below.
Board meetings | Course approval form(s) due |
July 18, 2024 | May 17, 2024 |
September 19-20, 2024 | July 19, 2024 |
November 14-15, 2024 | August 16, 2024 |
January 30-31, 2025 | November 1, 2024 |
March 20-21, 2025 | December 20, 2024 |
May 22-23, 2025 | February 21, 2025 |
July 24, 2025 | April 25, 2025 |
September 19-20, 2025 | June 20, 2025 |
November 13-14, 2025 | August 15, 2025 |
Re-approval process
The re-approval process will be completed every five years, and follow the same steps as the approval process.
Courses remain approved through June 30 of the school year indicated, meaning providers will want to apply well in advance of that date. We encourage providers to apply for re-approval in the fall of the school year indicated. Please submit a separate course proposal form for each course listed below.
Approved through June 30 of the following school year | Course | Provider | ||
2023-24 | Suicide prevention and intervention | K. Callaghan (ESC) | ||
2024-25 | Connect suicide prevention intervention training |
 National Alliance for Mental Illness New Hampshire (NAMI NH) Elaine de Mello, LCSW |
||
2025-26 | ESA suicide prevention and intervention | Seattle Public Schools | ||
Youth Mental Health First Aid |
ESD 101 ESD 105 ESD 113 |
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QPR for school health professionals |
ESD 105 ESD 112 ESD 113 |
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Networks for Life: An educator’s role in youth suicide prevention |
Olympic ESD 114 PSESD 121 ESD 123 |
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Signs of Suicide (SOS) | ESD 123 | |||
2026-27 | Signs of Suicide (SOS) |
ESD 189 NEWESD 101 |
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Hazelden Lifelines Triology | NWESD 189 | |||
Culturally Responsive Suicide Prevention | Nasara Consultants, LLC | |||
QPR for School Health Professionals |
PSESD 121 ESD 123 |
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2027-28 | Youth Mental Health First Aid | ESD 121 | ||
QPR for School ESA Professionals | ESD 114 | |||
CARE: Suicide Prevention in Washington Schools |
ESD 101 ESD 113 ESD 114 ESD 121 ESD 123 ESD 171 |
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Lifelines Intervention: Helping Students at Risk for Suicide | Underwood and Associates | |||
2028-29 | Suicide prevention training | JoAnna Rockwood, Intuit Educational Services | ||
2029-30 |
Youth Mental Health First Aid Asking is Caring: Training for ESA Professionals in Suicide Prevention and Intervention |
Lynden School District UW SMART Center |
Resources
CTE Career Guidance Specialist Course of Study
Providers wanting to offer a CTE Career Guidance Specialist Course of Study must submit a proposal to the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). Courses of study require re-approval every five years. Courses of study will remain approved until June 30 of the year they are scheduled for re-approval.
To obtain the CTE career guidance specialist certificate, in addition to completing the course of study, candidates are required to meet one or more of the following:
- Three years certificated experience at the initial, continuing, residency, or professional certificate level as a CTE administrator, CTE teacher, CTE counselor, or occupational information specialist
- Have a valid school counselor ESA certificate;
- 6,000 hours of occupational experience dealing with employment, including personnel or placement and evaluation of workers; or experience providing career guidance, employment, or career counseling services. 2,000 of the 6,000 hours must have been in the most recent ten years prior to the date of certificate application.
Individuals who have a valid or expired CTE counselor or CTE occupational information specialist certificate are eligible for a CTE career guidance specialist certificate without completing the course of study.
More information
OSPI CTE career guidance specialist information
WAC 181-77-081
CTE Career guidance specialist competencies:
Courses of study for the CTE career guidance specialist must prepare candidates in these competencies.
Course approval process
- Complete the CTE career guidance specialist course of study proposal form and submit it to PESB at least 90 days before the PESB Board meeting at which they would like your proposal to be considered. (This is a modified deadline which begins with the November 2024 Board meeting)
- PESB convenes a team to review the course of study proposal and completes a rubric. The review team will provide feedback and an overall recommendation of the course proposal. Feedback and recommendation will be included in board meeting materials alongside the proposal form.
- If the review team recommends the course of study proposal, then you may present the proposal at an upcoming board meeting. The specific board meeting will be determined according to board scheduling needs.
- If the review team does not recommend the course of study proposal, you have the option to either present at a board meeting, or use the feedback to revise the course proposal and re-submit it for a subsequent board meeting
Due dates
Course of study proposal forms are due at least 90 days in advance of the PESB meeting to which you wish to bring your proposal for consideration. For upcoming proposal due dates, see below.
Board meetings | Course approval form(s) due |
July 18, 2024 | May 17, 2024 |
September 19-20, 2024 | July 19, 2024 |
November 14-15, 2024 | August 16, 2024 |
January 30-31, 2025 | November 1, 2024 |
March 20-21, 2025 | December 20, 2024 |
May 22-23, 2025 | February 21, 2025 |
July 24, 2025 | April 25, 2025 |
September 19-20, 2025 | June 20, 2025 |
November 13-14, 2025 | August 15, 2025 |
Resources