What is a limited certificate?
Limited certificates provide flexibility in the Washington state educator certification system. With a limited certificate, educators who have not met full certification requirements may practice in classrooms and schools if certain conditions are met. Limited certificates can be an entry point to the profession. Individuals pursuing alternative routes to certification can teach with a limited certificate while they are completing their programs.
The limited certificate work group reviewed policy in WAC, with a goal of maintaining flexibility, adding cohesiveness to the system, and streamlining the system to reduce confusion. Meeting materials can be found on the limited certificate work group page. The work group presented their recommendations to the Board in May 2018, made initial consideration of the WAC amendments in July 2018, and approved the proposed amendment in September 2018. The amended WAC language is available (document).
What are the changes?
- Previously, there were seven types of limited certificates. The WAC amendment includes only four types. However, educators who qualified for one of the previous certificates would continue to qualify for one of the new certificates.
- The emergency certificate will no longer be available, but districts will be able to request a conditional certificate for those same individuals.
- The emergency substitute certificate will continue to be available, and will have a two year validity period.
- Certificates are valid for the period determined at the time the certificate was issued.
- The validity period of a certificate currently held by an individual would not suddenly be cut short because of this policy change.
Certificate details:
The conditional certificate is available for teachers in all endorsement areas. Specific provisions exist for: The conditional certificate is also available for Education staff associates (ESAs) in the following roles. Individuals must meet applicable specific provisions. For details, please see information on the conditional ESA certificates below. For administrators, a conditional certificate is available in the role of principal to individuals meeting certain requirements. Mentors are required for holders of conditional certificates in all roles, and the district must develop a written plan of support within twenty working days from the commencement of the assignment. School board approval continues to be required for conditional certificates. When requesting a conditional certificate, districts will verify that one or more of the following criteria have been met: When requesting a conditional certificate, districts will verify that all of the following criteria have been met: Individuals will be required to complete 50 clock hours, or the equivalent in credits or Professional Growth Plans (PGPs) (document), subsequent to the issuance, and prior to the reissuance, of the certificate. Degree requirements: Conditional certificates have a validity period of two years. No change in policy in reissuances for conditional certificates—they may be reissued at district request as long as the original requirements for the issuance of the certificate are met. Five years total: Conditional: 2+1 Emergency: 1+1 Five years total: Conditional: 2+3 Six years total: Conditional: 2+2 Emergency 1+1 Six years total: Conditional: 2+2+2 Special Education Teacher conditional certificate: Traffic Safety Education conditional certificate: Nonimmigrant exchange teacher: Principal: The only change to policy regarding emergency substitute certificates is in regards to validity period. Previously, emergency substitute certificates had a validity period of three years. Now, in order to align with the validity periods of other limited certificates, emergency substitute certificates will have a validity period of two years. Teacher A district may request the emergency substitute certificate if it has, “exhausted or reasonably anticipates it will exhaust its list of qualified substitutes under WAC 181-79A-232.” Requirements for individuals holding an emergency substitute certificate: No change in policy for emergency substitute teacher certificates: bachelor’s degrees are not required. Two years. May be reissued. The “lifetime” substitute certificate is requested by the individual certificate holder, not by the district. As such, it is not a limited certificate. The substitute certificate was removed from the list of limited certificates and placed in its own section, WAC 181-79a-232. Policy provisions for this certificate were not changed. Teacher, administrator, ESA. Individuals must meet one or more of the following: Valid for life. Updated 05/31/2022. The transitional certificate allows holders of expired continuing certificates to serve in the role while they are completing the requirements to renew their certificates. At the May 2022 meeting, the PESB Board expanded the scope to allow transitional certificates to be issued for teachers, ESAs, or administrators whose certificates are subject to renewal under WAC 181-79A-240 and expire or lapse by June 30, 2022. Teachers, administrators, and ESAs with expired continuing certificates. Teachers, administrators, and ESAs with expired certificates subject to renewal under WAC 181-79A-240 that expire or lapse by June 30, 2022. Issued upon request of the school district. Must complete the requirements for certificate renewal within two years of the date the holder was issued the transitional certificate. Two years. May not be reissued. There were no policy changes to the intern substitute certificate. The intent of the intern substitute certificate is to provide the intern the opportunity to serve as a substitute when the cooperating teacher is absent. This provides the intern with experience while allowing for consistency in instruction for the students. Teacher. Holders of the intern substitute certificate may serve as a substitute teacher only in the classroom(s) to which the individual is assigned as a student teacher or intern. Request requirements: Requested by the district and approved by the preparation program provider. Validity period: One year. Reissuance: May be reissued upon request by the district and approval by the preparation program provider. Previously, both conditional and emergency certificates were available for certain ESA roles. Individuals who qualified for one of these previous certificates would be eligible for the conditional certificate under the revised WAC. Overall provisions for the ESA limited certificates did not change other than a name change from “emergency certificate” to “conditional certificate.” SLP limited certificates were previously available for a total of six years in a series of 2 year + 2 year + 1 year + 1 year conditional and emergency certificates, and now are still available for a total of six years in a series of 2 year + 2 year + 2 year conditional certificates. A work group regarding the ESA certificates is currently meeting this year, and will be reviewing the ESA limited certificates. Conditional ESA certificates are subject to the overall provisions of the conditional certificate. Information regarding the ESA conditional certificates is found below: The individual may hold the certificate for six years total with a 2 year issuance + 2 year reissuance + 2 year reissuance. Questions regarding individual certificate status and potential next steps should be directed to the OSPI Certification Office at (360) 725-6400 or cert@k12.wa.us. PESB can respond to policy inquiries: contact PESB staff Maren Johnson at Maren.Johnson@k12.wa.us.The Conditional Certificate
Roles:
Requirements for districts requesting a conditional certificate:
Requirements for individuals holding a conditional certificate:
Validity period:
Reissuance:
(Previously was five years total with a 2 year conditional + 1 year conditional + 1 year emergency + 1 year emergency.)
(Previously was six years total with a 2 year conditional + 2 year conditional + 1 year emergency + 1 year emergency)
Previous policy
New policy
Special Education
SLP: School speech language pathologist or audiologist
Specific roles:
The Emergency Substitute Certificate
Role:
Requirements for districts requesting an emergency substitute certificate:
Validity period:
Reissuance:
The Substitute Certificate
Roles:
Requirements for individuals requesting a substitute certificate:
Validity period:
The Transitional Certificate
Roles:
Request requirements:
Requirements for individuals holding a transitional certificate:
Validity period:
Reissuance:
The Intern Substitute Certificate
Role:
The Conditional ESA Certificates
School counselor
School psychologist
School nurse
School social worker
School speech language pathologist or audiologist
Questions?