If you are looking for individual certificate information, please visit the OSPI certification website.
Professional Growth Plans (PGPs) are job-embedded, self-directed professional development. In a Professional Growth Plan, educators set their own goals, align them to certification standards, design an action plan, and then collect evidence documenting their growth towards achieving their goals. Educators then reflect on the process. There is no cost to an educator for a PGP. Clock hours earned through a Professional Growth Plan may be eligible for salary advancement.
Why PGPs?
Clock hours at no cost for work you are already doing.
Why PGPs? – a one-page flyer for educators on the PGP process.
PGP forms and support materials – for certificate renewal and program completion
PGP FAQ – Find more information
Certification standards and benchmarks – for all roles
Imagine these scenarios
- A teacher creates and implements student growth goals for her focused evaluation – and now receives clock hours for her work at no cost!
- Two teachers, a principal, and a counselor at a rural school collaborate on a year long initiative to improve school climate. They are hours from a major town, but with PGPs, these educators can acquire clock hours for activities right in their local school.
- A science teacher attends a week long marine biology seminar on the Oregon coast. With a PGP, this teacher can use their out-of-state learning experiences to earn Washington state clock hours.
How do I complete a Professional Growth Plan?
- Complete the PGP template – form 1697 (document).
- Attach evidence from your focused evaluation, PLC, project, or other learning experience.
- Have a certificated educator in Washington state review and sign.
- Turn in the verification form (PDF) according to your district procedures for consideration for salary advancement AND record in OSPI e-certification for certificate renewal.
Who may complete a PGP? Teachers, administrators, and ESAs.
Cost: $0.00
Materials: PGP forms and support materials.
What is a PGP for? Clock hours from PGPs are eligible for use in salary advancement, and may be used for renewal of residency, professional, and continuing certificates.
PGP clock hours: PGPs completed through June 30, 2018, are equivalent to 30 clock hours. Beginning July 1, 2018, PGPs are equivalent to 25 clock hours.
STEM and TPEP certificate renewal requirements may be met through PGPs.
When may a PGP be completed? Only one PGP may be completed each year. PGPs are completed between July 1 of one year and June 30 of the next. Completion of a PGP includes review by a Washington certificated educator.
PGPs for program completion are part of Washington state’s educator preparation programs. Forms are available on the PGP forms and support materials page.
Certification and PGPs
Professional Growth Plans play a significant role in obtaining and renewing an educator credential, and while the PESB defines certification policy for all educators, OSPI’s certification office implements that policy for individual educators. These pages focus on PESB policy responsibilities. The certification office website provides information for individuals with questions about their own licensure.
Certification renewal
Links to OSPI’s certification office by role:
Guidance for specific requirements for renewal
Guidance for the STEM, TPEP, and suicide prevention training certificate renewal requirements:
- TPEP professional development requirement for certificate renewal – guidance for educators, districts, and professional development providers
- STEM integration certificate renewal requirement – guidance for educators, districts, and professional development providers
- Suicide prevention training providers – approved curriculum and training required for specific ESAs
