Educational staff associates (ESAs) provide education and health services to students in Washington state. PESB oversees assignment and credentialing policy for educational staff associates (ESAs). There are eight ESA roles.
School behavior analyst
Credentialing requirements
School behavior analysts are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for behavior analysts.
School behavior analysts are not required to have a Department of Health (DOH) behavior analyst license, although many of them do. See RCW 18.380.030(3).
Contracted providers
ESA certification is not required in order for a district to contract with a related service provider that is not an employee of the school district. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract. These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a behavior analyst license.
The OSPI Special Education office requires ESA certification (or other appropriate educator certification) in order to provide specially designed instruction under an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
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School counselor
Credentialing requirements
School counselors are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school counselors.
You can find a description of the school counselor role and requirement for certification in RCW 28A.410.043.
School social workers or other ESAs, or individuals with a DOH mental health counselor license or other DOH license, cannot serve as school counselors without a school counselor ESA certificate.
Contracted providers
ESA certification is not required in order for a district to contract with a related service provider that is not an employee of the school district. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract. These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a mental health counselor or marriage and family therapist license.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
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School nurse
Credentialing requirements
School nurses are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school nurses.
An individual must have a Department of Health (DOH) RN license in order to obtain the school nurse ESA certificate. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
School districts with less than 2,000 students can employ DOH licensed nurses without ESA certificates (RCW 28A.210.300).
Contracted providers
ESA certification is not required in order for any district to contract with a provider who is not an employee of the school district. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract. These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a registered nurse license.
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School occupational therapist
Credentialing requirements
School occupational therapists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school occupational therapists.
An individual must have a Department of Health (DOH) occupational therapist license in order to obtain the school occupational therapist ESA certificate. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
Contracted providers
ESA certification is not required in order for a district to contract with a related service provider that is not an employee of the school district. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract. These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as an occupational therapist license.
The OSPI Special Education office requires ESA certification (or other appropriate educator certification) in order to provide specially designed instruction under an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
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School physical therapist
School physical therapists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school physical therapists.
An individual must have a Department of Health (DOH) physical therapist license in order to obtain the school physical therapist ESA certificate. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
Contracted providers
ESA certification is not required in order for a district to contract with a related service provider that is not an employee of the school district. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract. These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a physical therapist license.
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
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School psychologist
School psychologists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school psychologists.
You can find a description of the school psychologist role and the requirement for certification in RCW 28A.410.045.
Individuals are not required to have a license from the Department of Health (DOH) in order to obtain the school psychologist ESA certificate. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
Contracted providers
ESA certification is not required in order for a district to contract with a related service provider that is not an employee of the school district. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract. These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a psychologist license.
The OSPI Special Education office requires ESA certification (or other appropriate educator certification) in order to provide specially designed instruction under an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Learn more about:
School social worker
School social workers are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for school social workers. Individuals are not required to have a license from the Department of Health (DOH) in order to obtain the school social worker ESA certificate.
You can find a description of the school social worker role and the requirement for certification in RCW 28A.410.045.
Contracted providers
ESA certification is not required in order for a district to contract with a related service provider who is not an employee of the school district. While many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract, they are not required to do so. These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a social worker license.
The OSPI Special Education office requires ESA certification (or other appropriate educator certification) in order to provide specially designed instruction under an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Learn more about:
School speech language pathologist (SLP) and audiologist
School SLPs and audiologists are required to have an educational staff associate (ESA) certificate for SLPs and audiologists.
Individuals are not required to have a license from the Department of Health (DOH) in order to obtain the SLP ESA certificate, although many SLP ESAs also have the DOH license. Some school districts set a local requirement of having both an ESA certificate and a DOH license, often to allow billing for school-based health care. For questions on licensure requirements for school-based health care services, including billing, please contact the Health Care Authority.
Contracted providers
ESA certification is not required in order for a district to contract with a related service provider that is not an employee of the school district. Though they are not required to do so, many school districts choose to require ESA certification or other conditions as part of a personal services or agency contract. These individuals must have the relevant DOH license, such as a speech language pathologist or audiologist license.
The OSPI Special Education office requires ESA certification (or other appropriate educator certification) in order to provide specially designed instruction under an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The OSPI Special Education office can respond to inquiries on specially designed instruction or related services at 360-725-6075 or speced@k12.wa.us.
Telepractice
School district SLPs and audiologists providing services through telepractice are subject to the same ESA certification and licensure regulations as those providing in-person services. School district SLPs and audiologists providing telepractice services are not required to have a DOH license unless needed for school-based health care billing purposes.
Some other states require individuals providing telepractice services to have the appropriate certificate for both the state they are providing services from, and the state they are providing services to, so it is important for individuals to inquire with both states.
Department of Health (DOH)
For SLPs licensed by DOH, the Board of Hearing and Speech has developed telepractice guidelines (PDF). An SLP who treats residents of Washington must have a DOH license to practice in Washington State. SLPs may choose telepractice as one way to provide services.
Determine if an individual has a Department of Health license.
