New certification requirements

Professional learning in equity-based school practices equips educators to facilitate learning and growth for each and every student. HB 1426, passed by the legislature, requires that teachers and administrators complete clock hours specific to equity-based school and classroom practices as a part of their certificate renewal beginning July 1, 2023. Educators submitting renewal applications before July 1, 2023 do not need to meet these new requirements.

ESD 112 offers courses to meet these new certificate renewal requirements for teachers and administrators. We continue to provide courses for paraeducator certification.

Teacher Certificate Renewal Requirements

As part of their 100 clock hours for renewal, teachers must complete 15 clock hours, or the equivalent in credit, focused on equity-based school practices aligned to the current cultural competency standards.

Teachers must continue to meet existing certificate renewal requirements every five years, including the STEM certificate renewal requirement.

Administrator Certificate Renewal Requirements

Administrators are required to complete all of the following as part of their 100 clock hours for certificate renewal:

• 10 clock hours or equivalent in credit or PGPs in equity-based school practices
• 10 clock hours or equivalent in credit or PGPs in educational leadership
• 5 clock hours in government-to-government relations with federally recognized tribes

ESD 112 offers courses to meet the Equity and Educational Leadership requirements:

Government-to-government Courses:

We do not currently offer any courses to fulfill this requirement. This learning may only be provided by subject matter experts approved by the Governor’s Office on Indian Affairs (GOIA), in collaboration with the Tribal Leaders Congress on Education (TLCE) and the OSPI Office of Native Education (ONE).

Administrators must continue to meet existing certificate renewal requirements every five years.

Paraeducator Certificate Program

The paraeducator certificate program offers standards-based training for all instructional paraeducators in Washington State. It has two required training components and three optional certificates. We offer courses for the following two required training components, as well as courses that can be applied to the optional Advanced Paraeducator Certificate. Visit the OSPI Website for more information >

Fundamental Course of Study (FCS)

The program begins with the FCS. The FCS is 28 hours of training that covers the paraeducator standards of practice. School districts are responsible for providing this training when funded.*

General Paraeducator Certificate

The general certificate includes 70 clock hours of training in addition to the FCS to help improve instructional practices. A paraeducator has three years to complete this certificate after completing the FCS. Once earned this is a lifetime certificate. School districts are responsible for providing this training when funded.* Courses from the ESD-U Paraeducator and Explorers Program (PEP) may be applied to this certificate.

Advanced Paraeducator Certificate

Clock hours for this certificate can be earned starting on the date the paraeducator applies for a General Paraeducator Certificate, not prior. This certificate requires 75 clock hours related to the duties of an Advanced Paraeducator. This certificate will have a 5-year validity and may be renewed. Courses from the ESD-U Paraeducator and Explorers Program (PEP) may be applied to this certificate.

*Please talk with your district before registering for either of these trainings.