Washington Teaching Certificate Renewal: Requirements and How to Complete It

Washington teaching certificate renewal runs on a five-year cycle managed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), under rules set by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). To renew a Residency or Professional teaching certificate, you need 100 clock hours of continuing education earned since your certificate was issued, including at least 15 hours on equity-based school and classroom practices. Certificates expire on June 30, and you renew online through E-Certification.

This guide covers which certificates renew, the clock-hour requirements, how graduate credits and professional growth plans count, fees, deadlines and what to do if your certificate expires. For an overview of certification, see our Washington teacher certification guide.

Washington Teaching Certificate Renewal at a Glance

These are the key rules from WAC chapter 181-79A and OSPI:

Under WAC 181-79A-117, dated certificates expire on June 30. A valid National Board certificate can take the place of the 100 clock hours under WAC 181-79A-247. However, a Professional certificate can't be renewed with the same National Board certificate used to earn it.

Which Washington Certificates Renew

• Residency Teacher certificate: the first issue has no expiration date until a Washington district reports at least 1.5 years of full-time teaching experience, which gives it an expiration date. You then apply to have it reissued. The reissued certificate is valid for five years from the first-issue expiration date, and no clock hours are required for the reissue, according to OSPI's reissue page. After that, it renews on a five-year cycle.
• Professional Teacher certificate: valid for five years and renewed the same way. Today it's earned through National Board certification or an approved second-tier certificate from another state; the ProTeach Portfolio route ended in 2019.
• Continuing Teacher certificate (older): dated Continuing certificates still renew. Lifetime certificates have no renewal requirements.

Clock-Hour Requirements for Washington Teaching Certificate Renewal

Under WAC 181-79A-244, your 100 hours include some specific topics:

• Equity-based school and classroom practices: at least 15 hours for teachers, for renewals dated on or after July 1, 2023. These hours must come from designated providers listed by PESB, such as OSPI, educational service districts, school districts and approved preparation programs. A professional growth plan with one goal aligned to the equity standards, or a valid National Board certificate, also meets it.
• STEM integration: at least 15 hours, or one professional growth plan goal, if you hold an elementary, early childhood, math, science (including middle-level and the designated sciences), computer science, or CTE endorsement, such as agriculture, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences or technology education. A valid National Board certificate also meets it. PESB's STEM page lists the endorsements.
• One-time abuse coursework: at your first renewal, you attest that you've completed coursework on issues of abuse and emotional or behavioral distress in students.

One course can be split across requirements, but the same hours can't be counted twice, according to PESB's renewal page.

How Graduate Credits and Growth Plans Count

Under WAC 181-85-030, college credit converts to clock hours like this:

• 1 semester credit = 15 clock hours, so a 3-credit semester course is 45 hours.
• 1 quarter credit = 10 clock hours.
• 60 minutes of approved in-service = 1 clock hour.

College credit counts when it is normally 100 level or higher from an accredited institution. In-service clock hours must come from a PESB-approved provider, and courses must be approved in advance. Other routes include professional growth plans (PGPs): a self-directed annual plan reviewed by a Washington-certified colleague, worth 25 clock hours each, with one allowed per July 1 to June 30 year (WAC 181-85-033). Officially designated mentors and field experience supervisors can earn up to 30 hours per school year.

For how the same credits and clock hours can move your pay, see Washington Teacher Salary Schedule: How to Advance Your Pay.

Our guide to graduate credits for Washington teachers explains what counts, and the best online courses for Washington teachers covers flexible options.

How to Renew Your Certificate

1. Check your certificate and its expiration date in E-Certification, part of OSPI's Education Data System (EDS).
2. Complete and record your hours, including the equity and any STEM hours, keeping documentation in case OSPI audits your renewal.
3. Apply in E-Certification by January 1 before your June 30 expiration to renew on time, and pay the fee.

Under WAC 181-79A-117, applications after January 1 are considered late. OSPI says no late fee will be charged until January 2030.

Renewal Fees

According to OSPI's fee schedule, these non-refundable fees apply:

If Your Certificate Expires

You can't work on an expired certificate. To reinstate it, you show 100 clock hours earned within the five years before you apply, along with fingerprints and a character and fitness form. Under WAC 181-79A-240, the new expiration date is calculated as if it were a new certificate. A two-year Transitional certificate, which can't be renewed, can let you keep working while you finish.

Renewal rules differ from state to state; for a broader overview, see our guide to teacher license and certification renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many clock hours do I need to renew a Washington teaching certificate?

100 clock hours earned after your current certificate was issued, including at least 15 hours on equity-based practices, and 15 STEM hours if your endorsement requires them.

How many clock hours is a graduate credit worth?

One semester credit equals 15 clock hours, and one quarter credit equals 10, under WAC 181-85-030.

When should I apply to renew?

By January 1 before your certificate's June 30 expiration to renew on time.

How much does renewal cost?

$81 to renew a Residency or Professional Teacher certificate.

Does Washington use the word license?

Washington's rules and OSPI use "certificate." Teachers often search for "license renewal," but the process is the same.

The Bottom Line

Washington teaching certificate renewal comes down to 100 clock hours every five years, with at least 15 on equity-based practices and STEM hours for some endorsements, submitted in E-Certification by January 1 before your June 30 expiration, with an $81 fee for Residency or Professional renewal. Graduate credit from an accredited institution converts at 15 clock hours per semester credit and counts toward the general hours. The 15 equity hours must come from a designated provider, and STEM hours must emphasize STEM integration. Use approved providers and keep your records.