In Washington, reissue, renewal, and reinstatement are different applications. Start with the exact certificate title, status, and expiration date in OSPI E-Certification (eCert). First Issue credentials tied to qualifying service follow reissue; valid five-year certificates follow renewal; expired five-year certificates follow reinstatement.
Check the certificate title and status
Open the eCert record and note the role, “First Issue (FI)” wording, issue date, expiration date, and endorsements. OSPI warns that applications filed before eligibility may be rejected and fees are nonrefundable.
A Residency Teacher (First Issue) is initially valid without an expiration date. A Washington public school district reports qualifying employment through its annual S-275 report. For teachers, at least 1.5 years of full-time experience in the role is required before the reissue status/expiration is generated. Then use the teacher reissue application; the reissue itself does not require 100 clock hours. First Issue administrators and some ESA roles can require two years or use other role-specific rules, so check their matching OSPI page.
Choose the right application
- First Issue (FI), service met: confirm OSPI generated the status/expiration and apply to reissue.
- Five-year certificate still valid: renew it with the requirements for its role and certificate.
- Five-year certificate expired: reinstate it using the recent learning window and evidence rules.
- Expired and not yet eligible to reinstate: ask the employing district whether you qualify for a temporary Transitional certificate.
An FI record without a generated expiration date is not automatically expired. Check the certificate record and employer service report before selecting renewal or reinstatement.
Regular renewal requirements by role
Most teacher and CTE teacher renewals require 100 clock hours or approved equivalents. Within those 100, teachers need 15 hours in equity-based school practices; teachers with STEM-related endorsements also need 15 STEM integration hours. They are parts of the total, not additions to it. If a course meets multiple categories, you may divide its hours between them in eCert, but cannot count the same hours twice.
For a first renewal, attest to completing coursework on issues of abuse and emotional or behavioral distress in students. Record it in eCert or submit OSPI Form 4020G. OSPI also lists a valid National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate as an alternative for eligible teacher renewals; confirm it against your exact certificate and endorsement.
Administrators have a different 100-hour mix: 10 equity + 10 educational leadership + 5 government-to-government hours about relations with federally recognized Tribes. The government-to-government requirement cannot be met with a PGP. ESAs have role-specific rules; some recognized professional credentials can substitute for hours, and school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers have a recent suicide-prevention training requirement. Use the role-specific OSPI checklist.
Choose approved learning and keep evidence
PESB-approved providers issue Washington clock hours. Verify provider approval and category eligibility before paying. One clock hour equals one hour of learning. College credit and other equivalents follow Washington rules; check OSPI’s conversion and your certificate’s instructions before calculating an unofficial transcript.
A Professional Growth Plan (PGP) is a no-cost, job-embedded option for eligible requirements. Only one may be completed each year, July 1 through June 30, and each current PGP counts as 25 clock hours (30 for a PGP completed before June 30, 2018). Use PESB Form 1697, attach evidence, and have a Washington-certificated educator review and sign it. PGPs can meet some equity, STEM, or leadership categories when aligned to the standards, but not administrator government-to-government hours.
For certificates valid five years or more, learning must be completed after the latest issue date. For certificates valid less than five years, it must be within the five years before applying. Keep certificates, transcripts, PGPs, signatures, and evidence. Enter learning in eCert; OSPI may audit your records. Salary-advancement reporting may require a separate district process.
| Five-year certificate route | Baseline | Required category examples | Key exception/check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher / CTE teacher | 100 hours/equivalents | 15 equity; +15 STEM for STEM-related endorsement | First renewal abuse-course attestation; applicable National Board alternative |
| Administrator / CTE director | 100 hours/equivalents | 10 equity + 10 leadership + 5 government-to-government | Government-to-government hours cannot be met with a PGP |
| ESA | Usually 100 hours/equivalents | Role-specific training may apply | Certain credentials listed by OSPI may substitute; check role page |
Apply by January 1
Certificates with a stated expiration year generally expire June 30. The renewal application deadline is January 1 of that expiration year, six months earlier. An application after January 1 is late, even if the credential has not yet expired. For example, for a June 30, 2027 expiration, apply by January 1, 2027.
The $35 late fee begins January 2, 2030. Before that date, OSPI says the new late fee is not charged. The standard educator certificate processing fee is $51 and nonrefundable. Reissue and reinstatement follow different rules; check the fee guidance for the exact application.
If the certificate has expired
Once a regular certificate expires, it does not authorize service in that role. Apply for reinstatement, complete the role-specific requirements within the five years before applying, and submit clock-hour forms or transcripts. OSPI also requires a character-and-fitness supplement and fingerprints if you do not have another valid Washington certificate on record. WAC 392-194-002 exempts reinstatement applicants from the new late fee.
If you are not yet eligible to reinstate, an employing district may be able to request a Transitional certificate for an eligible teacher, ESA, or administrator while you complete the requirements. It lasts two years and cannot be renewed or reissued. Confirm eligibility with the district; a pending application does not itself authorize work.
Filing checklist
- Save the current certificate and note role, FI wording, issue/expiration dates, and endorsements.
- Identify reissue, valid renewal, or expired reinstatement.
- Match every required hour/category and any alternative credential to the OSPI role page.
- Check provider approval, dates, evidence, signatures, and first-renewal or specialty requirements.
- Submit an ordinary renewal in eCert by January 1 of the expiration year; save the confirmation and verify the issued record.
What broad renewal guides omit
The three high-ranking non-state guides reviewed—Teaching-Certification.com, Credits for Teachers, and Happy Teacher PD—help explain the 100-hour/PGP baseline. They do not bring together the S-275 First Issue trigger, administrator-only leadership and Tribal-relations hours, ESA requirements, and current filing/fee timeline. Commercial course summaries are useful orientation, but OSPI/PESB and the exact eCert record control.
Frequently asked questions
### How many hours does a Washington teacher need?
Most five-year teacher renewals need 100 hours or approved equivalents, including 15 equity hours and 15 STEM hours for applicable endorsements. These categories are within the 100; first renewal also requires an abuse-course attestation.
### Does First Issue reissue require 100 hours?
No. A teacher generally needs at least 1.5 years FTE reported by the Washington district on S-275 and an OSPI-generated status/expiration before reissue. Other roles may use different service rules.
### When is the application deadline?
January 1 in the year the certificate expires on June 30. The $35 late fee is scheduled to start January 2, 2030.
### What should I do after expiration?
Apply for reinstatement with recent, role-specific learning records and meet any applicable background-check requirements. Ask the employing district whether a Transitional certificate is available while you finish the requirements.
