PDFWAC 181-79A-223

Academic and experience requirements for certification—School nurse, school occupational therapist, school physical therapist, school speech-language pathologist or audiologist, school social worker, and school behavior analyst.

Candidates for school nurse, school occupational therapist, school physical therapist and school speech-language pathologist or audiologist, school social worker, and school behavior analyst certification shall apply directly to the professional certification office. Such candidates shall complete the following requirements, in addition to those set forth in WAC 181-79A-150, except state-approved educator preparation program.
(1) Degree. It shall not be necessary for any candidate who holds a master's or doctorate degree to obtain the specified master's degree if the candidate provides satisfactory evidence to the superintendent of public instruction that he or she has completed all course work requirements relevant to the required master's degree and has satisfactorily completed a comprehensive examination required in such master's degree program. If any candidate has been awarded a master's degree without a comprehensive examination, the candidate, as a condition for certification, shall successfully complete the Praxis II exam in the appropriate role.
(2) School nurse.
(a) Initial.
(i) The candidate shall hold a valid department of health license as a registered nurse (RN) in Washington state.
(ii) The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate degree or higher in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
(iii) The candidate shall complete the professional transitions to public schools course work under WAC 181-79A-224.
(b) Continuing.
(i) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school nurse and have completed one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours related to education, nursing, or other health sciences since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(ii) The candidate shall have completed two years full-time equivalency (FTE) in the role in Washington with a school district, state-approved private school, or state agency that provides educational services for students.
(iii) The candidate shall hold a valid department of health license as a registered nurse (RN) in Washington state.
(iv) The candidate shall have completed suicide prevention training under RCW 28A.410.226, as described in WAC 181-85-075.
(3) School occupational therapist.
(a) Initial.
(i) The candidate shall hold a valid department of health license as an occupational therapist in Washington state.
(ii) The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate (or higher) degree from an American Occupational Therapy Association approved program in occupational therapy.
(iii) The candidate shall complete the professional transitions to public schools course work under WAC 181-79A-224.
(b) Continuing.
(i) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school occupational therapist and have completed one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours related to occupational therapy, other health sciences, or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(ii) The candidate shall have completed two years full-time equivalency (FTE) in the role in Washington with a school district, state-approved private school, or state agency that provides educational services for students.
(iii) The candidate shall hold a valid department of health license as an occupational therapist in Washington state.
(4) School physical therapist.
(a) Initial.
(i) The candidate shall hold a valid department of health license as a physical therapist in Washington state.
(ii) The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate (or higher) degree from an American Physical Therapy Association accredited program in physical therapy.
(iii) The candidate shall complete the professional transitions to public schools course work under WAC 181-79A-224.
(b) Continuing.
(i) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school physical therapist and have completed one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours related to physical therapy, other health sciences, or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(ii) The candidate shall have completed two years full-time equivalency (FTE) in the role in Washington with a school district, state-approved private school, or state agency that provides educational services for students.
(5) School speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
(a) Initial.
(i) The candidate shall have completed all course work (except special project or thesis) for a master's degree from a college or university program accredited by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) with a major in speech pathology or audiology. Such program shall include satisfactory completion of a written comprehensive examination. If any candidate has not completed a written comprehensive examination, the candidate may present verification from ASHA of a passing score on the National Teacher's Examination in speech pathology or audiology as a condition for certification.
(ii) The candidate shall complete the professional transitions to public schools course work under WAC 181-79A-224.
(b) Continuing.
(i) The candidate shall hold a master's degree in speech pathology or audiology.
(ii) The candidate shall have completed two years full-time equivalency (FTE) in the role in Washington with a school district, state-approved private school, or state agency that provides educational services for students.
(iii) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a speech language pathologist or audiologist and have completed one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours related to speech language pathology, audiology, other health sciences, or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(6) School social worker.
(a) Initial.
(i) The candidate shall hold a master of social work or master of social welfare from an accredited institution of higher learning.
(ii) The candidate shall complete the professional transitions to public schools course work under WAC 181-79A-224.
(b) Continuing.
(i) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school social worker and have completed one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours related to the role of the school social worker or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(ii) The candidate shall have completed two years full-time equivalency (FTE) in the role in Washington with a school district, state-approved private school, or state agency that provides educational services for students.
(iii) The candidate shall have completed suicide prevention training under RCW 28A.410.226, as described in WAC 181-85-075.
(7) Behavior analyst.
(a) Initial.
(i) Candidates must hold a valid board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) certificate from the behavior analyst certification board (BACB), or other national certificate as approved by the professional educator standards board.
(ii) Candidates must hold a master's degree or higher in any area.
(iii) Candidates must have achieved a passing score on the board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) exam from the behavior analyst certification board (BACB), or other assessment as approved by the professional educator standards board.
(iv) The candidate shall complete the professional transitions to public schools course work under WAC 181-79A-224.
(b) Continuing.
(i) Candidates must hold a valid board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) certificate from the behavior analyst certification board (BACB), or other national certificate as approved by the professional educator standards board.
(ii) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a behavior analyst and have completed one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours related to the role of the school behavior analyst or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(iii) The candidate shall have completed two years full-time equivalency (FTE) in the role in Washington with a school district, state-approved private school, or state agency that provides educational services for students.
[Statutory Authority: Chapters 28A.410 and 28A.413 RCW. WSR 19-15-110, § 181-79A-223, filed 7/22/19, effective 8/22/19. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.220. WSR 18-19-086, § 181-79A-223, filed 9/18/18, effective 10/19/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.210. WSR 17-11-104 , § 181-79A-223, filed 5/22/17, effective 6/22/17; WSR 15-23-014, § 181-79A-223, filed 11/6/15, effective 12/7/15; WSR 14-09-121, § 181-79A-223, filed 4/23/14, effective 5/24/14; WSR 13-12-061, § 181-79A-223, filed 6/4/13, effective 7/5/13; WSR 12-20-072, § 181-79A-223, filed 10/3/12, effective 11/3/12; WSR 12-02-024, § 181-79A-223, filed 12/28/11, effective 1/28/12; WSR 11-15-051, § 181-79A-223, filed 7/15/11, effective 8/15/11; WSR 08-08-045, § 181-79A-223, filed 3/26/08, effective 4/26/08; WSR 06-14-010, § 181-79A-223, filed 6/22/06, effective 7/23/06. WSR 06-02-051, recodified as § 181-79A-223, filed 12/29/05, effective 1/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.410.010. WSR 04-04-012, § 180-79A-223, filed 1/23/04, effective 2/23/04; WSR 99-14-012, § 180-79A-223, filed 6/24/99, effective 7/25/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (1) and (2), 28A.410.010 and 28A.150.220(4). WSR 99-01-174, § 180-79A-223, filed 12/23/98, effective 1/23/99.]