(1) Residency certificates shall be renewed under one of the following options:

(a) Individuals who hold, or have held, residency certificates have the following options for renewal:

(i) One hundred continuing education credit hours as defined in chapter 181-85 WAC, or four annual professional growth plans as defined in WAC 181-79A-030, completed within the previous five years from the date of the five-year renewal application. Individuals completing fewer than four annual professional growth plans must complete necessary continuing education credits needed to be the equivalent of one hundred clock hours.

Subsequent five-year renewals shall be issued based on completion of one hundred continuing education credit hours since the issue date of the latest five-year residency teacher renewal certificate or four professional growth plans developed since the certificate was issued. Completion of four annual professional growth plans during each five-year period between subsequent lapse dates meets the requirement for renewal. Individuals completing fewer than four annual professional growth plans must complete necessary continuing education credits needed to be the equivalent of one hundred clock hours.

Provided, application for subsequent renewals shall not be submitted earlier than twelve months prior to the expiration date of the current renewal.

Expired five-year residency teacher renewal certificates may be renewed with completion of one hundred continuing education credit hours within the previous five years from the date of the five-year renewal application or by completing four professional growth plans as defined in WAC 181-79A-030. Individuals completing fewer than four annual professional growth plans must complete necessary continuing education credits needed to be the equivalent of one hundred clock hours.

An expired certificate may be renewed for an additional five-year period by presenting evidence to the superintendent of public instruction of completing the continuing education credit hour or professional growth plan requirement within the five years prior to the date of the renewal application.

Candidates who apply for the five-year residency teacher renewal certificate who have not successfully completed course work or an in-service program on issues of abuse, must complete the abuse course work requirement as defined in WAC 181-79A-030 and required per RCW 28A.410.035.

Continuing education for teachers at the elementary and secondary levels in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related subjects must include a specific focus on the integration of STEM instruction as per RCW 28A.410.2212. This STEM continuing education requirement for certificate renewal is as described in WAC 181-85-075(6).

(ii) Individuals who have attempted and failed the professional certificate assessment are eligible for a two-year renewal.

(iii) Individuals who have not been employed as a teacher during the dated, three-year residency certificate may receive a two-year renewal by submitting an affidavit to the certification office confirming that they will register and submit a uniform assessment portfolio or they will complete assessment for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Individuals not employed as a teacher may permit their certificate to lapse until such time they register for the professional certificate assessment, or the National Board Certification.

(iv) Individuals whose three- or five-year residency certificate has lapsed may receive a two-year renewal by submitting an affidavit to the certification office confirming that they will register and submit a uniform assessment portfolio for the professional certificate assessment or assessment for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

(b) A residency certificate expires after the first renewal if the candidate has not registered for and submitted a portfolio assessment prior to June 30th of the expiration year, to achieve the professional certificate, Provided: When the first two-year residency teacher renewal certificate expires, teachers have three renewal options:

(i) Individuals who were employed but failed the professional certification assessment, may receive a second two-year renewal;

(ii) Individuals who were not employed as a teacher during the first two-year renewal may permit their certificate to lapse. Upon contracting to return to a teacher role, individuals may apply for a final, second two-year renewal by submitting an affidavit to the certification office confirming that they will register and submit a uniform assessment portfolio for the professional certification assessment;

(iii) An individual who completes a National Board Certification assessment but does not earn National Board Certification, may use that completed assessment to apply for a final, second two-year renewal by submitting an affidavit to the certification office confirming that they will complete and submit their scores from the assessment for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or register and submit the Washington uniform assessment portfolio as per this section, WAC 181-79A-251.

(2) Teacher professional certificate.

(a) Individuals who hold a professional teacher certificate may have that certificate renewed for additional five-year periods by the completion of one hundred continuing education credit hours as defined in chapter 181-85 WAC or by completing four professional growth plans annually during the period in which the certificate is valid as defined in WAC 181-79A-030. Individuals completing fewer than four annual professional growth plans must complete necessary continuing education credits needed to be the equivalent of one hundred clock hours.

Provided, application for renewals shall not be submitted earlier than twelve months prior to the expiration date of the current renewal.

Expired certificates may be renewed with completion of one hundred continuing education credit hours within the previous five years from the date of the five-year renewal application or by completing four professional growth plans as defined in WAC 181-79A-030. Individuals completing fewer than four annual professional growth plans must complete necessary continuing education credits needed to be the equivalent of one hundred clock hours.

An expired professional certificate may be renewed for an additional five-year period by presenting evidence to the superintendent of public instruction of completing the continuing education credit hour or professional growth plan requirement within the five years prior to the date of the renewal application. All continuing education credit hours shall relate to one of the three standards: Effective instruction, professional contributions or professional development.

(b) Continuing education or professional growth plans for teachers at the elementary and secondary levels in STEM-related subjects must include a specific focus on the integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instruction as per RCW 28A.410.2212. This STEM continuing education requirement for certificate renewal is as described in WAC 181-85-075(6). This requirement is for all professional teacher certificate holders regardless of date of issuance of the first professional certificate.

(c) Provided, That a professional certificate may be renewed based on the possession of a valid teaching certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards at the time of application for the renewal of the professional certificate. Such renewal shall be valid for five years or until the expiration of the National Board Certificate, whichever is greater. Such renewal is only available one time during the validity period of the National Board Certificate and cannot be the same National Board Certificate used to obtain the professional certificate.

(d) Provided, as per RCW 28A.410.278(2), in-service training, continuing education, or professional growth plans shall incorporate professional development on the revised teacher and principal evaluation systems under RCW 28A.405.100 as a requirement for renewal of continuing or professional level certificates. This continuing education requirement related to the teacher and principal evaluation system is as described in WAC 181-85-075(7).

PDFWAC 181-79A-251

Teacher residency and professional certification—Renewal and reinstatement.