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, school behavior analyst, and school orientation and mobility specialist.

Candidates for school nurse, school occupational therapist, school physical therapist and school speech-language pathologist or audiologist, school social worker, school behavior analyst, and school orientation and mobility specialist 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 for a state-approved educator preparation program.
(1) Degree. Candidates who hold a master's degree or higher are not required to obtain a role-specific master's degree if the candidate provides satisfactory evidence to the superintendent of public instruction that they have completed all course work requirements relevant to the role-specific master's degree.
(2) Professional transitions to public schools. Candidates for the initial certificate for the roles under this section must complete the professional transitions to public schools coursework under WAC 181-79A-224.
(3) Experience. Candidates for the professional certificate for the roles under this section must complete two years full-time equivalency (FTE) in the role in Washington with a school district, state-approved private school, state tribal compact school, state authorized charter school, or state agency that provides educational services for students.
(4) School nurse.
(a) Initial.
(i) The candidate shall hold a valid license as a registered nurse (RN) under chapter 18.79 or 18.80 RCW.
(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.
(b) Professional.
(i) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school nurse and have completed 150 continuing education credit hours related to education, nursing, or other health sciences since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(ii) The candidate shall hold a valid license as a registered nurse (RN) under chapter 18.79 or 18.80 RCW.
(iii) The candidate shall have completed suicide prevention training under RCW 28A.410.226, 43.70.442, and as described in WAC 181-79A-244.
(5) School occupational therapist.
(a) Initial.
(i) The candidate shall hold a valid license as an occupational therapist under chapter 18.59 RCW.
(ii) The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate degree or higher from an American Occupational Therapy Association approved program in occupational therapy.
(b) Professional.
(i) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school occupational therapist and have completed 150 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 hold a valid license as an occupational therapist under chapter 18.59 RCW.
(6) School physical therapist.
(a) Initial.
(i) The candidate shall hold a valid license as a physical therapist under chapter 18.74 RCW.
(ii) The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate degree or higher from an American Physical Therapy Association accredited program in physical therapy.
(b) Professional. The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school physical therapist and have completed 150 continuing education credit hours related to physical therapy, other health sciences, or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(7) School speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
(a) Initial. The candidate shall have completed all course work (except special project or thesis) for a master's degree or higher from a college or university program accredited by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). If the degree program requires a written comprehensive exam relevant to the role, the candidate must successfully complete it. If the degree program does not require a written comprehensive exam relevant to the role, the candidate may present verification from ASHA of a passing score on a national exam in speech pathology or audiology, or a passing score on an exam approved by the professional educator standards board.
(b) Professional.
(i) The candidate shall hold a master's degree or higher.
(ii) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a speech language pathologist or audiologist and have completed 150 continuing education credit hours related to speech language pathology, audiology, other health sciences, or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(8) School social worker.
(a) Initial. The candidate shall hold a masters degree or higher in social work or social welfare from an accredited institution of higher learning.
(b) Professional.
(i) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a school social worker and have completed 150 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 suicide prevention training under RCW 28A.410.226, 43.70.442, and as described in WAC 181-79A-244.
(9) 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.
(b) Professional.
(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 150 continuing education credit hours related to the role of the school behavior analyst or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
(10) Orientation and mobility specialist.
(a) Initial.
(i) Candidates must hold a valid certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS) certificate from the academy for certification of vision rehabilitation and education professionals (ACVREP), valid national orientation and mobility certification (NOMC) from the national blindness professional certification board (NBPCB), or other valid national certificate as approved by the professional educator standards board.
(ii) Candidates must hold a baccalaureate degree or higher in any area.
(b) Professional.
(i) Candidates must hold a valid certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS) certificate from the academy for certification of vision rehabilitation and education professionals (ACVREP), valid national orientation and mobility certification (NOMC) from the national blindness professional certification board (NBPCB), or other valid national certificate as approved by the professional educator standards board.
(ii) The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as an orientation and mobility specialist and have completed 150 continuing education credit hours related to the role or to education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28A.410 RCW. WSR 24-15-123, § 181-79A-223, filed 7/23/24, effective 8/23/24; WSR 21-15-085, § 181-79A-223, filed 7/16/21, effective 8/16/21; WSR 21-08-024, § 181-79A-223, filed 3/29/21, effective 4/29/21. 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.]