PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

STANDARDS BOARD

Candidates for school counselor and school psychologist certification shall complete the following requirements in addition to those set forth in WAC 181-79A-150 and 181-79A-226: Provided, That 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. This examination shall be an examination of an accredited institution of higher education or the National Counselor Examination (NCE) of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) or, in the case of school psychologists, hold the ((NCSP accreditation)) Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): Provided, That 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.

(1) School counselor.

(a) Residency.

(i) Hold a master's degree with a major in counseling.

(ii) Completion of an approved school counselor program.

(b) Continuing.

(i) Hold or have held an initial or residency school counselor certificate, and have completed at least fifteen quarter (ten semester) credit hours of graduate course work offered by an accredited institution or one hundred fifty clock hours of study which meets the state continuing education clock hour criteria pursuant to chapter 181-85 WAC, or a combination of credits and clock hours equivalent to the above. The study shall:

(A) Be based on the school counselor performance domains included in WAC 181-78A-270 (4)(a);

(B) Be taken subsequent to the issuance of the most recent initial or residency school counselor certificate.

(ii) The candidate shall provide documentation of one hundred eighty days or full-time equivalent or more employment in the role of school counselor with an authorized employer—i.e., school district, educational service district, state agency, private school, or private school system—and at least thirty days of such employment with the same employer.

(c) Professional. A professional certificate may be earned by an individual who holds ((or has held)) a valid school counseling certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

(d) Beginning with certificates first issued or renewed after July 1, 2015, continuing and professional certificates for school counselors include a requirement for suicide prevention training per RCW 28A.410.226.

(2) School psychologist.

(a) Residency.

(i) The candidate shall hold a master's degree with a major or specialization in school psychology.

(ii) Completion of an approved school psychology program.

(b) Continuing.

(i) Hold or have held an initial or residency school psychologist certificate, a master's degree with a major or specialization in school psychology, and have completed at least fifteen quarter (ten semester) credit hours of graduate course work offered by an accredited institution or one hundred fifty clock hours of study, which meet the state continuing education clock hour criteria pursuant to chapter 181-85 WAC, or a combination of credits and clock hours equivalent to the above. The study shall:

(A) Be based on the school psychologist performance domains included in WAC 181-78A-270 (5)(a);

(B) Be taken subsequent to the issuance of the most recent initial or residency school psychologist certificate.

(ii) The candidate shall provide documentation of one hundred eighty days or full-time equivalent or more employment in the role of school psychologist with an authorized employer—i.e., school district, educational service district, state agency, private school, or private school system—and at least thirty days of such employment with the same employer.

(c) Professional. An individual who holds ((an NCSP certificate)) a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential issued by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) shall be deemed to have met the requirement for professional certification.

(d) Beginning with certificates first issued or renewed after July 1, 2015, continuing and/or professional certificates for school psychologists include a requirement for suicide prevention training per RCW 28A.410.226.

Candidates for certification from other states who meet the general certificate requirements described in WAC 181-79A-150 (1) and (2) shall be eligible for Washington certificates as follows:

(1) Residency certificates. The residency certificate shall be issued by the superintendent of public instruction to any candidate who meets requirements for the residency certificate including testing requirements as described in RCW 28A.410.220, and who meets one of the following:

(a) Holds the appropriate degree and, if applicable, credit hours and/or licensing as set forth in this chapter, and has completed a state approved preparation program in the professional field for which the certificate is to be issued and such additional professional fields as required by WAC 181-79A-150(4). Such programs shall include a defined course of study and a supervised internship.

(b) Provided, That if a candidate for teacher, administrator or educational staff associate certification does not meet the qualifications described in (a) of this subsection, a residency certificate shall be issued to a candidate who:

(i) Holds an appropriate degree from ((a regionally)) an accredited college or university.

(ii) Holds or has held a certificate in the role, comparable to a residency certificate, issued by another state and has practiced at the P-12 level in the role outside the state of Washington for at least three years ((within the last seven years)).

(c) Holds an appropriate degree from ((a regionally)) an accredited college or university and has practiced three years as an educational staff associate in that role in a state where such certificate was not required.

(d) Holds a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) ((certificate)) credential issued by the National Association of School ((Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB) after December 31, 1991,)) Psychologists (NASP); and applies for ((an initial/residency)) a residency educational staff associated school psychologist certificate.

(2) Professional certificate. After August 31, 2000, the professional certificate shall be issued to out-of-state candidates if the candidate meets requirements for the residency certificate including testing requirements as described in RCW 28A.410.220, meets the child abuse course work requirement as described in WAC 181-79A-206 (3)(b), and if one of the following conditions is met:

(a) The candidate has completed an advanced level certification procedure approved by the professional educator standards board as equivalent to the approved program procedure required in Washington; or

(b) The candidate holds a valid teaching certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; or

(c) The candidate holds a valid school counselor certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; or

(d) A Washington state college or university with an approved professional certificate program verifies that the candidate has met all the requirements of that institution's approved program. The college/university shall evaluate the candidate's background to determine whether or not course work or certification activities are equivalent to that college/university's approved program.

(3) As per RCW 18.340.020 out-of-state candidates who are military spouses shall receive expedited issuance of the appropriate certificate in accordance with this section.

(4) Out-of-state candidates must meet the assessment requirements per chapters 181-01 and 181-02 WAC. Equivalent assessments will be published by the board.