 February 5, 2026
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Action Needed: Paraeducator Renewal for June 30, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions-January 1 Application Due Date
- You're Invited! CTE Office Hour
Action Needed: Paraeducator Renewal for June 30, 2026
Please assist the OSPI Professional Certification Department in notifying Paraeducators who hold a Subject Matter or Advanced certificate with an expiration date of June 30, 2026, to apply for renewal if they wish to maintain their certificate.
Reminder: There is no expiration date for the General Paraeducator certificate. While the expiration date applies to paraeducators who have obtained a Subject Matter certificate and/or an Advanced Paraeducator certificate, there are no state-level requirements for paras to hold Subject Matter certificates and/or an Advanced Paraeducator certificate.
Notification Process:
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Run the eCert Certificate Expiration report using 6-30-2026 as the expiration date.
- Check for paraeducators with no application submission noted. Disregard educators not returning to your district, who already have a renewal application on file, or who have already been issued another certificate.
- The Professional Certification Department recommends that comparisons be made between the eCert Certificate Expiration report and school district records to ensure consistency in the results.
- Notify Paraeducators who hold a Subject Matter or Advanced certificate who are expiring this school year and have yet to apply to renew their certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions-January 1 Application Due Date
Q. What changed in the certificate process?
Renewal certificates will now have two dates:
- On-Time Renewal Application Date: January 1
- Uniform Expiration Date: June 30
Q. Why did this change happen?
The Professional Certification Department is making this change to help educators receive updated certificates before the new school year begins and before their current certificates expire. The goal is to make the renewal process smoother and faster, reduce long processing delays during the busy summer season, and give educators and districts more flexibility to resolve any application issues.
Q. Who does this affect?
This change applies to the renewal of full, regular certificates in all roles, including:
- Residency and Professional certificates
- Initial and Continuing certificates
It does not affect Limited, Paraeducator, or Residency Reissuance certificates.
Q. What happens if an educator does not submit an application on-time?
Starting in 2030, renewal applications submitted after January 1 of the expiration year will be considered late and subject to a $35 processing fee.
Q. Is a deficiency a denial?
No, a deficiency is not a denial. A deficiency means something is missing from the application, such as required STEM or equity hours or the total number of hours. Educators have 90 calendar days from the deficiency notice to fix these issues before the application is denied and they would need to reapply and pay again. Most deficiencies are resolved within weeks, and often within just a few days.
Q. If an educator does not submit an application on-time or if they submitted an application and received a deficiency, does this make them out of compliance?
As long as an educator's current certification is valid, even if their application was late or has a deficiency, then they are legally able to continue to serve in their role.
Q. What happens if my certificate is not renewed by January 1?
The deadline is only for submission of a renewal application; the certificate does not need to be renewed by this date. An educator's current certificate will remain valid until the standard expiration date of June 30, which is not changing.
Q. How does the application due date of January 1 affect clock hours needed for renewal?
Clock hours can still be earned after January 1 for the current renewal until the new certificate is issued. Educators who apply by the January 1 deadline can begin earning clock hours sooner for their next certificate because it will be issued earlier.
You’re Invited! CTE Office Hour
Do you have questions regarding CTE certification?
The Professional Certification Department invites district CTE Directors, Human Resources staff, and anyone in the role to attend an open Q & A with Kelli Bennett, Administrative Program Specialist for CTE certification.
Date: Tuesday, April 14
Time: 1:30–2:30 pm
Location: Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/92768503888)
Attendees are welcome to join at any point during the session to ask questions about CTE certification requirements, documentation, or related processes.
We look forward to connecting with you!
Resources
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Questions?
If you or an educator has questions regarding information in this newsletter, reach out to our Professional Certification Customer Service team at 360-725-6400 or by email at cert@k12.wa.us, and one of our Program Specialists will assist you.
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The OSPI Professional Certification Department thanks you for your collaboration in support of Washington state educators!
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