 August 3, 2026
“August of another summer, and once again I am drinking the sun and the lillies again are spread across the water." -Mary Oliver
- Certificate Expired–What Do I Do Now?
- Process Change: Approved Provider Clock Hour Transcripts
- Annual Approval of 2026–27 Clock Hour Providers
- New eCert Payment Processor!
- Fee Deficiency FAQs
- Institutional Teaching and WA Institution Endorsement Application Deficiencies
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Certificate Expired–What Do I Do Now?
To reinstate your certificate, you must complete 100 clock hours (or the credit equivalent) within the five years immediately preceding your application.
Submit your reinstatement application through E-Certification (eCert). For application instructions and renewal requirements, see the Certificate Reissue & Renewal and How to Apply for a Certificate webpages.
Don't Qualify for Renewal?
If you hold a full, regular Teacher, CTE Educator, Administrator, or ESA certificate subject to renewal that has lapsed and do not currently meet the requirements to renew your certificate, you may qualify for a Transitional certificate.
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Certification Walk-In Hours
Walk-in availability is offered every Monday and Wednesday from 9–4:30 pm. Please reach out to the Cert Department if you need to schedule an alternative time.
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Process Change: Approved Provider Clock Hour Transcripts
Current Process
The OSPI Professional Certification Department currently accepts school district clock hour transcripts as documentation for certificate renewal. Because transcript formats vary and there are no standard content requirements, transcript reviews can be inconsistent and may delay the renewal process.
Effective October 1, 2026
The Professional Certification Department will only accept OSPI-approved school district transcripts as clock hour documentation.
Transcript Requirements
To be approved, a school district transcript must include:
- Educator's name
- Washington certificate number (if available)
- Course completion date
- Course title
- Number of clock hours earned
- Applicable hour designation(s):
- STEM
- Equity
- Leadership
- Fundamental Course of Study and Subject Matter
- School district or organization logo or official seal
- Signature of an authorized representative (such as an administrator, superintendent, clock hour manager, or human resources manager)
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If Your District's Transcript Does Not Meet the Requirements
School districts should update their transcript format to meet the requirements before October 1, 2026.
If a district does not issue transcripts, or its transcript has not been approved by OSPI, the Clock Hour Form (1125) may be used as clock hour documentation.
If Your District Was Previously Approved
If your district was previously listed as an approved transcript provider but is no longer on the approved list, please resubmit your transcript for review. As part of an ongoing effort to standardize the approval process, OSPI is reviewing all previously approved transcript formats.
Refer to the Pre-Approved Transcript Providers list on the Approved Providers webpage to verify your district's status.
How to Request Transcript Approval
If your district's transcript already meets the requirements above:
- Complete the Transcript Review Request Form.
- Submit only a copy of the school district transcript for review. Do not submit the Clock Hour Form (1125).
- OSPI will review the transcript and notify the district of the approval decision.
- Once approved, OSPI will maintain a copy of the transcript on file. If the district later revises its transcript, an updated copy must be submitted for review.
Annual Approval of 2026–2027 Clock Hour Providers
The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) approved the 2026–27 clock hour providers at the July 17 board meeting.
Next Steps:
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August-PESB to notify providers of their approval status
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October-The new approval period (Oct. 1–Sept. 30) starts
- Updated 1125 and 1125E Forms will be sent out
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New eCert Payment Processor!
- Improved payment processor launched for better user experience
- The eCert system submits the application once the educator gets to the payment
- Please note that applications will submit even if payment is not successful
- Educator will have a fee deficiency
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E-Certification Fee Deficiency FAQs
Q. What happens if an application is submitted without payment?
If you submit an application without paying the required fee, you will receive a fee deficiency. The application cannot be processed until the required fee is paid.
Q. How do I make the missing payment in E-Certification?
1.Select Get Started on the Respond to My Deficiencies tile located under the Educator Action Center.
2. Select Respond next to the Certification Fee deficiency to be redirected to the payment gateway.
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3. A wizard application will appear asking the educator to confirm the fee amount. Select Save and Next.
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4. Select the Submit button to re-open the application for review and continue to payment.
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5. Select OK on the Confirm Save and Payment pop-up to be redirected to the payment gateway.
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Q. Can I pay another way?
Yes. If you did not pay the application fee when you submitted your application, you may pay by check or money order.
When mailing your payment:
- Make the check or money order payable to Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
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Include a note with the following information:
Full name
Date of birth
Certification number, if applicable
Type of application request (for example, first-time or renewal, including the certificate or role)
- Mail your payment to:
OSPI Professional Certification Department
PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504
Q. Can rush requests still be placed on an application of the educator does not pay?
Yes, districts can still place a rush request on an application as long as it is submitted into the system. When the application is reviewed, a fee deficiency will be placed on it, allowing the educator to re-enter the payment portal to make the missing payment.
Institutional Teaching and WA Institution Endorsement Application Deficiencies
The OSPI Professional Certification Department launched a new payment processor for certificate applications on June 10. The new system automatically creates a deficiency notice for a fee when the educator submits their application. Once the educator submits the fee, the deficiency is removed. However, for Institutional Teaching and WA Institution Endorsement applications specifically, the system also marks other created deficiencies (such as testing) as deficient at the same time. Please refer to the guidance below when determining if an educator is truly deficient on their application.
How to Tell if an Institutional Teaching application has been reviewed?
- If the application status is Open and the certificate is marked Deficient (D), it has not yet been reviewed by OSPI staff. During the review process, any testing deficiencies that do not apply will be removed. Applicants who receive a fee deficiency should submit their payment, and any testing-related deficiencies will be addressed once the application has been reviewed.
- If the application status is Closed and the certificate is marked Deficient (D), it has been reviewed by OSPI staff, and the educator is missing required documentation such as testing, degree, and/or fingerprints. The educator should respond to the deficiency to reopen their application for review.
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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