Action Needed: Educator Certificate Renewals-June 30, 2027

Please help the OSPI Professional Certification Department remind educators who hold a full, regular certificate with an expiration date of June 30, 2027, to begin preparing for and submitting their renewal applications.

The Professional Certification Department sent email reminders on October 1 and November 1, 2026, to all full certificate holders whose certificates expire June 30, 2027. Notices were sent to the email addresses listed in educators' E-Certification (eCert) accounts.

What Educators Need to Know:

• Review renewal requirements: Educators should review the renewal requirements specific to their certificate type and role.
• Complete requirements: Most five-year certificates require 100 clock hours or an approved equivalent, along with any additional role-specific requirements.
• Apply for renewal: Educators should log in to their eCert account, select the appropriate renewal application, and submit their application and required fee.

Important Deadline:

The on-time application date for certificates expiring June 30, 2027, is January 1, 2027. Applications submitted after this date are considered late. However, late application fees will not be charged until January 2030.

Please Note: Some educators may have already submitted their renewal applications and do not need to apply again.

For renewal instructions, role-specific requirements, and application information, visit Renew Your Five-Year Certificate.

Fingerprints Needed for Renewal?

Fingerprint results need to be on file to process an application and issue a certificate. Fingerprint/background checks cannot be expedited. Individuals that still need to complete the fingerprint/background check process may experience the following delays.

• If an educator has applied and fingerprints are in the system, the request may take 7–10 business days.
• If an educator has applied and fingerprints are not in the system, it may take 10–15 business days or more to obtain results from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

A list of resources to assist with this process can be found at the end of this newsletter.

On-Time Renewal Application Date

What's Changing

Renewal certificates now have two important dates:

• On-Time Renewal Application Date: January 1
• Uniform Expiration Date: June 30

Starting in 2030, renewal applications submitted after January 1 of the expiration year will be considered late and subject to a $35 processing fee. 

Who is Affected

This change applies to the renewal of full, regular certificates in all roles, including:

• Residency and Professional certificates
• Initial and Continuing certificates

Please Note: These deadlines do not affect Limited, Paraeducator, or Residency Reissuance certificates, and late applications will not be charged a late fee until January 2030 (WAC 181-79A-117). 

Why is This Changing?

Many educators wait until late June or even after their certificate expires to submit their renewal application. This creates a significant increase in applications for the Professional Certification Department and can lead to processing delays.

Establishing an earlier on-time application date will help:

• Balance the workload
  • Spread renewal applications more evenly throughout the year.
• Give educators more time
  • Allow educators to complete the renewal process before their certificate expires.
• Reduce processing delays
  • Increase the likelihood that renewed certificates are issued before the start of the new school year.
• Improve predictability
  • Create a more consistent and manageable renewal process for educators and the department.

Why Renew Your Certificate Early?

If you have already completed the clock hours needed for renewal, there is no disadvantage to renewing early.

• You do not lose any time on your certificate: Your renewed certificate will still expire five years after your current expiration date, not five years from the date you renew.
• You can make the most of your clock hours: Clock hours may only be used if they were completed between the certificate’s issuance and expiration dates. Renewing early starts your next renewal cycle sooner, allowing future clock hours to count toward your next renewal.
• You can avoid the renewal rush: Many Washington certificates have a uniform expiration date, and many educators wait until the renewal deadline to apply. This creates a high-volume period for our office and may result in longer processing and response times.

If you have met your renewal requirements, consider renewing early. It gives you more time for your next renewal cycle and helps you avoid the last-minute rush!

New! Educational Interpreter Certificate

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) has established a new certification pathway for educational interpreters for the deaf! The new Educational Interpreter Certificate recognizes the important role educational interpreters play in supporting students and establishes statewide certification requirements for individuals working in this role.

Available Certificates:

Two full certificates:

• Initial Educational Interpreter: The first-tier full certificate for individuals who meet the applicable assessment and education or experience requirements.
• Professional Educational Interpreter: The second-tier full certificate, available to individuals who hold an Initial Educational Interpreter Certificate and complete 150 continuing education credit hours related to the role or education.

One limited certificate: 

• Conditional Educational Interpreter: A limited certificate issued to an individual whom a Washington school district, educational service district, or approved private school wants to hire based on their experience and expertise as an educational interpreter for the deaf, but who does not yet qualify for the Initial Educational Interpreter Certificate.

FAQs

What is an Educational Interpreter? 

An educational interpreter is a school employee who provides sign language interpretation, transliteration, or both for students who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing (RCW 28A.410.271(a)) Educational interpreters help students understand classroom instruction by interpreting what the teacher says and explaining concepts introduced during lessons. Educational interpreters are a certificated role under WAC 181-79A-140.

Must staff members in this role be certified? 

Yes, per Substitute Senate Bill 5025 (2025), directed to the PESB, all educational interpreters must hold a valid certificate by the 2027–28 school year. 

How long are the new certificates valid for and is this certificate subject to renewal?

The full certificate is valid for five years from the date of issuance. Holders of an Initial or Professional Educational Interpreter Certificate must renew their certificate every five years. For renewal requirements, visit OSPI’s Renew Your Five-Year Certificate webpage.

The conditional certificate is valid for two years and may be reissued twice.

Process Implemented: Approved Provider Clock Hour Transcripts

Background and Purpose

To standardize clock hour documentation and support a more consistent and efficient certificate renewal process, the OSPI Professional Certification Department implemented requirements for school district clock hour transcripts effective October 1, 2026.

School districts that wish to submit transcripts in place of the 1125 Form must have their transcripts approved by OSPI. The 1125 Form remains an accepted alternative for districts that do not use an OSPI-approved transcript.

These requirements help ensure that submitted documentation contains the necessary information for consistent review and processing of certificate renewal applications.

Currently Approved School Districts & Organizations

For a current list of approved organizations, visit the OSPI Approved Providers webpage and expand the Pre-Approved Transcript Providers section at the bottom of the page.

What if my district is not on the approved list?

If your district transcript is not on the approved list, the organization should issue the 1125 Form for each approved clock hour course that is offered.

Can my district still get approved?

Yes, the district human resource staff, professional learning coordinator, superintendent, principal, or other learning designee who maintains the transcripts at the district may still submit a transcript for approval.

Can I still submit an old transcript from before this process was implemented?

Yes, the Professional Certification Department will accept a district transcript for courses completed before October 1, 2026, even if the transcript does not meet the new requirements. Educators may be asked to submit additional documentation.

For courses completed on or after October 1, 2026, the courses must be documented on an approved transcript. If your district is not on the approved transcript list, you will need to submit the 1125 Form instead.

2026–27 Approved Clock Hour Providers

The clock hour approval period begins October 1, 2026, and ends September 30, 2027. The new list of Approved Clock Hour Providers Approved Clock Hour Providers is now available! 

All Washington state school districts are automatically approved as providers. All approved equity and leadership clock hour providers must provide attendees with the correct form to document and claim their clock hours. The OSPI 1125-E Form can be used for general, STEM, Equity, or Leadership hours and should be made available to every attendee upon course completion. 

Phones will be unavailable on:

• November 4: 4–5 pm
• November 11: State Holiday
• November 17: All Day
• November 18: 4–5 pm
• November 19 1:30–3 pm
• November 25: 4–5 pm

Thank you for your patience and understanding!

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. 

Certification Walk-In Hours

Walk-in availability is offered every Monday and Wednesday from 9–4 pm. Please reach out to us if you need to schedule an alternative time.