Welcome to the PSESD

Certification Office

This office processes 35% of all certification applications in Washington State each year for a variety of roles. We strive to provide the best service possible to school districts, post-secondary institutions, and educators. Assistance with applications and materials is also provided.

Fingerprint Office

If you are planning to apply for a Washington State teaching certificate or employment at any K-12 public school, visit your Educational Service District (ESD) office first. Digital (live scan) fingerprint machines are available in all nine ESD offices.

Live scan technology takes high-quality prints by scanning the fingers of both hands and creating a digital image. The electronic scanner is easy to use and eliminates the need to ink your fingerprints onto a special card. The addition of digital technology to the fingerprint process means no mail, no extra trips, and no waits.

Puget Sound ESD offers the fingerprint service by appointment ONLY. The fee for this services is as follows:

• $75.25 for school district employees and ESD employees.
• $85.25 for certification, college and university applicants, or private school employees.

Generally, all job and certification applicants pay for their own fingerprint check, unless your potential employer makes a different arrangement.

If submitting payment to an ESD, fees are payable by cashier's check, money order, or personal/business check ONLY. If you are submitting your fee to OSPI, personal/business checks will also be accepted. 

Specific Certification Information & Forms

• Teacher Certification
• Career & Technical Education (Vocational)
• Administrative Certification
• Educational Staff Associate Certification
• Limited Certificates

Additional Information

• FAQs
• Advancement from Residency to Professional
• Educator Preparation Programs
• Employment
• Salary Information (PDF)
• Certification Forms
• Laws, Regulations & Reports
• Basic Skills Test

PSESD Resources

• One-to-One Newsletter
• Clock Hours
• Class Offerings
• Maps & Directions

Teacher Certification

• Residency and/or Substitute Teacher
• Residency Renewal Teacher
• Professional Teacher
• Professional Renewal
• Initial Renewal
• Conversion of a Lapsed Initial Teaching Certificate to Residency
• Conversion of a Lapsed Provisional Teaching Certificate to Residency
• Continuing Teacher
• Continuing Renewal
• Continuing Reinstatement
• Transitional Teacher Certificate
• Substitute Teacher
• Career & Technical Education (Vocational)
• Adding Additional Endorsements
• Foreign Trained
• Name Change/Replacement of Certificate
• Basic Skills Test

Career & Technical Education (Vocational)

• Initial CTE
• Initial Renewal/Continuing CTE
• Continuing Renewal CTE
• Continuing Reinstatement CTE
• Counselor CTE
• Occupational Career Specialist CTE
• Director CTE
• Conditional CTE
• Probationary CTE
• Name Change/Replacement of CTE Certificate (to be added soon)
• Career and Technical Education Teacher Training Competency Block Certificate Program CTE

• Initial Principal
• Initial Program Administrator
• Initial Superintendent
• Continuing or Second Initial Issuance of Administrator Certificate
• Continuing Renewal
• Continuing Reinstatement
• Name Change/Replacement of Certificate

Educational Staff Associate Certification

• Initial School Counselor
• Initial School Psychologist
• Initial School Social Worker
• Initial School Nurse
• Initial Occupational Therapist
• Initial Physical Therapist
• Initial Speech Language Pathologist or Audiologist
• Continuing or Second Initial Issuance of Educational Staff Associate Certificate
• Continuing Renewal
• Continuing Reinstatement
• Name Change/Replacement of Certificate 

Limited Certificates

• Emergency
• Emergency Substitute
• Intern Substitute
• Conditional
• Transitional Certificate
• Name Change/Replacement of Certificate