Washington State Teacher Certificate – Testing Requirements
In order to get an initial Washington State Teacher Certificate, all prospective teachers must meet the testing requirements.
You have to submit passing test scores showing evidence of basic skills, as well as of subject area or content knowledge.
Washington State Teacher Certificate – Basic Skills
There are two alternatives to show the state of Washington that you have the basic skills in order to become a Wasington educator.
The first alternative is the Washington Educator Skills Test (Basic), also called the WEST-B examination.
The second option is to take the Praxis Core examination.
Washington State Teacher Certificate – Testing Alternatives
Instead of taking either of the two above tests, you can take three other possible examinations.
The state of Wastington also accepts results from the following examinations in lieu of WEST-B or Praxis Core scores:
- CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test)
- NES Academic Skills Test
- NBPTS (National Board Certification)
For the basic skills testing requirement, you must take all of the parts of the above tests in reading, writing, and mathematics.
All applicants for teacher certification in the state of Washington must meet this requirement.
Subject Area or Content Knowledge Testing
In order to show evidence of content knowledge in your area of endorsement, you must also take one of the following examinations:
1) Washington Educator Skills Test – Endorsement (WEST-E)
2) Praxis Subject Area Test
3) NES examination
To visit the official WEST website and for more information on testing requirements, please go to the following:
WEST Washington Educator Skills Test – Official Website
For more information on the Praxis tests, please visit the official ETS Praxis website at the following link:
Praxis Teacher Certification Test – Washington
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
The State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) website has further information on teacher licensure in the state of Washington.
State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Please note: The WEST-B and WEST-E are registered trademarks of the NESINC Pearson Education group.
Praxis is a registered trademark of ETS, which also the administer the Praxis exams.
This website is not endorsed by NESINC, Pearson Education Group, ETS, nor by the State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.