Washington Teaching License Reciprocity
Washington doesn’t grant blanket certification reciprocity to out-of-state license holders. Only Wisconsin’s Masters Educator License and Ohio’s five-year Professional Teaching License qualify for direct Professional certificate application. Everyone else applies using their completed teacher preparation program, then completes Washington’s testing requirements within one year of receiving a temporary Residency permit.
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If you’re a certified teacher moving to Washington from another state, don’t expect your license to transfer automatically. Washington’s certification office is direct about this: certificates or licenses issued by another state don’t cover employment in Washington schools. What actually crosses state lines is your teacher preparation program, not your certificate, and only two states get anything close to a straight credential match.
How Washington Recognizes Out-of-State Teaching Credentials
The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) sets Washington’s certification requirements, and PESB has reviewed out-of-state credentials for equivalency. So far, it’s identified exactly two that measure up to Washington’s own Professional Certificate.
Wisconsin and Ohio Are the Only Direct Matches
Teachers holding Wisconsin’s Master Educator License or Ohio’s five-year Professional Teaching License can apply directly for Washington’s Professional Teacher certification. PESB has determined these two programs are comparable to its own Professional Certificate requirements. No other state’s certification process has received that designation, so this exception doesn’t extend to neighboring states or any other NASDTEC member.
Every Other State: Your Program Counts, Not Your Certificate
Hold a certificate from any other state, and Washington won’t recognize it on its own terms. What it will recognize is the accredited teacher preparation program and the bachelor’s degree behind that certificate. Complete a state-approved program anywhere in the country, and Washington counts it toward its own Residency Certificate requirement, the same way it would a Washington-based program. You still apply through Washington’s standard teacher certification process, using your out-of-state coursework and degree to satisfy the preparation requirement rather than transferring a license directly.
There’s a separate path for experienced educators: if you hold a full teaching certificate from another state and have at least three years of teaching experience outside Washington, you qualify for the Classroom Teacher pathway based on that experience, without needing to resubmit program-level coursework. And if your path into teaching didn’t follow a traditional bachelor’s-and-student-teaching program, Washington’s alternative certification routes work on the same underlying logic: the completed program counts, not just the credential type.
| Your Credential | What Happens in Washington |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin Masters Educator License or Ohio five-year Professional Teaching License | Apply directly for Washington’s Professional Teacher certification |
| Full teaching certificate from any other state, plus 3+ years of out-of-state teaching experience | Qualify for the Classroom Teacher pathway based on that experience |
| Completed teacher preparation program from any other state, no 3 years of experience yet | Program counts toward Washington’s Residency Certificate requirement. Standard testing still applies |
Testing and Application Requirements for Out-of-State Teachers
Washington generally requires applicants to meet basic skills and content knowledge testing requirements, both set by PESB. Most candidates do this through the Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic (WEST-B) and either the Washington Educator Skills Test-Endorsement (WEST-E) or the National Evaluation Series (NES), depending on subject area, although eligible out-of-state applicants may use qualifying exam scores from another state or qualify for certain exemptions.
Out-of-state applicants get one adjustment: if you’re issued a Residency Teacher First Issue temporary permit while your application is under review, you have one calendar year from that date to complete Washington’s basic skills and content knowledge tests, or submit your passing scores from your home state’s teacher certification exam to count toward Washington’s requirement instead.
Reciprocal candidates typically start with that temporary Residency certificate rather than moving straight to a Professional certificate. Applicants seeking a Professional Certificate must qualify through one of Washington’s approved Professional pathways (such as an approved comparable advanced certificate, National Board certification, or ProTeach) and complete the required coursework on recognizing and responding to abuse and emotional or behavioral distress in students, on top of the standard steps for renewing or upgrading a Washington teaching certificate. For application steps and current forms, see the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Classroom Teacher certification page, or call the certification department at (360) 725-6400.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington have teaching license reciprocity with other states?
Not in the sense of a blanket agreement. Washington recognizes accredited teacher preparation programs from any state toward its own certificate requirements, but it only treats two specific out-of-state credentials, Wisconsin’s Master Educator License and Ohio’s five-year Professional Teaching License, as directly comparable to its Professional Certificate.
What testing do out-of-state teachers need to complete for Washington certification?
Most applicants meet Washington’s basic skills and content knowledge requirements through the WEST-B and either the WEST-E or NES. Eligible out-of-state applicants may instead use qualifying certification exam scores from another state or qualify for certain exemptions. If you’re issued a temporary Residency Teacher First Issue permit, you have one calendar year to complete any testing that still applies to you.
What certificate do out-of-state teachers receive first?
Most reciprocal candidates start with a temporary Residency certificate while their full application is reviewed. Moving up to a Professional Certificate later requires qualifying through one of Washington’s approved Professional pathways and completing coursework on recognizing and responding to abuse and emotional or behavioral distress in students, along with Washington’s standard renewal steps.
Can out-of-state teaching experience replace a Washington teacher preparation program?
Yes, in one specific case. If you hold a full teaching certificate from another state and have at least three years of teaching experience outside Washington, you qualify for the Classroom Teacher pathway on that experience alone, without resubmitting program-level coursework.
- No blanket reciprocity: Washington recognizes out-of-state preparation programs, not out-of-state licenses, with one narrow exception.
- Wisconsin and Ohio are the only direct matches: their credentials qualify for Washington’s Professional Certificate without additional review.
- Experience counts too: three or more years of out-of-state teaching with a full certificate qualifies you for the Classroom Teacher pathway.
- Testing has a built-in exception: out-of-state exam scores can satisfy Washington’s requirement if submitted within one year of a temporary permit.
- PESB and OSPI split the work: PESB determines which advanced out-of-state certificates are considered comparable, while OSPI administers teacher certification.
Select your state below to find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
