Washington Substitute Teaching License
Washington offers two paths to a substitute teaching certificate: a regular Substitute Certificate for candidates who hold or qualify for a full teaching certificate, and an Emergency Substitute Certificate that a school district can request for candidates without a completed teacher preparation program. Neither path requires a certification exam, and the regular certificate is valid for life. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) issues both.
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Substitute teaching in Washington runs through two separate certificates, and which one applies to you depends on whether you’ve already completed a teacher preparation program. Most people researching this page fall into one of two groups: graduates of an approved program who want the regular Substitute Certificate, or candidates a district wants to bring on quickly under an Emergency Substitute Certificate. This guide covers both.
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Washington.
Washington’s Two Substitute Teaching Certificates
Substitute Teacher Certificate
The regular Substitute Certificate requires the same level of preparation as a full Washington Teacher Certificate. You qualify if you already hold, or have held, a regular Washington Teacher, Administrator, or Educational Staff Associate certificate. If you don’t hold a Washington certificate yet, you can qualify by completing a bachelor’s degree and a state-approved teacher preparation program (traditional or alternative route), or by holding a full out-of-state teaching certificate along with three years of out-of-state teaching experience — if you already hold a full teaching certificate from another state, that reciprocity path is worth reviewing before you apply. This certificate is valid for life once issued.
Emergency Substitute Teacher Certificate
The Emergency Substitute Certificate exists for districts facing a staffing gap. A school district, approved private school, or educational service district has to initiate the request on your behalf, then you complete the application through your E-Certification account. This certificate doesn’t carry the bachelor’s-degree or teacher-prep requirements of the regular Substitute Certificate, since it’s meant for candidates who haven’t gone through a preparation program. It’s valid for up to two school years and can be reissued at the requesting district’s request.
Education and Preparation Requirements
For the regular Substitute Certificate, the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) requires official transcripts showing a completed bachelor’s degree, plus proof of one of the following: completion of any state-approved teacher preparation program, or a full out-of-state teaching certificate combined with three years of out-of-state classroom experience. A list of Washington-approved preparation programs may be found here.
Neither the regular nor the Emergency Substitute Certificate requires you to pass a certification exam. Testing applies to full, standard teacher certification, not to substitute credentials.
Student Teaching and Classroom Experience
If you’re pursuing the regular Substitute Certificate through a teacher preparation program, you’ll complete supervised student teaching as part of that program. Student teaching pairs you with a certificated mentor teacher and gives you the classroom hours that support your eventual application, whether you use it toward a full teaching certificate or the substitute pathway alone.
Background Check and Application Steps
Every substitute applicant needs a completed fingerprint-based background check if they don’t already have a valid Washington certificate on record. You can complete a live-scan fingerprint check at your local Educational Service District (ESD) office, or mail a completed card and processing fee to OSPI directly. Full options and current locations are on OSPI’s fingerprints and background checks page. Applications for both substitute certificate types are submitted through your E-Certification account. For the Emergency Substitute Certificate, the requesting district files its portion first, and you complete the application once that request is on file.
For questions about your application, contact OSPI’s Certification Department at [email protected] or 360-725-6400.
What You Can Expect on the Job
A single Substitute Certificate assignment can run for up to 180 school days during the school year under Washington administrative rule, well beyond a short fill-in day. Districts still set their own daily and long-term substitute policies on top of that state ceiling, including how assignments are posted and how pay scales up the longer you stay in one classroom, so ask your district or staffing agency for its specific substitute handbook before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the regular and Emergency Substitute Certificate in Washington?
The regular Substitute Certificate requires a bachelor’s degree and completion of a teacher preparation program, or an out-of-state teaching certificate plus three years of experience, and it’s valid for life. The Emergency Substitute Certificate is initiated by a school district for candidates without that preparation background, and it’s valid for up to two school years.
Do I need to pass an exam to become a substitute teacher in Washington?
No. Neither the regular Substitute Certificate nor the Emergency Substitute Certificate requires a certification exam. Testing is tied to full teacher certification, not to substitute credentials.
How long can a substitute teacher work the same assignment in Washington?
Washington administrative rule caps a single Substitute Certificate assignment at 180 school days during the school year. Individual districts may set their own shorter policies for how long a substitute can stay in one classroom before other placement or pay rules kick in.
Does a Washington substitute teaching certificate expire?
The regular Substitute Certificate is valid for life once issued. The Emergency Substitute Certificate is different: it’s valid for up to two school years and can be reissued if the requesting district asks again.
Can I substitute teach while I’m still completing my teacher preparation program?
Washington has a separate Intern Substitute Certificate for candidates completing their student teaching who need to cover their cooperating teacher’s classroom during an absence. It requires program approval and isn’t available once you hold a full certificate.
- Two certificate paths lead to substitute work — the regular Substitute Certificate for bachelor’s-degree holders who’ve completed teacher prep, and the district-initiated Emergency Substitute Certificate for those who haven’t.
- No exam is required for either path — testing applies to full teacher certification, not substitute credentials.
- 180 days is the state cap on one assignment — Washington administrative rule limits a single Substitute Certificate placement to 180 school days during the school year.
- The regular certificate lasts for life — once issued, it doesn’t expire, while the Emergency Substitute Certificate is limited to two school years at a time.
- A background check applies to everyone — fingerprinting is required unless you already hold a valid Washington certificate on record.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Washington, including the bachelor’s-level and alternative preparation options that qualify you for a substitute certificate.
