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Navigate the certification process

WEA professional development opportunities are only open to WEA members. If you are a non-member and want to join, please contact your Local EA to sign up for membership.

  • Certification Online Trainings for April 2020

    April Online Cert Trainings












    Teacher Certification 101, 3 Clock Hours (Free)
    (Audience: Teachers and CTE Teachers)
    Focuses on latest teacher certification renewal requirements, policy changes, STEM renewal requirement, PGP basics, National Board basics and OSPI eCert platform.


    ESA Certification 101, 3 Clock Hours (Free)
    (Audience: Educational Staff Associates)
    Focuses on latest ESA certificate renewal requirements, policy changes, OSPI eCert platform, PGP basics and ESA professional growth needs.


    Professional Growth Plan #1, 3 Clock Hours (Free)
    (Audience: All certificated educators)
    Certificated educators can complete 1 PGP per year for 25 clock hours toward certificate renewal and salary movement.  This session coves PGP basics, alignment with TPEP, meeting STEM requirements using PGPs and time to draft your PGP.


    National Board Information Session, 2 Clock Hours (Free)
    (Audience: Certificated Educators)
    Learn about the National Board Five Core Propositions, content area standards and the four required Natioal Board components.  This session covers state incentives and candidate support options.

  • WEA National Board Jump Start

    WEA Jump Start is a four-day comprehensive seminar designed to provide National Board candidates with important information about the certification process, time to examine component and Assessment Center requirements, the opportunity to plan how to meet requirements, and time to collaborate, gather resources and information needed to pursue certification. All this happens in a supportive, constructive, and collegial environment.

    WEA is currently planning to offer two, in-person National Board Jump Start events this summer.  In partnership with the Oregon Education Association, WEA members are also provided the option to attend an OEA National Board Jump Start Seminar.  We anticipate the registration fee for these events to be approximately $200 for active WEA members.  Given many unknowns due to COVID-19 and the possible need for ongoing social distancing, it is possible some/all of these in-person trainings may be canceled.  We are exploring the possibility of offering the Jump Start curriculum through online delivery if this remains to be the case.

    WEA and OEA National Board Jump Start In-Person Trainings (subject to change):

    Spokane, WA: June 23-26, 2020 [WEA event]
    Eugene, OR: July 27-30, 2020 [OEA event]
    Seattle/Puget Sound Area, WA: August 3-6, 2020 [WEA event]
    Portland, OR: August 3-6, 2020 [OEA event]
    Bend, OR: August 10-13, 2020 [OEA event]

    At this time, we are encouraging pre-registrations for these events.  Please fill out this pre-registration form. Note: This pre-registration does not bind you to attend, nor is payment required at this time.  This information will be used for our planning and candidate outreach purposes this spring and summer.  We will be in touch with pre-registrants later this spring with updates about program offerings and official registration.  

    To see the latest COVID-19 guidance from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), please go to this link: www.nbpts.org/COVID-19

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  • WEA National Board Home Stretch

    *** Alert! Both of the March 2020 events have been cancelled due to the mounting coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in our state and communities.  The primary reason in this decision is the safety of our training participants and facilitators.  Given the window of time prior to the National Board submission, we regret to inform you that this event will not be re-scheduled ***

    Home Stretch takes place just before the National Board portfolio is due, when candidates are getting ready to focus their attention on final revisions.

    WEA offers Home Stretch seminars annually in February through April, and two options are available, a 3-hour and a 6-hour seminar, both consisting of peer feedback on written commentary. Event fees include lunch, clock hours, and all training materials and resources.

    Small like-certificate groups meet with one NBCT Facilitator to read and provide standards-based feedback on the written commentary for Components 2, 3, or 4 using a protocol specially designed for use at WEA Home Stretch events.

    In full day events, candidates get a second round of feedback on Component 2, 3 or 4 written commentary, OR, they can opt to gwt support with Component 1 (Assessment Center) Preparation. In a small, like-certificate group, candidates explore the selected response items, the constructed response exercises, and released items.

    Supported Work Groups: Dedicated work time with available NBCTs who answer questions and provide support. 

    Note: Trainings may be cancelled should registration numbers not meet the minimum requirements. Members will be offered alternative options or refunds for cancelled events.

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  • WEA National Board Maintenance of Certificate (MOC) Jump Start

    The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is implementing a new, 5 year “Maintenance of Certification” (MOC) starting in the 2020-21 candidate cycle.  The 5-year MOC replaces the 10 year Renewal option. You can read more about the MOC at the NBPTS website:  https://www.nbpts.org/maintenance-of-certification/

    Maintaining your National Board Certification is a personal and public statement about your commitment to the profession and to your students. WEA's National Board Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Jump Start is a 1-day training that provides key information to NBCTs planning to undertake the new MOC. This training helps candidates consider their growth and experiences since becoming a NBCT and how to relate this to the MOC requirements.

    Specific details about the MOC are not yet available.  As such, we are not yet able to redesign our WEA National Board Renewal Jump Start until that information becomes available. WEA is currently planning to offer several 1-day, in-person training options on Saturdays in the fall based on interest. The estimated registration cost for WEA members will be $50-$75. Given many unknowns about COVID-19 and the possible need for ongoing social distancing, it’s possible these trainings will not take place. We are exploring options for retooling our curriculum for online delivery if that’s the case. 

    Though we do not yet have event dates set for the fall, we are accepting pre-registrations at this link.  Note: this pre-registration does not bind you to attend, nor is payment required at this time.  This information will be used for our event planning and candidate outreach purposes this spring and summer.  We will be in touch with pre-registrants later this summer and fall with updates about program offerings and registration.

    To see the latest COVID-19 guidance from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), please check out this link:  www.nbpts.org/COVID-19

    Find training options

  • Navigating Your Certification Options

    Go here to find out more about the National Board process and to register as a National Board candidate.

    Find out about earning and maintaining certification for:

    Find information for Future Educators

    And learn about Washington State Clock Hours

    State Agencies working with Certification