TITLE

Conditional Certificate

HISTORY

Instituted in 1989; changed in 1990 and 1998.

MOTIVATION

Shortage. No person with regular certification in the field is available as verified by the local school district or educational service district superintendent or the applicant has unusual distinction.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED

Persons highly qualified and experienced in fields of knowledge to be taught in the common or non-public schools.

WHO OPERATES

State; employing school district or educational service district superintendent.

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER

Conditional certificates are issued to individuals who are screened by the local school district or educational service district superintendents, who verify that these conditions have been met

1. The applicant is highly qualified and experienced in the subject matter to be taught and has unusual distinction or exceptional talent;
2. No person with regular teacher certification in the endorsement area is available or that circumstances warrant consideration of issuance of a conditional certificate;
3. Conditional certificates are issued to persons in the following categories only if no person with regular certification is available :
   • Traffic safety instructor.
   • Intramural/interscholastic activities instructor (coach).
   • Licensed registered nurse provided the district will be responsible for orienting and preparing individuals for their assignment.
   • Applicant who has completed a baccalaureate degree level school speech pathologist or audiologist certification preparation program, who was eligible for certification at the time of the program completion and who has served in the role for three of the last seven years.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The educational service district or local district superintendent or administrator of an approved private school will verify that the following criteria have been met when requesting the conditional certificate

The individual is competent for the assignment and is being certified for that specific assignment only;

The individual will be delegated primary responsibility for planning, conducting, and evaluating instructional activities with the assistance of the district and will not be serving in a paraprofessional role which would not require certification;

The individual will complete a minimum of 60 clock hours of pedagogy and child/adolescent development within the first 60 working days.

LENGTH OF TIME

Valid for two years, and only for the activity specified. The certificate may be reissued upon completion of 60 clock hours (6 quarter hours) of coursework.

OTHER

The State of Washington also issues EMERGENCY CERTIFICATES. Emergency certification for specific positions may be issued upon the recommendation of local school district and educational service district superintendents to persons who hold the appropriate degree and have substantially completed a program of preparation in accordance with Washington requirements for certification provided that: a qualified person who holds regular certification is not available or that the position is essential and circumstances warrant consideration of issuance of an emergency certificate.