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How do I become a teacher?
All educators must hold a residency teacher certificate to teach in Washington state. To be eligible to receive a certificate, a teacher candidate must (a) have a bachelor’s degree (or higher), (b) complete an approved teacher preparation program, (c) pass content knowledge assessments (which vary based on the endorsement area), (d) complete a background check and fingerprinting, and (e) fill out a character and fitness questionnaire.
There are many options for teacher preparation:
Traditional Route
A traditional route is for individuals who would like to earn their teacher education while earning their bachelor’s degree. In a case like this, the individual would enroll in a four-year college/university and earn their major in teacher education.
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Alternative Route
Alternative routes are available for individuals who already hold and associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Alternative routes are generally designed for people who already work in education (or have another full-time job) and are typically convenient and affordable. There are four “routes” in alternative route programs:
- Route 1 – For district staff (e.g., paraeducators) who have an associate’s degree
- Route 2 – For district staff with a bachelor’s degree
- Route 3 – For people who are changing careers and have a bachelor’s degree
- Route 4 – For district staff with a bachelor’s degree and a limited certificate
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Additional Pathways
High school teacher academies are available for individuals who know they want to become a teacher before college. Recruiting Washington Teachers is a unique opportunity to receive support and funding to begin teacher education through dual credit options in high school.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) options are available for those who come from business and industry backgrounds and want to teach in CTE.