A certified teacher in Washington state refers to someone that has earned a degree in a teacher preparation program, and is certified to teach in the public schools system. If you are interested in becoming a certified teacher in the kindergarten and high school system—often called the K-12 system—there are many pathway options available.
Whether the goal is to earn a Bachelor’s degree (BA) or Master’s (MIT) degree in Education, a majority of Washington state teachers begin with two years at a community college, followed by two years at a university teacher preparation program. This is commonly referred to as the 2+2 pathway.
Recently, some community colleges in Washington state started offering teaching degrees, called Bachelor’s in Science (BAS). These programs are still considered 2+2 teaching programs because candidates will earn a two year AAS degree and stay at the same college for the next two years to earn their BAS degree. The teaching specific BAS pathway is designed to start directly from local high school teaching academies, and is also available for currently working paraeducators.
— Carla Stevens Smith, Renton School District
The TeachWa.org is hosted by the Professional Educators Standard Board, the governing body of teacher professional standards in Washington state.
This site provides:
First hand accounts of educators currently working in the K-12 classrooms sharing about the benefits and challenges of the career.
Detailed information about the pathway towards a certification in teacher education, including assessments, programs, and other industry requirements.
Resources regarding research based best practices in the field of education and professional development opportunities for certified teachers.
