Changes in State School Counseling ESA Certificate requirements
Washington State requirements for the Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certificate in School Counseling have been changed recently.
The entry-level ESA certificate is now called the Residency Certificate. Students who were admitted to the School Counseling program on or before August 31, 2005 can apply for, and receive, the Residency ESA certificate when they have completed all coursework for our M. Ed. degree in school counseling, except for the thesis. They have to finish their coursework, including internship, by August 31, 2007, however. After that date, the new standards will be applied.
Students admitted to the School Counseling ESA Certification program on or after September 1, 2005 will need to complete all the requirements for the master’s degree, including the thesis, before the Residency Certificate can be awarded.
Existing approved programs.
(3) All school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker programs shall be approved under the 2004 program approval standards of chapter 181-78A WAC by August 31, 2005. Colleges and universities may permit individuals accepted into the school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker programs on or before August 31, 2005, to obtain a residency certificate by meeting requirements of programs approved under the 1997 approval standards described in chapter 181-78A WAC if the individuals complete the program on or before August 31, 2007, and the college or university verifies program completion to the superintendent of public instruction on or before December 31, 2007. Provided that the state board of education or its designee may waive this deadline on a case-by-case basis.
Levels of certificates, initial/residency and continuing/professional.
Two levels of certification may be issued.
(2) Residency and professional certificates: Teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates with program completion dates commencing with the dates indicated below will be issued the following levels of certificates:
(a) Residency certificate. The residency certificate will be issued to teachers beginning September 1, 2000, to principal/program administrators beginning September 1, 2004, and to educational staff associate school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers no later than September 1, 2005.
(b) The residency certificate for principals, program administrators, and educational staff associates is valid for five years and shall be subject to renewal pursuant to WAC 181-79A-250 (2)(b) and (c).
(e) The first issue of a residency certificate for principals, program administrators, and educational staff associates shall be valid until the holder has completed two successful years of service in the role. When the principal, program administrator, or educational staff associate for the first time in their career completes two years of successful service in a school district, state approved private school, or state agency, their residency certificate will be reissued with a five-year expiration date. Prior to the expiration date, the candidate must earn a professional certificate or meet residency renewal requirements under WAC 181-79A-250 (2)(b) and (c).
(f) Professional certificate. The professional certificate will be issued to teachers beginning September 1, 2001, to principals/program administrators beginning September 1, 2007, and to educational staff associate school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers beginning September 1, 2007. The professional certificate is valid for five years and shall be subject to renewal pursuant to WAC 181-79A-250. Provided, That a professional teacher's certificate based on the possession of a valid teacher's certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards National Board Certification pursuant to WAC 181-79A-257 (3)(b) or 180-79A-206 (3)(a) shall be valid for five years or until the expiration of the National Board Certificate, whichever is greater.
Academic and experience requirements for certification — School counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers.
Candidates for school counselor, school psychologist and school social worker certification shall complete the following requirements in addition to those set forth in WAC 181-79A-150 and 181-79A-226: Provided, That it shall not be necessary for any candidate who holds a master's or doctorate degree to obtain the specified master's degree if the candidate provides satisfactory evidence to the superintendent of public instruction that he or she has completed all course work requirements relevant to the required master's degree and has satisfactorily completed a comprehensive written examination required in such master's degree program: Provided, That if any candidate has been awarded a master's degree without a comprehensive written examination, the candidate, as a condition for certification, shall arrange to take such an examination with any accredited college or university and provide the superintendent of public instruction with an affidavit from the chair of the department of such academic field that he or she has successfully completed the above noted comprehensive examination.
(1) School counselor.
(b) Residency.
(i) The candidate shall hold a master's degree with a major in counseling.
(ii) The candidate shall have successfully completed a written comprehensive examination of the knowledge included in the course work for the required master's degree. This examination shall be a proctored, written examination of a regionally accredited institution of higher education or the candidate may meet this requirement by receiving a passing score on the Praxis II guidance and counseling examination administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).
(c) Continuing.
(i) The candidate shall hold a master's degree with a major in counseling.
(ii) The candidate shall provide documentation of one hundred eighty days or full-time equivalent or more employment in the respective role with an authorized employer -- i.e., school district, educational service district, state agency, college or university, private school, or private school system -- and at least thirty days of such employment with the same employer.
(iii) The candidates must demonstrate their respective knowledges and skills while employed in that role by passing a one-quarter or one-semester college or university course that includes peer review. The college or university shall establish the procedures for the peer review with advice from the respective professional education advisory board.
(d) Professional. The candidate shall have completed an approved professional certificate program.