Required Tests for Program Admittance and Certification
Washington State requires teacher candidates demonstrate basic skills (WEST-B test) and content knowledge (WEST-E/NES test) from approved tests to be recommended for certification. For details about each test, please read the information in the drop down items below.
- Basic Skills: WEST-B
You have to pass the WEST-B (or qualifying SAT/ACT scores) for full admittance to the Teacher Certification Program. Washington State has recently left the minimum score for WEST-B testing up to local control. CWU is still requiring a passing score of 240 or higher on the math and reading subtests and a 235 on the writing subtest for Teacher Certification Program admission. Please register for this test online through Pearson and select CWU to recieve your scores electronically.
If you do not pass with a 240/235 you must meet a remediation alternative as laid out in the WEST-B Policy Remediation.
- Content Knowledge: WEST-E/NES
Washington State requires that you attempt at least one exit exam before you begin student teaching. To meet this requirement, CWU requires you send confirmation of the date, location and test to teachercertification@cwu.edu at the same time as you complete your Student Teaching Application.
You are ready to take the exit exam(s) upon completing most of your major or minor content courses. You will need to pass all test subjects you wish to be endorsed in. Passing score for NES is 220; passing score for WEST-E is 240. Please register for this test online through Pearson and select CWU to recieve your scores electronically. Look for the "Online Proctoring" section to see if the test you need can be taken from home!
Which Test Do I Take? Major/Minor
Test Description NES Test Code Art Education Art 503 Biology Biology 305 Business and Marketing Education Business Education 309 Chemistry Chemistry 306 Computer Science Computer Science 315
Early Childhood Education (major or minor) Early Childhood Education 101
Earth and Space Science/Geology Earth and Space Science 307 Elementary Education Elementary Education Subtest 1 and Subtest 2
(You must pass both subtests)
102 AND 103 English Language Arts English Language Arts 301 Literacy Minor Essential Components of Elementary Reading Instruction 104 Secondary Math Mathematics 304 Middle Level Science Middle Grades General Science 204 Middle Level Math Middle Grades Mathematics 203 Broad Area Music Education
504 Physics Physics 308 Major/Minor Test Description WEST-E Test Code Bilingual Education/Teaching English as a Second Language Minor - IF you are bilingual and wish to teach in a dual language classroom, you will also need to take the ACTFL oral (OPI) and written (WPT) tests in the language you wish to be certified.
- Must rate at Advanced Mid level or higher
50 Dance Minor Dance 54 TELL and Bilingual Education/Teaching English as a Second Language Minor (if you wish to teach students learning English but not teach in a different language)
51 Family and Consumer Sciences Education Family and Consumer Sciences Education 41 PESH Health and Fitness 29 Middle Level Humanites Middle Level Humanites Subtest 1 and Subtest 2
(You must pass both subtests)
52 AND 53 Broad Area Music Education- Choral specialization Music: Choral 56
Broad Area Music Education- Instrumental specialization Music: Instrumental 57 History/Social Studies Education (this test will let you teach History and Social Studies)
28 Special Education (Major or minor)
For Special Education majors: you will not be recommended to OSPI for your teaching certificate without passing your content test for your minor.Special Education 70 Technology Education Technology Education 40 Theatre Arts/Drama Theatre Arts 55
Vouchers
A limited number of vouchers are available to cover the cost of the WEST-B, WEST-E or NES tests . Vouchers will be awarded based on the highest amount of financial need (as determined by CWU’s Financial Aid Office). Vouchers may only be used for new test registrations. The Teacher Certification Program will email you the result of your application. Do not submit payment for the test until you have been notified by the Teacher Certification Program whether or not you have received a voucher.
To qualify for a voucher applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be currently enrolled at Central Washington University.
- Show financial need, as determined by the CWU Financial Aid Office.
- Have not received a previous voucher for a given test. You may only receive the voucher one time.
Voucher Values
Applications are only processed on the first of every month. If you apply after the first you will need to be patient in waiting for our response.
WEST-B Voucher (up to $96) awarded monthly. Broken into $32 codes to register for each subtest.
WEST-E and or NES Voucher (up to $96) awarded monthly.
What happens if I cannot pass the content test?
CWU has developed, at the request of the state standards board, a Case-by-Case Exceptions Program to assist candidates in demonstrating their content knowledge through alternative measures. You will be asked to evaluate your weakest domains based on your Diagnostic Score Report sent from Pearson and provide evidence that your coursework demonstrates you have content knowledge in that domain.
Case-by-Case acceptance requirements:
- Case-by-Case is only open to CWU students and alumni.
- Case-by-Case is not available to Alternative Route applicants as passing the content test is an admission requirement.
- Case-by-Case may only be used for your primary endorsement (Major) and not minors or add-on endorsements.
- Please do not apply until your official scores been sent by Pearson. If you apply before you recieve your official scores and Diagnostic Score Report, you will have to do this again. Test report dates can be found online for both NES and WEST-E tests
- Elementary Education (NES 102 and NES 103) Case-by-Case Requirements
For Elementary Education majors, the content knowledge will more than likely come from your general education courses and not your pedagogy courses in your major.
If your highest score is between 200-219 for NES 102 and/or NES 103 you may apply for each subtest today. You will need to meet this cut score for each subtest you have not passed if you hope to use this alternative to meet certification requirements.
ex: NES 102 score 210 and NES 103 score 197- You can apply for NES 102 but will need a score higher than 200 to apply for NES 103.
At any point your score for either subtest reaches 200 or higher and you have your Diagnostic Score Report from Pearson, you may apply to Case-by-Case. Applications are processed once per week. You will be e-mailed either submission requirements or explanation for being denied when your application is processed.
**If your highest score is below this threshold please see the information below the application button.
Please do not apply until your official scores have been sent by Pearson. If you apply before you recieve your official scores, you will have to do this again.
Example E-mail:
Hello [content specialist],
My name is [Name]
My highest score on [Test] is [Score]. My score is too low to autmatically register for the Case-by-Case program, attached you will find the PDF of my Diagnostic Score Report. I feel I should have this opportunity because [provide reasons]Content Specialist Contact Information Elementary Education Majors
Dr. Hughes
Craig.Huges@cwu.edu - All other Majors Case-by-Case Requirements
If your highest score is between 200-219 for NES or 220-239 for WEST-E attempts you may apply today. You will need to meet this cut score for tests you have not passed if you hope to use this alternative to meet certification requirements.
At any point your score reaches 200-219 for NES or 220-239 for WEST-E and you have your Diagnostic Score Report from Pearson, you may apply to Case-by-Case. Applications are processed once per week. You will be e-mailed either submission requirements or explanation for being denied when your application is processed.
**If your highest score is below this threshold please see the information below the application button.
Please do not apply until your official scores have been sent by Pearson. If you apply before you recieve your official scores, you will have to do this again.
**If your highest score is below the required threshold, please contact the appropriate content specialist to discuss the testing barriers you are experiencing and strategies for passing the exam on additional attempts. You will need to include your Diagnostic Score Report sent from Pearson with your official scores in your initial contact.
Example E-mail:
Hello [content specialist],
My name is [Name]
My highest score on [Test] is [Score]. My score is too low to autmatically register for the Case-by-Case program, attached you will find the PDF of my Diagnostic Score Report. I feel I should have this opportunity because [provide reasons]Content Specialist Contact Information Special Education MAJOR
Early Childhood Education MAJORDr. Hughes
Craig.Huges@cwu.eduHistory/Social Studies Dr. Moore
Stephen.Moore@cwu.eduMath Dr. Oursland
Mark.Oursland@cwu.eduEnglish Language Arts Dr. Cummings
Bobby.Cummings@cwu.edu
(send communication in Arial size 16 font)Performing Arts (Music, Theatre)
Visual ArtDr. Shiver
Todd.Shiver@cwu.eduFamily and Consumer Sciences
Business and Marketing Education
Technology EducationMs. Musser
Jodi.Musser@cwu.eduHealth and Fitness Dr. Liang
Tanjian.Liang@cwu.eduScience (all disciplines) Ms. Pinsoneault
Adrienne.Pinsoneault@cwu.edu
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Updated 9/21/2022