Advanced Track Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How do I qualify?

2. How do I apply to the program?

3. Where will the seminars be held?

4. What are the expectations?

5. What record-keeping responsibilities do I have?

6. What if my evidence is not complete by the end of the course?

7. Are there other requirements for earning the Professional Certificate?

8. Is there an external evaluation of my portfolio?

9. What are the next steps once I meet the requirements?

How do I qualify?

Candidates who earned a teaching certificate from another state and then taught for at least five years out-of-state have an opportunity to demonstrate that they qualify for a professional certificate by completing required documents and providing portfolio evidence that they meet the required standards.  Candidates should seek approval for this track before registering for the Advanced Track seminar.  Candidates must request the employing school district’s Human Resource personnel to fax a document that details the candidate’s teaching experience record to: (360) 650-4845, attention: Director, University-School Partnerships. 

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How do I apply to the program?

The Application Form and  Employment Verification Form are available in the Program Application section on this website.  The Employment Verification Form should be completed by your employing school district’s Human Resources Office and either faxed to Dana Edward, 360/650-4845 or mailed to Dana Edward, WWU 516 High Street – MS 9088, Bellingham, WA 98225

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Where will the seminars be held?

Seminar meetings are held in local school district locations – not on the WWU campus.  Depending on your location, you will either meet with a group of at least six other Advanced Track candidates or with the district’s Pre-Assessment Seminar group.  If there are fewer than seven Advanced Track candidates in your region, you will participate in selected sessions of the local Pre-Assessment Seminar plus meet in an individualized small group with other Advanced Track candidates and the instructor.  When you register, you’ll receive additional information about which option is available in your area.

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What are the expectations?

See the Advanced Track Syllabus for additional detail.  OSPI Descriptions of Effective Professional Practice (word) (pdf) and Portfolio Evidence Guidelines (word) (pdf) will help you understand the quality of evidence required in a portfolio.

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What record-keeping responsibilities do I have?

Assignments include the development of a Personal Capacity Worksheet (word) (pdf), a Professional Growth Team (word) (pdf), a Professional Growth Plan (word) (pdf), and a Student Learning Context Profile (word) (pdf).  Pre-Assessment candidates must obtain the instructor’s signature on the Professional Growth Plan to verify that the Professional Growth Team has been consulted and has approved three to five Professional Growth Plan goals.

Advanced Track candidates should follow the guidelines in the Portfolio Evidence Guidelines (word) (pdf) and Portfolio At-A-Glance (word) (pdf) as the portfolio is developed.  A Required Professional Certificate Portfolio Coversheet (word) (pdf) provides a record keeping format for candidates as well as instructors who review the portfolio once it has been submitted. 

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What if my evidence is not complete by the end of the course?

If an Advanced Track candidate is close to completing the portfolio, but needs more time and support, the candidate may enroll in a 1-credit Linking Class.  If the portfolio does not meet standards, the candidate will be advised to enroll in the Core Seminar and complete the full program.

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Are there other requirements for earning the Professional Certificate?

Candidates for the Professional Certificate must also meet Washington State’s requirement for a course in “issues of abuse.” Residency teachers who completed a Washington State teacher preparation program after 1992 met this requirement through their teacher preparation program.  Additional information about this requirement is available through Western’s Certification Officer, Dana.Edward@wwu.edu.

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Is there an external evaluation of my portfolio?

The 2007 legislature required the development of an external evaluation process for Professional Certificate candidates.  A pilot for this new requirement will begin during the 2008-2009 academic year.  Individual portfolios may be selected for participation in this pilot program review and all portfolios will be required to be externally reviewed once the pilot program is complete.

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What are the next steps once I meet the requirements?

Once it has been verified that the portfolio evidence meets standards, the Office of University-School Partnerships will forward your file to Western’s Certification Officer. The Certification Officer will send you a Professional Certificate Application Packet to complete and return. Upon verification that certificate application requirements have been met, the Certification Officer will issue a 180-day Professional teacher permit and recommend you to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Professional Certificate. The Professional Certificate will be mailed to the Certification Officer within about 10 weeks and forwarded on to you.

The Professional Certificate is valid for five years and can be renewed for five-year periods by completing 150 clock hours or equivalent college/university credits that address both categories:

(A) Clock hours / coursework related to one of the five state salary criteria identified in RCW 28A.415.023.

(B) Clock hours / coursework related to one of the three standards required for the Professional Certificate (Effective Teaching, Professional Development, or Professional Contributions).

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