Program Information
This 45-credit Western Washington University program leads to an additional endorsement in Special Education (P-12) based on Washington State Special Education P-12 Endorsement Competencies.  It is open to teachers who hold a valid and endorsable Washington State teacher's certificate, and is delivered at locations in Bellingham, Bremerton, Everett, and Seattle. The program provides coherent preparation in all areas of the Special Education curriculum as well as an optional internship experience. Successful completion of the entire program results in Western’s recommendation for the P-12 Special Education Endorsement.
 

Admission & Retention
Admission to the Woodring College of Education, Special Education Endorsement Program, is required before a student may begin taking courses in this program, unless prior arrangements have been made. Requirements include:

• Washington State Teaching Certificate

• Cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher overall or for the last 45 quarter credits or 30 semester credits.
• Pre-admission interview.

Retention in the program requires continuous demonstration of competence in standard oral and written English in all course work. Retention also requires maintenance of a 2.75 quarterly GPA for each quarter after admission to the Woodring College. The State of Washington requires students to earn a "C" or better in all endorsement courses and WWU extends this requirement to all professional education courses.

Application Process

1. Complete the Special Education Additional Endorsement Application and Student Conduct Requirements and Agreement, available online and mail to:

2. Western Washington University
   Teacher Education Outreach Programs, Attn: Denise Blair
   Woodring College of Education
   516 High Street, MS 9090
   Bellingham, WA 98225-9090

Priority Application Deadlines

Pre-Endorsement Waiver

Upon completion of 24 credits of designated course work, students can apply to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for a pre-endorsement waiver. Refer to Special Education Endorsement Program for courses that must be completed as part of the 24-credit requirement for the pre-endorsement waiver. This waiver allows students to be employed by a requesting school district as special education teachers for up to five years while completing the remainder of their endorsement program.

Registration

With permission, on a space-available basis, students may register for classes at any site offering Special Education classes.
Registration Route - Bellingham -- Once admitted into the program, students taking classes in Bellingham register either via SPAN: (space available) or WWU matriculated students WWU Post-baccalaureate Enrollment register online via Web4U.  WWU Post-Bac students have applied for admission to Western as a post-baccalaureate student.  These students may find this route less expensive, depending on state residency status and the number of credits to be completed each quarter. Please contact the Program Coordinator for updated information and override permission.
Registration Route - Outreach Sites -- Endorsement only students registering for a class at outreach sites do so via a registration form provided to them by the Program Coordinator.  If the student is continuing from one quarter to the next, without break, they can register online via Web4U. 
 

Testing
Washington State requires teacher candidates and teachers adding an endorsement to pass a subject knowledge assessment for each chosen endorsement. This assessment is entitled the Washington Educator Skills Test - Endorsements (WEST E).  Specific paper-based Praxis II: Subject Assessment tests administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) have been chosen to meet this requirement, now referred to as the WEST-E.   Passing the WEST-E/Praxis II will not qualify for waiver of an endorsement program requirement.  For more information and test dates, go to West-E.

New WEST-E tests aligned with revised endorsement competencies are under development by National Evaluation Systems (NES) and will be implemented by Western Washington University based on the education program in which the candidate is enrolled. Click here to view the New WEST-E implementation guide.

Contact Information