Becoming a Kindergarten Teacher in Washington State

<p>Kindergarten teachers work with young children, typically around the age of five. These teachers can work in either public or private sectors. Before getting on their feet, potential teachers in Washington State will need to complete schooling and exams to gain all of the necessary credentials. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree and state-approved educator program</td></tr> <tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> Washington Educator Skills Test - Basic (WEST-B);<br /> NES Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education;<br /> edTPA</td></tr> <tr><td> Certification Renewal Period </td><td> 5 Years</td></tr> <tr><td> CEU Credits Required for Renewal </td><td> 100 clock hours, 4 PGPs (25 hours each), or combination</td></tr> <tr><td> Mean Salary (2018) </td><td> $62,330*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 8% (nationwide)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>A kindergarten teacher in the state of Washington is responsible for creating lesson plans, interacting with students, grading class assignments, contacting parents when necessary, and teaching basic subjects. They typically teach multiple subjects, some of which may include art, math, and science. Teachers also help to prepare students for the transition to first grade. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationRequirements">Education Requirements</h3> <p>Those that want to become a kindergarten teacher in Washington State will first need to obtain a minimum of a bachelor's degree in the field of early childhood education. Elementary education is another possibility since it generally covers kindergarten. In addition to earning their degree, students will also need to complete a teacher preparation program. The traditional route to certification is to complete a degree program in education that includes state-approved teacher preparation. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>There are three different exams required for those working to become kindergarten teachers. The first exam is the Washington Educator Skills Test - Basic (WEST - B). This test is designed to test a variety of basic skills, such as math and writing, and can be waived if the applicant has high SAT or ACT test scores. The second exam is a content knowledge exam; candidates will take the National Evaluation Series (NES) Early Childhood Education or the NES Elementary Education. Lastly, there is the edTPA, which is considered to be a national subject-specific performance assessment and support system. </p> <h3 id="section---BackgroundCheckRequirements">Background Check Requirements</h3> <p>Before a certification can be issued in the state of Washington, potential teachers will need to have a background check completed. They will also need to have their fingerprints taken and run through a database to check for previous criminal activity. At the time that a teacher goes to apply for their certificate, they will need to fill out a character and fitness supplement. This form will ask about topics such as the applicant's legal history and other important items that may affect their ability to teach. </p> <h3 id="section---RenewalRequirements">Renewal Requirements</h3> <p>First-time teachers in the state of Washington will be issued an initial/provisional Residency Teacher Certificate. To renew this certification and remove the provisional status, they will have to work two consecutive years at a Washington school. The Residency Teacher Certificate can then be renewed every five years with 100 clock hours or four professional growth plans (PGPs); clock hours may be combined with PGPs as each contributes 25 clock hours. Teachers may also upgrade to a Professional Certificate. This requires completing either a ProTeach program or a National Board certification program.</p>