Washington Principal and Administrator Certification
Washington separates school leadership into two certificates: Principal, for building-level leaders, and Program Administrator, for district-level roles outside the superintendent’s office. Both require a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a state-approved administrator preparation program through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). No additional testing applies to the administrator certificate itself. Candidates without a valid Washington educator certificate on file also need a fingerprint-based background check.
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Use the links below to jump to certificate types, application steps for in-state and out-of-state candidates, testing rules, and superintendent certification.
- How Washington’s Principal and Program Administrator Certificates Work
- Applying as an In-State Candidate
- Applying as an Out-of-State Candidate
- Advancing to the Professional Certificate
- Testing Requirements
- Superintendent Certification
- Fingerprint and Background Check Requirements
- Contact Information
Washington splits school leadership credentials into two separate tracks, and OSPI doesn’t let one substitute for the other. A principal aiming for an assistant principal or vice-principal role needs the Principal certificate specifically. A candidate heading toward a district-level role like director of curriculum needs the Program Administrator certificate instead. Educators can pursue one or both, depending on where their career is headed.
How Washington’s Principal and Program Administrator Certificates Work
OSPI issues two tiers for both roles. The Residency, or First Issue, certificate is the entry-level credential for new administrators. The Professional certificate is the second tier, available once an administrator has held a valid Residency certificate in the role.
The Principal certificate covers building-level leadership: principal, assistant principal, or vice-principal. The Program Administrator certificate covers district-level leadership outside the superintendent’s office, such as a director-level position. Washington doesn’t require this second certificate for employment as a program administrator, though many districts still expect it.
Applying as an In-State Candidate
Candidates who complete their preparation program through a Washington institution apply through that institution, not directly through OSPI. The program must formally recommend the candidate before OSPI will process the application.
For the Principal certificate, in-state candidates need:
- A regular Teacher, Educational Staff Associate, or Initial/Continuing CTE certificate, held now or in the past
- A master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- Completion of a state-approved administrator preparation program
- Three years of successful school-based instructional experience
- A fingerprint-based background check, if the candidate doesn’t already have a valid Washington certificate on file
For the Program Administrator certificate, the requirements are similar but drop the prior teaching certificate and the three years of instructional experience: a master’s degree, a state-approved preparation program, and a background check if needed. If you haven’t earned your underlying teaching certificate yet, start with Washington’s teacher certification requirements before pursuing an administrator credential.
Applying as an Out-of-State Candidate
Candidates who completed their preparation program outside Washington apply directly, and OSPI gives them two ways to qualify. For the Principal certificate, a candidate must hold or have held a Teacher, ESA, or CTE certificate, complete a master’s degree, and verify three years of school-based instructional experience using Principal Prerequisite Experience Verification Form 4001F. From there, a candidate completes either a state-approved preparation program (Form 4001E) or three years of full-time out-of-state administrator experience plus a copy of an out-of-state administrator certificate (Form 4020F-1).
Program Administrator candidates from out of state skip the prior teaching certificate and instructional experience requirement, but otherwise follow the same master’s-degree-plus-Form-4001E-or-4020F-1 path. Candidates who still need to establish their underlying Washington teaching certificate should also review Washington’s teacher reciprocity agreements, which cover how out-of-state credentials transfer.
Advancing to the Professional Certificate
Moving from Residency to Professional status requires meeting every Residency requirement first, then completing one of two paths: a Professional Educator Standards Board-approved professional administrator program, which isn’t currently offered, or a Continuing Administrator License program completed through Oregon. Candidates also attest to completing coursework on issues of abuse and emotional or behavioral distress in students, either logged as Clock Hours or submitted on Form 4020G.
Testing Requirements
Unlike Washington’s teacher certification pathway, which requires the WEST-B basic skills test and WEST-E content endorsement tests, the state doesn’t require a separate exam for the administrator certificate itself. OSPI’s certification FAQ confirms testing isn’t part of the principal or program administrator application. The testing a candidate already completed to earn their underlying teaching certificate still applies, but no additional test sits between a candidate and their administrator credential.
Superintendent Certification
Superintendent certification runs on its own track, separate from Principal and Program Administrator. Washington doesn’t require it for employment as a superintendent or assistant superintendent, though individual districts often set it as a hiring standard.
The Initial Superintendent certificate requires a master’s degree and either a state-approved superintendent preparation program (Form 4001E) or three years of full-time experience plus an out-of-state superintendent certificate (Form 4020F-1). Candidates must also hold or have held a regular Teacher, ESA, Principal, or Program Administrator certificate. The Professional Superintendent certificate is the second tier, available once a candidate holds a valid Initial certificate in the role.
Fingerprint and Background Check Requirements
Anyone applying for a Washington educational certificate without a valid certificate already on file needs a fingerprint-based background check through the Washington State Patrol and the FBI. The processing fee is $50 for electronic submissions. Most candidates complete this at an Educational Service District (ESD) office using live-scan technology, though some universities offer on-campus fingerprinting as well.
This fingerprint fee is separate from OSPI’s certificate application fee. The Residency Principal or Program Administrator certificate carries a $93 non-refundable application fee, and the Professional Administrator certificate (or its renewal) is $81. Both fees are paid with each application and aren’t refunded if an application is denied or withdrawn.
How to Apply
OSPI processes all administrator certifications through its online E-Certification (EDS) system. The general steps: review the requirements for the specific certificate, create an E-Certification account, complete the fingerprint and background check, gather transcripts and any required verification forms, then log in to E-Certification to submit the application.
Contact Information
For questions about administrator certification, contact OSPI’s Certification Department at [email protected] or 360-725-6400. Candidates can also visit OSPI in person at:
Old Capitol BuildingP.O. Box 47200
600 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching certificate before I can become a principal in Washington?
Yes, for the Principal certificate specifically. Program Administrator candidates don’t need a prior teaching certificate, since that role sits at the district level rather than in a school building.
Is there a test required for Washington’s administrator certification?
No. OSPI’s certification FAQ confirms testing isn’t required for the administrator certificate itself. The WEST-B and WEST-E exams apply to teacher certification, which a candidate typically completes before pursuing an administrator credential.
What’s the difference between the Principal and Program Administrator certificates?
The Principal certificate covers school-level leadership: principal, assistant principal, or vice-principal. The Program Administrator certificate covers district-level roles outside the superintendent’s office, like a director position, and isn’t required by the state for employment in that role.
How much does the fingerprint background check cost?
The standard fee is $50 for an electronic submission through an ESD or another approved live-scan provider. That’s separate from the certificate application fee, which is $93 for the Residency Principal or Program Administrator certificate and $81 for the Professional Administrator certificate.
Do I need a separate certificate to become a superintendent?
Superintendent certification is its own track, separate from Principal and Program Administrator. The state doesn’t require it, but many districts do as part of their hiring standards.
- Principal and Program Administrator are separate certificates — a candidate needs the one that matches their target role, and completing one doesn’t automatically qualify them for the other.
- A master’s degree and an approved prep program anchor both certificates — every path, in-state or out-of-state, starts here.
- No standalone test applies to the administrator certificate — testing requirements belong to the underlying teaching certificate, not this credential.
- Superintendent certification is optional at the state level — though many districts require it independently.
- Background checks run $50 and go through an ESD — required for anyone without a valid Washington certificate already on file.
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