The PSESD Certification Office

This ESD processes between 30-40% of all certification applications in Washington State each year! We strive to provide the best service possible to school districts, post-secondary institutions, and educators. Friendly and knowledgeable assistance with applications and materials is also provided--free of charge!

Fingerprinting Services

***Please be advised that we have lately been extremely busy in our fingerprinting services department and are booking fingerprinting appointments now for two to three weeks out with only very random times still available.  We apologize in advance for any inconvenience, as we do try to make every effort in accommodating our customers in our territories***

If you are planning to apply for a Washington State teaching certificate or employment at any K-12 public school, contact Puget Sound ESD's certification office as a first step.  We utilize a state-of-the-art digital livescan fingerprinting system with instant transmission to OSPI and the Washington State Patrol.

Due to the large amount of school districts we support in our territory, Puget Sound ESD offers the fingerprinting service by appointment Monday through Friday.  Appointments are usually available from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursdays, and at limited morning times only on Fridays.  Please contact Jan Mathsen at (425) 917-7612 or jmathsen@psesd.org or Linda Guile at (425) 917-7613 with questions, or to schedule an appointment.  If you make an appointment via email, please be sure to give your phone number in case we need to reach you for any reason.  Effective 7/1/09 the fee for this service is $71.25.

To be fingerprinted at Puget Sound ESD, you will need:

• Photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) 
• Appropriate fee payment.  Cash, check or money orders only (change can be made for cash).  No debit or credit cards accepted at this time.
• Approximately 15 minutes of your time
• Someone to care for small children brought with you

Driving directions 

For more information on Washington State fingerprinting requirements, including FAQ and rejected print procedures, please visit OSPI's Office of Professional Practices web site.

We look forward to helping you! 

Specific Certification Information & Forms

• Teacher Certification
• Career & Technical Education (Vocational)
• Administrative Certification
• Educational Staff Associate Certification
• Limited Certificates

Additional Information

• FAQs
• Advancement from Residency to Professional
• Educator Preparation Programs
• Employment
• Salary Information (PDF)
• Certification Forms
• Laws, Regulations & Reports
• Basic Skills and Endorsement Testing

PSESD Resources

• One-to-One Newsletter
• Clock Hours
• Class Offerings
• Maps & Directions

Teacher Certification

• Residency and/or Substitute Teacher
• Residency Renewal Teacher
• Professional Teacher
• Professional Renewal
• Initial Renewal
• Conversion of a Lapsed Initial Teaching Certificate to Residency
• Conversion of a Lapsed Provisional Teaching Certificate to Residency
• Continuing Teacher
• Continuing Renewal
• Continuing Reinstatement
• Transitional Teacher Certificate
• Substitute Teacher
• Career & Technical Education (Vocational)
• Adding Additional Endorsements
• Foreign Trained
• Name Change/Replacement of Certificate
• Basic Skills and Endorsement Testing
• 4031R Residency Reissuance Form 

Career & Technical Education (Vocational)

• Initial CTE
• Initial Renewal/Continuing CTE
• Continuing Renewal CTE
• Continuing Reinstatement CTE
• Counselor CTE
• Occupational Career Specialist CTE
• Director CTE
• Conditional CTE
• Probationary CTE
• Name Change/Replacement of CTE Certificate (to be added soon)
• Career and Technical Education Teacher Training Competency Block Certificate Program CTE

• Residency Principal
• Residency Program Administrator
• Initial Superintendent
• Continuing or Second Initial Issuance of Administrator Certificate
• Continuing Renewal
• Continuing Reinstatement
• 4001R Residency Administrator Reissuance

Educational Staff Associate Certification

• Residency School Counselor
• Residency School Psychologist
• Residency School Social Worker
• Initial School Nurse
• Initial Occupational Therapist
• Initial Physical Therapist
• Initial Speech Language Pathologist or Audiologist
• Continuing or Second Initial Issuance of Educational Staff Associate Certificate
• Continuing Renewal
• Continuing Reinstatement
• 4098R Residency Educational Staff Associate Reissuance 

Limited Certificates

• Emergency
• Emergency Substitute
• Intern Substitute
• Conditional
• Transitional Certificate
• Name Change/Replacement of Certificate
• First People's Language, Culture and Oral Traditions