Washington School Librarian Certification

Initial School Librarian Certification Process

As a newcomer to the librarian profession in Washington, you must be certified by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). This state presents one of the most organized certification processes as a recommendation must be sent from the institution where you completed an approved teacher preparation program before your application can be considered or processed at all.

As a first-time applicant, you must communicate with your institution about which certification you are eligible for based on completed requirements. Here are the available options for first-time applicants. You must have been recommended for the Residency First Issue Certificate from a state-approved teacher preparation program. The registration process requires a background check and the fees are non-refundable. In addition to obtaining an educator license, you will need to add a library endorsement. More details on this will be revealed later.

Education Requirements

School librarians usually perform some teaching roles, hence a background in teaching usually proves helpful for adapting to the role. The educational requirements are put in place to ensure that you have obtained relevant, fundamental training that will make your job as a librarian purposeful and easier. For certification in Washington, you are expected to have completed at least, a bachelor’s. The requirement is not strict on what field the degree must have been obtained in, however, a degree in behavioral or social sciences, education, or even library/media studies will prove useful for a school librarian.

You will also be required to have completed a Washington-approved teacher preparation program. This is why your academic background under your bachelor’s or other degrees does not necessarily have to be teaching-related. You can search for Washington-approved teacher training programs here. To add a library endorsement to your educator license, you are required to have completed coursework in library science or other related disciplines.

Experience Requirements

Experience is of particular importance in a profession such as this where you will need to teach children and work with them for the most productive library experience. If all you have is your bachelor’s or any other degree from any field, you have nothing to worry about as you will be exposed to some teaching experience during the compulsory teacher preparation programs. Teacher preparatory programs always include supervised and/or unsupervised teaching exercises where you put to practice what you have learned in the classroom.

You will likely be recommended to the OSPI by your institution for a pre-residency or intern substitute teacher license which permits you to obtain teaching experience while still undergoing or completing the teacher preparation program. The duration of your field exposure is usually determined by your institution following state guidelines. A solid internship experience should last for about a year. Within this period, you should have familiarized yourself with the school system in Washington and be ready to take on a full-time job, if you meet the other requirements.

Testing Requirements

The Washington Educator Skills Tests (WEST) is the only acceptable testing requirement in the state. As an intending school librarian, you will be required to take the WEST-B test which is necessary for you to obtain an educator license. Thankfully, it is a requirement for enrolment into a teacher preparation program. The test is made up of three categories; reading, writing, and mathematics. 

Due to a bill signed by Governor Inslee (HB 1621) on April 24, 2019, prospective educators in Washington are not required to attain a particular passing score in WEST-B. This basic test is to be considered together with other documents tendered as a demonstration of your ability to deliver as a school librarian. The test can be taken as a computer-based (CBT) variant at certain centers in the state or via online proctoring which allows you to take the test securely from wherever you are. You will be required to register separately for the three tests if you will be using online proctoring ($32 each, a total of $96 for the CBT). For more information about the test, check here. For practice materials, go here.

To add a library endorsement, you will be required to table proof of completion of coursework related to Library Media. You will also be required to take the WEST-E Library Media test (042). This test lasts for 2 hours and 30 minutes (initial 15 minutes for CBT tutorial and NDA). The test includes 110 multiple choice questions and the passing mark is 240. The testing fee is $96. Access practice materials here.

Background Checks

The certification process is meant to determine that you are fit professionally and of good moral standing to work within the school system. This is why background checks feature in the process. Background checks might involve an inquiry into your criminal, credit, and employment history. It serves as an evaluation of your character and conduct; providing information on your suitability for a job as a school librarian. It is important because of its relevance to the safety of the children and fellow staff members you will be working with.

You are required by the state of Washington to have a background check done on you if you are applying for a teaching certificate for the first time or are a new employee of a school district or other special institutions. Private schools are also mandated to request run background checks on employees that will be in contact with school children regularly. The background process is made up of two parts one by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The results of the checks are sent to OSPI to be entered into the Educational Data System (EDS)

You can be fingerprinted at a close Educational Service District (ESD) in Washington. Note that you may be required to pay some additional fees as well as the standard $45.25 for the fingerprint background check, as determined by the ESD. For other alternatives and a breakdown of the process, go here.

Application Process

There are different kinds of license endorsements available for educators in Washington which you can check out here. If you have completed a Washington-approved teacher preparation program, you want to apply for one based on a Teacher College Recommendation. To apply for a license, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree; completed your teacher preparation program; taken the WEST-B test; and submitted your fingerprints for a background check. You will be required to pay a non-refundable processing fee ($74 for Residency Teacher). See application fees for other licenses here.

As a first-time user, you must create an account here after which you input your login details. You need to request for application roles (might take up to 30 minutes). However, you can skip this step and select “Register”. For guidance concerning the application process check here. For your application to be processed successfully, you must have all the requisite credentials and have paid your application fees in full. To add your library media endorsement, you will use the same account. Once you have fulfilled the testing and program requirements, your institution will be required to send proof to OSPI. You will also pay $54 for adding the endorsement.