Secondary School Teacher / Washington
2026 data Washington board official source

Washington Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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Instructs students in grades 7-12. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the Washington data shows for Secondary School Teachers

Washington sets the entry bar for secondary school teachers at board-approved training and a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent). A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Washington's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification".

Budget $209 to get started, plus $128 at each renewal on a 5-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 150-hour continuing-education requirement per 5-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

On reciprocity, secondary school teachers should know: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Secondary School Teacher · Washington

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$209
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$26/yr
$128 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Washington

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$209
Renewal Fee
$128
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Secondary School Teacher All Washington licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Washington licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Secondary School Teacher in Washington? ▼
In Washington, the license path calls for, a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent), and a $209 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Secondary School Teacher in Washington? ▼
To become a licensed secondary school teacher in Washington, you must meet the state's requirements. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Washington licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Secondary School Teacher license to Washington from another state? ▼
For secondary school teachers, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Washington licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Washington require a background check for Secondary School Teacher licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the secondary school teacher licensing process in Washington. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Secondary School Teacher in Washington? ▼
To stay licensed as a secondary school teacher in Washington, plan on 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $128.

Related Guides

What to do with this secondary school teacher license

Secondary School Teacher in Washington, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a secondary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Washington's secondary school teacher requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Secondary School Teacher in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state secondary school teacher license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Washington's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Washington overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Washington licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.