Paraeducator Certificate Program

Everett Association of Paraeducators (EAP) Letter of Agreement:  

To maintain employment, all paraeducators are required to meet the training requirements detailed in the EAP Collective Bargaining Agreement, as outlined by the state for the Paraeducator Certificate Program.  In addition, paraeducators must meet the minimum employment requirement qualifications defined by EPS and RCW 28A.413.040. 

Paraeducator Training Requirements 

The Fundamental Course of Study (FCS) and Paraeducator Certificate Program

The Paraeducator Certificate Program offers statewide standards-based training for all paraeducators. The twenty-eight (28) hour FCS is the first part of the certificate program, and focuses upon the paraeducator's standards of practice. Districts are required to provide the FCS training to all paraeducators, and once completed, continue each year with 14 hours of training to be applied towards the required General Paraeducator Certificate. 

 Fundamental Course of Study Requirements:

• Paraeducators hired before the beginning of the school year are required to complete fourteen (14) hours of the FCS in person before the first day of school, and the full twenty-eight (28) hours of the FCS within six months of the date of hire.
• Paraeducators hired after the beginning of the school year are required to complete fourteen (14) hours of the FCS in person within four (4) months of the date of hire, and the full twenty-eight (28) within six (6) months or by September 1 of the following year.
• Paraeducators are required to obtain the General Paraeducator Certificate within 5 years of completing the Fundamental Course of Study.

Paraeducator Certificate Program requirements will be determined by Legislature funding.  See the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) website for detailed Paraeducator options.

The Paraeducator Certificate Program offers statewide standards-based training for all paraeducators, beginning with the twenty-eight (28) hour Fundamental Course of Study (FCS).   

Visit the State of Washington Professional Educator Standards Board  (PESB) for current funding information, and use this printable Paraeducator Certificate Program reference guide for certificate options.

 FCS Requirements:

• Paraeducators hired before the beginning of the school year: The first two days of in-person training must be completed prior to the first day of school. The second two days of online training must be completed within six months of the date of hire.
• Paraeducators hired after the beginning of the school year: The first two days of in-person training must be completed within four months of the date of hire. The second two days of training online must be completed within six months of the date of hire or by September 1 of the following year.

Completing the twenty-eight (28) hour FCS:

  Complete the fourteen (14) hours of online Paraeducators: What We Do Matters and FCS11:Communication Basics modules. 

• Links for the Canvas WWDM and FCS11: Communication Basics will be provided in an email.
• All WWDM and FCS11:Communication Basics Canvas course quizzes must be completed for the course to be graded and Frontline updated as complete.

  Attend fourteen (14) hours of in-person district-provided FCS classes. 

• Paraeducators will receive an email with FCS in-person training details.
• Use the optional FCS Record Keeping Guide to track your completed FCS hours.  
• Note: The state requires a minimum of fourteen (14) of the total twenty-eight (28) hours of FCS to be earned during in-person training.

 Upon completion of the 28-hr FCS:

• Complete the Continuing Education Credit Hours FCS form and submit to Professional Learning, Patty Tetrault for verification and signature.

Completion of the twenty-eight (28) hour FCS is required prior to attaining paraeducator certificates. 

Required Paraeducator General Certificate

The state-required General Paraeducator Certificate is earned by a paraeducator who completes seventy (70) clock hours of professional learning (in addition to the 28-hr FCS). Training to meet the requirements of the general certificate is broadly conceived, and any training that assists the instructional skills of a paraeducator may count. Clock hours earned and recorded in Frontline beginning with the 2019-2020 school year may be used for the Paraeducator General Certificate. Paraeducators are required to obtain the General Paraeducator Certificate within five (5) years of completing the Fundamental Course of Study.

Cost: $74          Expiration date: none

Optional Paraeducator Subject Matter Certificates

Subject matter certificates are optional for paraeducators who wish to further their skills in English Language Learner (ELL) or special education instruction. Each certificate is twenty (20) hours of online professional development which may be allocated towards the attainment of the General Paraeducator Certificate.  

Cost: $54          Expiration date: 5 years

Required: Subject Matter Continuing Education Clock Hour 

Optional Paraeducator Advanced Certificate

The Advanced Certificate was developed to meet the knowledge and skill requirements of the Advanced Paraeducator Standards of Practices.  The paraeducator must complete training that meets in-service education approval standards as written in the chapter (WAC), and the paraeducator must complete seventy-five (75) clock hours of training in topics related to the duties of an advanced paraeducator. (WAC). 

Cost: $54          Expiration date: 5 years

Important: The seventy-five (75) clock hours of training for the Advanced Certificate are in addition to the seventy (70) General Certificate hours and twenty-eight (28) FCS hours.  

The current WAC requires that paraeducators apply for the General Certificate before they can begin earning clock hours towards the Advanced Certificate. The application process includes paying for the certificate. A rule change in effect on September 1, 2023, will require that paraeducators be issued the General Certificate before they can begin earning clock hours towards the Advanced Certificate.

Paraeducators may log FCS and professional learning clock hours and apply for the General, Subject Matter and Advanced Paraeducator Certificates through OSPI's Professional Certification system. 

1. Begin by going to OSPI's eCertification website for Washington State educators
2. Open Guide for getting started support:  Paraeducator eCertification User Guide
3. Helpful resource for logging hours:  OSPI Paraeducator Information
4. Items REQUIRED to purchase a certificate:
   1. An electronic completed and signed Continuing Education FCS Clock Hour form
   2. An electronic copy of your classified transcript

Need Certification support? Contact OSPI's Professional eCertification office with questions about the portal, creating an account, and entering clock hours:

• Phone 360-725-6400
• email cert@k12.wa.us 

Need FCS or Frontline support? Contact Patty Tetrault at ptetrault@everettsd.org 

Please be patient if seeking support from OSPI.

The Professional Certification Office may experience large quantities of email and phone calls at the beginning and end of the school years.  Please be assured that their customer service specialists are working diligently to answer all inquiries in the order that they are received.  Emailing and calling more than once only further slows their process.  

OSPI Application Process website

 OSPI Professional E-Certification PowerPoint

To access an Everett Public Schools transcript with a list of your courses, earned clock hours, and an authorized signature, follow the instructions below:

1. Open your Chrome browser and select Managed bookmarks
2. Select Frontline 
3. Select Professional Growth
4. Select My Info
5. Select Classified Transcript
6. Right click using your mouse
7. Select Print
8. To save as a pdf, change Destination to Save as PDF
   1. Select Save
   2. Update file name and select save location
9. To print
   1. Select Destination and choose printer
   2. Print

Professional Growth Plans (PGPs) are job-embedded, self-directed professional development. PGP Tutorial   

With a PGP, paraeducators will:

• set own goals
• align goals to certification standards
• create an action plan
• collect evidence documenting growth towards goals
• reflect on process

One PGP may be created each year between July 1 and June 30 (ex: July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024).  A Washington State certificated educator must review the PGP for completion.

Each PGP awards 25 clock hours.  Complete PGPs to earn or renew a paraeducator certificate as follows:

• General Paraeducator Certificate:  one (1)
• Subject Matter Certificate:  NONE, but may complete one (1) PGP to renew a certificate
• Advanced Certificate: Up to three (3), and one (1) PGP to renew the certificate

PGP documents:

• PGP Template PESB form 1697
• PGP Verification Continuing Ed Clock Hour Form

• Clock Hours 101 for Paraeducators
• Paraeducator Training Program
• How to create an E-Certificate Account
• Professional Growth Plans for Paraeducators
• Optional Professional Learning