WEST-E: The Professional Educator Standards Board implemented the content knowledge test requirement for candidates applying for endorsements on the residency certificate on September 1, 2005. Initially, the Praxis II series tests, administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS), were selected to fulfill the requirement.

 

In 2006, the PESB directed that content knowledge tests fully aligned to Washington standards be developed and implemented. Test development began in 2006 with 26 new WEST-Es implemented on September 1, 2008 in Phase I. Ten tests were implemented in Phase II on September 1, 2009 with the last new WEST-E test implemented in January 2010.

 

WEST-E Extension:  Candidates who are prepared and/or certified out-of-state applying for a Washington State residency or professional teaching certificate have up to one calendar year from issuance of the temporary permit to pass the WEST-E subject knowledge test(s). 

 

WEST-E Exemption:  Individuals who hold a certificate through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) are exempt from the WEST-E requirement if there is a direct equivalency between the endorsements sought and the national board certificate. 

Computer-based WEST E testing now available for content areas listed below:

Content areas that have a computer-based test will not be offered as paper-based tests. For more information, please visit the WEST website: http://www.west.nesinc.com/

Now available: 2012-13 test administration dates, for more information please visit: http://www.west.nesinc.com/WA_ann20122013dates.asp