Professional DevelopmentAdministrator Professional Certification
Administrator Professional Certification
Certificated administrators in Washington are required to follow a professional path that includes both an entry-level certificate and an advanced second-level certificate, as well as continuing professional development for certificate renewal. The Administrator Professional Certificate is the second-tier certificate that follows the entry-level residency certificate.
Program requirements focus on the development of a Professional Growth Plan (PGP) which is aligned with state and national standards for administrators. As an administrator this program is your opportunity to take ownership of your own professional development through engaging and reporting on real situations. This program is focused on real time learning in a job-embedded environment, not seat time.
Program Components
The common components of the Administrator Professional Certification program include the following:
- An entry seminar during which the professional growth plan is developed.
- Formalized learning opportunities, past and current experience, professional development opportunities, and other activities directed at developing and verifying that the candidate has achieved acceptable knowledge, skill, and performance at the professional certificate benchmark level, or above, on all standards.
- A final presentation to a panel during which the candidate provides evidence of professional certificate level knowledge, skill and performance, positive impact on student learning, and a professional growth plan that includes the identification of future goals and professional/career interests as well as a five-year plan for professional development designed to meet the requirements for certificate renewal.
A completed description of the NWESD 2011/12 Administrator Professional Certification Program is available at this link.
Applicant Qualifications
Education professionals in Washington State are eligible to apply for enrollment in the Administrator Professional Certification program if they:
- Currently hold a contract as a principal, assistant principal, or program administrator in a public school or professional educator standards board-approved private school.
- Hold a residency principal certificate or residency program administrator certificate.
- Have served two years in the role for which the certificate is appropriate.
Note: Principals, assistant principals and program administrators with residency certification in their roles and two years experience in their roles are expected to earn the second-tier professional certification within five years.
Additional Information
If you need additional assistance please contact one of the NWESD staff members below for more information.