Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board

Name

Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board

Legal name

Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board

Website

https://pesb.wa.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educator Certification and Credentialing Regulatory Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Initial Teacher Certification & Licensure Boards (EDADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Approval & Oversight (EDADAJAD), Specialist Endorsement & Added Authorization Boards (e.g., SPED, ESL, Admin) (EDADAJAH), Teacher License Renewal & Continuing Certification Authorities (EDADAJAB), Professional Development / CPD Requirement Administration for Licensure (EDADAJAL), Paraprofessional / Teaching Assistant Certification Authorities (EDADAJAN), Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF), Teacher Standards, Ethics & Professional Conduct Boards (EDADAJAE)

Keywords

• Educator certification standards
• Teacher credentialing programs
• Educator preparation approval
• Paraeducator training programs
• Professional standards board

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is a state regulatory agency that sets policy and standards for educator credentialing and certification in Washington State. It approves educator preparation programs offered by colleges and universities, manages alternative route teacher certification pathways, oversees the Paraeducator Certificate Program, and issues specialized certificates such as Educational Staff Associate (ESA), Educators of the Deaf and Visually Impaired, and the First Peoples' Language, Culture, and Oral Traditions certifications. The Board also administers clock hour and continuing education requirements for certificate renewal.

Product overview

Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is a state government regulatory body, not a product company. It operates a comprehensive educator standards and certification ecosystem rather than a unified software product. The 'products' are regulatory programs including: (1) Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification with four pathways for career changers; (2) Recruiting Washington Teachers (RWT) high school teacher academy with six curriculum pillars; (3) Educational Staff Associate (ESA) certificates for nine specialist roles; (4) Educators of the Deaf and Visually Impaired certification covering nine credential types; (5) First Peoples' Language, Culture, and Oral Traditions Certification program with 17 tribal nation partnerships; (6) Clock Hours continuing education system for certificate renewal; (7) Paraeducator Certificate Program with multiple certificate options; and (8) Equity-Based School Practices professional learning requirements. These programs are delivered through the pesb.wa.gov informational website and serve as policy frameworks, certification systems, and program standards rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PESB Official Website (pesb.wa.gov) Official state government website providing educator certification information, policy guidance, program approval, and regulatory standards for Washington State educators. Serves as the primary portal for educator pathways, certification requirements, preparation programs, and standards.
• Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification Four distinct pathways (Routes 1-4) for career changers and existing school staff to earn residency teacher certificates through shorter, more flexible programs with district partnerships and mentored internships. Available to individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to transition into teaching, as well as current school employees (paraprofessionals, substitute teachers) seeking certification.
• Recruiting Washington Teachers (RWT) Program High school teacher academy program founded in equity pedagogy to grow diverse future teachers who reflect today's student population, with curriculum covering six themed pillars including healthy learning communities, culture and identity, equity and opportunity, equity pedagogy, college access, and practicum. Available to high school students in partner districts.
• Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certificates Certification program covering nine ESA roles including school behavior analyst, school counselor, school psychologist, school occupational therapist, school orientation and mobility specialist, school physical therapist, school nurse, school speech-language pathologist/audiologist, and school social worker. For specialist education professionals working in Washington State public schools.
• Educators of the Deaf and Visually Impaired Certification Comprehensive credentialing for nine roles including ASL world language endorsement, CTE ASL interpreter specialty, deaf education endorsement, deaf education with ASL proficiency endorsement, teacher of the visually impaired, orientation and mobility specialist, certificated/classified Braille instruction providers, and educational interpreters for the deaf. For specialists serving students with sensory disabilities in Washington schools.
• First Peoples' Language, Culture, and Oral Traditions Certification Program to prevent, recover, revitalize, and promote First Peoples' languages in Washington State schools through teacher certification, supported by government-to-government agreements with 17 tribal nations. For educators teaching or planning to teach indigenous languages in Washington State.
• Clock Hours for Certificate Renewal Continuing education program requiring 100 clock hours every five years for certificate renewal, with approved providers including ESDs, colleges/universities, and nonprofits, covering standards like CCDEI, SEL, and paraeducator standards of practice. For current Washington State educators maintaining active certification.
• Paraeducator Certificate Program Statewide professional standards and training program for paraeducators including minimum employment requirements, fundamental course of study, general paraeducator certificate, subject matter certificates, and advanced paraeducator certificate options. For paraeducators working in Washington State public schools.
• Equity-Based School Practices Certificate Renewal Required professional learning aligned to CCDEI (Cultural Competency, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) standards for teacher and administrator certificate renewal, mandated since July 1, 2023 under HB 1426. For Washington State teachers and administrators renewing their certificates.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Washington State Tribal GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPESB maintains government-to-government agreements with 16 sovereign tribal nations in Washington State for the First Peoples' Language, Culture, and Oral Traditions Certification program. Participating tribes include Confederated Colville Tribes, Cowlitz Tribe, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Kalispel Tribe, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Makah Tribe, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nooksack Tribe, Port Gamble S'klallam Tribe, Puyallup Tribes of Indians, Quinault Indian Nation, Skokomish Tribe, Spokane Tribe, Suquamish Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribe, and Yakama Nation.
• Educational Service Districts (ESDs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESDs partner with PESB to deliver alternative route programs, clock hour training, paraeducator certificate programs, and professional development across Washington State.
• Universities and Colleges (Educator Preparation Programs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPESB approves university and college educator preparation programs that prepare future teachers and educational staff associates. Universities provide initial teacher preparation, alternative routes, and continuing education programs.
• School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPESB provides resources for districts to implement RWT teacher academies and BEI programs. Districts partner with alternative route programs to support candidates pursuing teaching certificates.
• Washington State School for the BlindsupportingTechnology or IntegrationWashington State School for the Blind provides Braille competency testing and resources for certificated and classified providers of Braille instruction.
• Washington State Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington State Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) provides mentorship, professional development, and consultation for K-12 educational interpreters.
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)supportingTechnology or IntegrationRegistry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) provides national interpreter certification that PESB recognizes as meeting performance standards for educational interpreters.
• Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)supportingTechnology or IntegrationBehavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification is required for school behavior analyst ESA certificates.
• Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP)supportingTechnology or IntegrationAcademy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) provides COMS certification for orientation and mobility specialists.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Texas Education Agency — Educator Certification: Texas's educator certification function sits within a much larger state education agency that also oversees school finance and accountability. Comparable function, embedded within a broader agency rather than a standalone board.
• Florida Bureau of Educator Certification: Florida's educator certification is administered as a bureau within the Florida Department of Education. Comparable in function but structurally a division of a larger agency.
• Illinois State Board of Education — Educator Licensure: Illinois administers educator licensure through its state board of education. Comparable regulatory function for teacher and support personnel certification across a large state.
• New York State Education Department — Office of Teaching Initiatives: New York's educator certification and professional discipline office operates within the state's broader education department. Comparable function but housed inside a larger umbrella organization.
• Colorado Department of Education — Educator Talent: Colorado's educator preparation, licensure, and talent functions are housed within the state's department of education. Comparable scope, broader organizational context.

Direct peers

• California Commission on Teacher Credentialing: California's equivalent state-level commission that sets standards for teacher and educator preparation program approval, certification, and discipline. Directly comparable in scope, regulatory authority, and function to PESB.
• Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission: Oregon's standalone state commission licensing teachers, administrators, and personnel; approving preparation programs and setting licensure standards. Closely comparable in structure and mandate as a neighboring state standards board.

Others

• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): National programmatic accreditor for educator preparation providers. PESB approves Washington EPPs while CAEP sets national accreditation standards — directly comparable in subject matter, distinct in scope (national vs. state).
• NASDTEC (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification): The membership association of state educator certification and preparation leaders across all U.S. states. Comparable as the institutional aggregator and standards convener for the same policy domain PESB operates in.

Regional players

• Pennsylvania Department of Education — Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality: Pennsylvania's educator certification and program approval function is housed in a bureau within its state education department. Comparable function across a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WAPESB
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WAPESB
• Facebookfacebook.com/Washington-State-Professional-Educator-Standards-Board-135819076476457
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-state-professional-educator-standards-board

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board