- Both pages of the Teacher Certification Application for Admission - please attend an Information Session to receive an application packet.
- $60.00 application fee (payable by check only)
- Basic Skills Test (WEST-B) score report
- Provide proof of measles (rubeola) immunity *
- Response to three essay questions (3 pages total)
- Documentation of academic breadth
- Three letters of recommendation
- Documentation of 60 hours of work with elementary children, with at least 30 hours in U.S. public school classrooms K-9. (Applicants are encouraged to get a varied experience by working or observing in multiple grades.)
- One official transcript in sealed envelope from every college or university attended
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the most recent 90 graded upper-division quarter hours
- Personal resume (2 pages total)
- Completed OSPI Character and Fitness Supplement Form
- Optional supporting documentation
* Please note: all enrolled matriculated students are required to provide proof of measles (rubeola) immunity. Students will not be allowed to register for any classes until the UW Bothell Registrar's Office confirms that they have satisfied this requirement. Students born before 01/01/57 are considered to be immune to measles and therefore do NOT need to submit proof of immunity.
Basic Skills Assessment
Teacher Certification applicants are required by the State of Washington to take the Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic or the WEST-B. It is required of all applicants to Washington-approved teacher preparation programs.
- The test consists of three separate subtests:
- Reading
- Mathematics
- Writing
Please read the information carefully on the WEST-B website for test dates and score reporting dates. Score reports are a requirement in the Teacher Certification application. They may be mailed directly to the University of Washington Bothell Admissions office.
Application Essay
Respond to the following questions. Your responses to all the essay questions must be contained within no more than three double-spaced, typewritten pages. The relative length of each of your responses within these three pages is up to you, but the Admissions Committee will not read responses beyond the third page.
Essay Question 1
- Why do you want to become a teacher?
- Describe three specific steps you have taken to prepare to become an elementary school teacher.
Essay Question 2
- Discuss an experience in which your assumptions about someone from a background different from yours (e.g. ethnically, culturally, socio-economically, or gender) were challenged.
- How were you changed by this experience?
Essay Question 3
- How do you know when you have learned something?
- Be specific in sharing an experience of learning and the details surrounding it.
Documentation of Academic Breadth
Please document the college courses in each subject area listed below, including the year taken and your grade (required). Only classes at 100 level and above, with a minimum grade of C (2.0) will be accepted.
- English writing/composition
- Literature (e.g. American, British, world, multicultural, children's)
- Speech Communications
- U.S. History (must be a survey of U.S. history, not western civilization, world or Pacific Northwest history)
- Geography (e.g., physical, cultural)
- Life Sciences*(e.g., biology, botany, zoology, marine biology)
- Physical sciences* (e.g., chemistry, geology, astronomy, physics, oceanography)
- Mathematics (Two mathematics courses 100 level and above that demonstrate competencies in at least two of the following areas: probability & statistics, number theory, algebra, and geometry). We will not accept distance learning for math classes.
- Fine Arts (visual arts, art history, drama, music, music appreciation or dance
* One lab is required for either Life or Physical Sciences
Specific professional and personal life experiences that have contributed to your preparation to teach children in each of these subject areas. (Optional)
Letters of Recommendation
Provide three letters of recommendation in sealed or unsealed envelopes. One of these letters must be from someone who can attest to your academic qualifications, such as an instructor or professor in higher education. If you have not been enrolled in university classes within the last five years, you may substitute a letter from your most recent employer attesting to your job performance. The second letter must be from school personnel with whom you have worked or volunteered. The third letter must provide additional supporting evidence of your potential to work with and teach children in an elementary school setting. The letter of recommendation form is available in the certification packet and may be duplicated. Please do not submit additional letters of recommendation.
Required Documentation of Hours
Document a minimum of 60 hours of work with elementary and middle level school children within the past two years. At least 30 of these hours must be in U.S. K-9 public school classrooms. These hours must be completed prior to the application deadline. Additional hours of observation and experience in public school settings are highly recommended. The documentation of hours form is available online or in the certification packet, and may be duplicated.
Minimum Grade Point Average
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the most recent 90 graded upper-division quarter hours is required. Strong applications that do not document a 3.0 GPA may be considered.
Optional Supporting Documentation
You may supply two additional pieces of recent supporting documentation (which is optional) that will help the Admissions Committee assess your qualifications. The content and format of this documentation are up to you, but please address the specific qualifications sought by the program.