Professional Transitions to the Public Schools: Initial ESA (Educational Staff Associate) Certification Course is intended for those who already have, or are in the final stages of completion, of a professional certification in either nursing, social work, audiology, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavior analysis and orientation and mobility specialists and would like to take their discipline into the public school setting. This is NOT the correct ESA path for those entering the field of school counselor or school psychology. 

This three-day 15 hour Zoom course will include both independent work and synchronous online learning via Zoom for three consecutive Fridays (June, 8am-1pm). Participants are expected to participate and be distraction free for the entire 15 hours of training as if they were in person. Please plan on taking time off work and being available to participate in a quiet location with a stable internet connection for both video and audio.

This approved course satisfies the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) requirements to complete your Washington State ESA certification (WAC 181-79A-224).    

 Please note: Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) ONLY provides the required course, OSPI provides the certification. Any questions regarding certification should be directed to the Certification Department at OSPI.

Pre-work, registration with Zoom and registration for the Canvas course are required before the start of this training. More information will be sent to the email on file two weeks prior to course start date.

If for whatever reason you are unable to attend this course after registering but before it commences, instead of canceling, we can transfer your registration to any of the other Initial ESA Certification occurring in that Fiscal Year (Sept thru Aug). But by doing so you will relinquish any refund should you need to cancel that transferred registration.