Requirements/Washington
Elementary Teacher in Washington.
Two subtests, both at 240.
- Exams
- 2
- Passing
- 240
- Certificate
- Elementary Education endorsement
The exams you have to pass
In the order most candidates take them.
01
NES Elementary Education Subtest I: Reading, English Language Arts and Social Studies102
Pass240
02
NES Elementary Education Subtest II: Mathematics, Science and the Arts, Health and Fitness103
Pass240
What people get wrong
Each of these costs a candidate either money or a test date.
- Washington uses a single bar: 240 on every endorsement test, and 240 on each subtest where a test has more than one. There is no per-test cut score to look up, which makes it one of the simplest states to plan for.
- Both subtests are required for a stand-alone elementary endorsement. Passing one does not earn it.
- Washington also runs the WEST-B basic skills tests in reading, writing and mathematics (095, 096, 097). Check with your program whether your route still requires them.
Required, but not an exam
- A bachelor’s degree
- A state-approved preparation program, or an approved alternative route
- Application through OSPI
Now go pass them.
Knowing the list is the easy part. Built To Pass teaches the strategy layer that works on any of these, aimed at the domains where you are actually losing points.
Start with your examVerified 2026-08-06 against Washington Professional Educator Standards Board and OSPI educator assessments. Certification rules change by state board vote. Confirm with the state before you register for a test.