Paraeducator Certificate Program

The Washington State Legislature recognizes that all instructional paraeducators need and deserve professional development opportunities and training to support successful academic outcomes for our students. Through a legislative directive (HB1115, 2017), the Paraeducator Certificate Program was created to meet this demand. The program includes new state standards of practice and professional development training to advance the skills and knowledge of paraeducators and to reduce the opportunity gap in education. 

There are five (5) components to the program:

• Fundamental Course of Study (FCS) 

• General Certificate 

• Subject Matter Certificate - ELL 

• Subject Matter Certificate - Special Education

• Advanced Certificate

Of those, FCS and general certificate are required (if funded by the state legislature). The two subject matter certificates and the advanced certificate are optional.

All instructional paraeducators are required to complete this training (FCS and General Certificate) as a condition of employment, regardless of education level or previous training.

(A paraeducator is defined as a “classified public school or school district employee who works under the supervision of a certificated or licensed staff member, from grades kindergarten to grade 12, to support and assist in providing instructional and other services to students and their families, including library assistants, and excluding bus monitors, lunchroom aides, and community service aides. Paraeducators are not considered certificated instructional staff.)

Click here to view the Paraeducator Certificate Program FAQ document created by PESB.

The Paraeducator Certificate Program begins with the Fundamental Course of Study (FCS), a 28-hour training that focuses on the paraeducator standards of practice and is completed over the course of one to two years. Fife Public Schools uses a hybrid of in-person training and online modules to complete this requirement. 

Prior to the 2025-26 school year, paraeducators had to take  two years to complete the FCS because only one of the two required face-to-face sessions were offered each year . Beginning in 2025-26, Fife Public Schools is offering a "fast track" option for paraeducators, as we will be offering both face-to-face required components in one school year. It is the paraeducators choice whether they wish to take one or two years to complete the process. 

2025-2026 In-Person Training Dates

Managing Behavior - Right Response Primer *

• October 8 | 12:45-4:45 PM | Central Office

Methods of Educational & Instructional Support 

• March 18 | 12:45-3:45 PM | Central Office

Child & Adolescent Development/Effective Communication

• June 25 | 12:45-3:45 PM | Central Office

*This face-to-face requirement is waived for special education paraeducators required to earn Right Response certification as a condition of their assignment.

Online Modules (via PESB's website)

• Click here to access the online modules website.

• Click here to view directions shared during in-person trainings on how to access the online modules and what to report back to the district.

• Be sure to send a printout showing completion or a screenshot of your completed modules to Keith Hannah (khannah@fifeschools.com) at the district office when you have completed all modules.

Once you have completed the FCS training, you will receive a certificate of completion from Keith Hannah.
Please retain this document for future verification. 

When your General Certificate is complete, you will need to document both the FCS and your General Certificate at that time.

If funded by the Legislature, school districts are responsible for ensuring all employed paraeducators meet the requirements of the FCS and General Paraeducator Certificate (up to the funded amount). Following the completion of the 28 hours of FCS, a paraeducator must complete an additional 70 hours to earn the General Certificate. 

General Certificate parameters are:

• Clock hours issued by an approved OSPI provider.

• Inform a paraeducator's practice.

Paraeducators are welcome to register for any courses that apply to your position on our district clock hour portal! You may also count college credits you have taken after the completion of your FCS!  While you can start earning clock hours towards your General Certificate prior to completion of the FCS, you cannot actually secure your General Certificate without documented completion of the FCS.

Reporting to OSPI: Once you are finished with your General Paraeducator Certificate course work, you will need to report this to OSPI (along with your FCS documentation) and purchase your General Certificate. Click here to view the OSPI General Paraeducator Page, with resources to support you in accessing the E-Certification system as well as a support email to contact with questions. Please note: there is a delay in setting up your EDS account and the E-Certification app showing on your account. It may take up to one day, according to OSPI.

As additional training, paraeducators may complete these two optional specialty certificates (30 clock hours each). Clock hours earned for these certificates can count towards the General Certificate's 70 clock hours requirement. Note: If funded, the 70 clock hours required for the General Certificate need to be completed within 3 years after the 28 FCS hours are completed. 

You must keep track of proof of coursework completion for these certificates and keep them to turn in with your completed FCS hours. They are available online via the PESB website. The specialized certifications expire every 5 years, and there is a cost to get the certificate, which is not funded currently.