Transferring your teaching license from South Carolina to Washington
Both South Carolina and Washington participate in the NASDTEC interstate agreement, which standardizes how states evaluate out-of-state teaching credentials. Educators relocating from South Carolina can generally expect a streamlined review process, though state-specific content exams or coursework may still be required.
See 6,858 open teaching jobs in Washington →Your current credential (South Carolina)
- Issuing authority
- South Carolina Department of Education
- License type
- Initial Teaching Certificate (3 years)
- Reciprocity policy
- South Carolina participates in the NASDTEC compact. Out-of-state educators with valid certificates may receive a South Carolina certificate after evaluation; content exams may be required.
Washington certification
- Issuing authority
- Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
- License you'll earn
- Initial Certificate (3 years)
- Typical timeline
- 12–18 months for traditional preparation program; Residency Certification typically takes 2 years while employed
- Washington reciprocity policy
- Washington participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Teachers with valid out-of-state certificates and 2+ years of experience may receive a Washington certificate; West-E subject tests typically still required.
Exams typically required in Washington
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on Washington's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- WEST-B (Washington Educator Skills Tests — Basic)Reading, writing, and mathematics (waived with qualifying SAT/ACT/GRE scores)
- West-E Subject Knowledge AssessmentContent area knowledge for your endorsement(s)
- edTPAPerformance assessment during student teaching (required for residency completion)
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your South Carolina credential is current. Washington will request a verification of your active Initial Teaching Certificate from South Carolina Department of Education.
- Apply through Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any Washington-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but Washington may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to Washington districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 6,858 active openings — browse Washington teaching jobs to start identifying districts.