Teaching & Education Degrees in Washington

Washington teaching degrees can be key to unlocking a career in education in the Evergreen State. Educational opportunities are predicted to grow by 13 percent nationwide during the 2008 to 2018 period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Applicants to teaching programs in Washington must first pass the Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic, or WEST-B. After successfully completing the test, prospective educators then enter a baccalaureate degree program approved by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board. Graduates earn a residency certificate to teach and within five years are required to return to college to complete a professional, or advanced, certificate program. Teacher shortage areas within the state include positions in chemistry, earth science, mathematics, special education, and many others, according to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Approved online teaching degrees in Washington may fulfill some or all of the minimum educational requirements depending on current rules of the standards board. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in May 2009 there were an estimated 165,350 people employed in education and related fields in Washington state. The annual mean wages for those people were $48,810. However, the wages for K-12 teachers varied and were typically higher. Elementary school teachers in Washington earned mean wages of $55,960 and secondary teachers earned mean wages of $58,090, according to the BLS. Education with one of the teaching programs in Washington could set you on the right path and help you find employment in one of the needed fields.