Reading Endorsement

Prospective Students

This program leads to an endorsement in P-12 Reading based on Washington State P-12 Reading Endorsement Competencies. It is offered in two formats:

For teachers who hold a valid and endorsable Washington State teacher's certificate, courses are offered online in the evenings. Learners may seek the Reading Endorsement as a stand-alone option or may pursue it as part of the WWU MEd in Language and Literacy program.
For students seeking initial certification in Elementary Education, they may choose to major in Language, Literacy, and Cultural Studies (LLC). This major includes the Elementary endorsement as well as the English Language Learner and Reading endorsements. Courses are held during the day as well as embedded in the student teaching internship. Courses are delivered face-to-face at WWU's Bellingham campus and at local schools. Any student in the Elementary Professional Program is welcome to declare the LLC major.

Successful completion of the entire program and a passing score on the NES 104 for Essential Components of Elementary Reading Instruction result in Western's recommendation for the P-12 Reading Endorsement.

brunette woman sitting in a library reading a book

Admission & Retention

Certified teachers:
- Endorsement only: If you are seeking the Endorsement-only option, complete the P-12 Reading Endorsement Application & Student Conduct Agreement. Materials may be submitted via email, along with all unofficial transcripts, and a detailed description of experiences or resume to the Program Advisor.
- M.Ed. In Language and Literacy: if you are interested in earning your Reading Endorsement as part of your M.Ed. degree in just two years, apply here: https://wce.wwu.edu/med-langlit
Students seeking initial Elementary Education certification: if you would like to add the reading endorsement to your initial Elementary certification, you will need to declare the Language, Literacy, and Cultural Studies major. This major is 49 additional credits and is comprised of the Elementary, English Language Learners, and Reading endorsement sequences. Reach out to the Program Advisor to discuss how these courses might work within your plan of study and to declare.