Careers in Education start here.
Whether you’re exploring the education professions for the first time or you are an experienced educator, the Careers in Education Center of Excellence is the best place to learn and grow in the profession.
Explore Education Careers
Schools need diverse professionals with varied skills and backgrounds. Start by understanding the full range of roles available, then dive deep into specific pathways that match your interests and goals. Hear directly from people doing this work every day across Washington State.
All Careers in Schools
See beyond the classroom teacher role. Our visual guide maps every position that keeps schools running, from counselors and family advocates to librarians and administrators. Discover unexpected opportunities that match your skills and passions while serving students and communities.
Career Pathway Guides
Explore detailed information for Washington State's three main education career pathways: certified teachers who lead classrooms from kindergarten through high school, paraeducators who support students and teachers throughout the school day, and early childhood educators who work with children from birth through age eight. Each guide covers education requirements, certification steps, salary ranges, career advancement options, and alternative routes into the profession.
Explainer Videos
Watch short videos that answer the most common questions about starting your education career. Topics include certification requirements, program comparisons, financial aid options, and navigating the application process. These quick guides break down complex information into clear, visual explanations you can return to whenever needed.
Recent Blog Posts
What We Do
The Center of Excellence for Careers in Education works across Washington’s education system to strengthen pathways into education careers, align training with real-world needs, and build a diverse, well-prepared workforce that reflects the students and communities they serve. We partner with colleges, K–12 districts, state agencies, and others to support high-quality preparation for a wide range of education roles.
Support the preparation and development of future educators.
In partnership with the Washington Education Association, the Future Native Teachers Initiative (FNTI) is an immersive teacher camp led by teachers and leaders from the Native American/Alaska Native communities.
Highlight and share best practices around the education system.
Issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion affect our entire education system. To address these systemic issues, the center partners with multiple stakeholders to facilitate the Teaching Equity Network, a collaboration that administers grants to local schools and organizations so they can address inequity wherever it may impact our students.
Create professional development and training opportunities for current education professionals.
The center administers the Workforce Deans Academy and convenes the academy’s advisory board to ensure the year-long event meets the needs of education professionals across Washington’s community and technical college system.