English Language/Multilingual Learners (ELL/MLL) Endorsement
What you can earn
Duration
Credits earned
Format
Time commitment
An Endorsement for Current UW Students and In-Service Teachers
There are over 150,000 multilingual students in Washington state and a need for more qualified teachers. The ELL/ML Endorsement program is designed for any certified educators seeking to enhance their ability to better serve and advocate for multilingual learners in their classes.
The program builds skills in culture and equity, instructional planning, assessment, advocacy, and effective teaching for multilingual students through coordinated coursework, supervised fieldwork, and a required practicum seminar.
After completing the program, graduates are prepared to teach ELL/MLL students in English-medium classrooms and must pass the WEST-E 051 exam to earn the endorsement.
Curriculum
Overview
The ELL/ML Endorsement is an intensive, quarter-long program that blends coursework with field-based learning. For coursework, your cohort will follow a sequence together. You will also spend time in local secondary or elementary school classrooms. You have the option to complete this endorsement for secondary or elementary grade levels.
Our summer coursework is typically offered in a hybrid format, combining online learning with required in-person class sessions at the University of Washington.
Because individual instructors determine the final course modality, specific schedules and formats are confirmed a few weeks before the program begins.
Students should plan to attend classes on the UW campus, as most summer sessions include required in-person meetings. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate participants who are unable or unwilling to commute to campus.
Courses
Cohorts take the same course sequence together.
- EDC&I 540: Foundations of Immigrant Schooling (3 credits)
- EDC&I 542: Approaches to Assessing Second Language Students in K-12 Schools (3 credits)
- EDC&I 545: Multilingual Socialization and Development (3 credits)
- EDC&I 548: Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language (4 credits)
- EDC&I 549: Practicum (3 credits)
Fieldwork
There is a required practicum seminar where teachers continue to develop their practice teaching ELL/ML learners through peer support and reflection. It is also a space for discussion about issues of instruction that arise during teaching.
During the spring, the fieldwork/practicum experience is concurrent with coursework. The requirement for observation/teaching hours during the practicum is 60-90 hours. For the placement, we take into consideration your previous field placement and/or current teaching position. During the practicum, teachers work with a cooperating teacher and a field supervisor (i.e. coach). The coach conducts two to three lesson observation cycles. In addition to the field placement in schools, there is a required practicum seminar where teachers continue to develop their practice teaching ELLs/multilingual learners through peer support and reflection. This is also a space for discussion about issues of instruction that arise during practicum placement.
The summer practicum experience starts in the summer and extends into the fall. In the summer, the practicum experience varies for recent graduates and more experienced teachers in the ELL/ML Endorsement. In the fall the practicum seminar for MIT 2024 graduates meets monthly from October to December. Teachers also work with a UW coach and complete 2-3 formal observations. More experienced teachers may participate in a PLC and/or complete similar work in their schools/districts.
Completion
Upon completion of coursework and fieldwork, you must take the West-E exam 051 to complete the endorsement requirements. You can register for the exam online at http://www.west.nesinc.com/
Advising
For more information please contact uwteach@uw.edu or rashank@uw.edu
Admission requirements and process
Overview
Application are open for our Summer 2026 cohort! Applications are due by May 18, 2026.
Prompts:
- Please provide a brief statement of 300-500 words about why you wish to pursue the ELL or Bilingual endorsement. This can include the kinds of knowledge and skills you'd like to have by the end of the program as well as the ways in which you think the ELL or Bilingual endorsement will be useful and important for you in your teaching practice. If applicable, briefly share your prior experiences with teaching or learning English.
- Please describe your teaching experience during your teacher education program and/or recent years. Be sure to include the school(s) where you have you worked or completed your practicum/residency and the grade levels that you have taught
Costs and funding
Estimated Costs
For current UW graduate students, the estimated cost of completing the spring or summer coursework is $6,528 for Washington state residents, plus any applicable registration, practicum, and technology fees. Current UW TEP students register for classes just as they have in previous quarters. If you plan to extend your program, please contact Michael Nielsen (mnielsen@uw.edu) for guidance.
For non-matriculated students, the estimated tuition is approximately $7,062 plus additional fees (see the Graduate and Professional Tuition Dashboard for details).
Registration for In-Service Teachers
STEP 1: Apply for Non-Matriculated (NM) Status
- If you're not requesting tuition exemption, follow the correct registration link depending on the quarter:
- Fall–Spring: Register as an NM student (or GNM with the College of Education if you want your credits to count toward a future graduate degree). Note that the College of Education has its own process, which is not the same as for other UW graduate programs. For more information see: https://education.uw.edu/admissions/non-matriculated-and-graduate-non-matriculated-students)
- Summer: Use the Summer Session non-UW registration process.
- WA State Employees who intend to apply as a first-time or returning non-matriculated (not seeking a degree) students under the tuition exemption program must complete the online non-matriculated application. Submit the online NM application (includes an $80 fee). For more information visit: https://www.summer.uw.edu/registration-costs/how-to-register/non-uw-students
STEP 2: Submit Your Tuition Exemption Form
- WA State Employees must complete the Washington State Tuition Exemption Request Form before registering. For more information visit: https://registrar.washington.edu/staff-faculty/tuition-exemption-program/
STEP 3: Register for Your Classes
- Once your NM status is active and your tuition exemption form is submitted, log into my.uw.edu to register.
You will need edcodes—email Renee Shank (rashank@uw.edu) if you haven’t received them.
Registration timing:
- Newly admitted & returning students register April 20–June 22.
- Continuing students can register anytime during this period.
- WA State Employees using tuition exemption register on the 4th day of the quarter.
