Waldorf Teacher Certification Explained: Diploma vs Certificate, AWSNA vs WECAN, and What You Need to Know

Sunbridge Institute
7 days ago
5 min read

One Waldorf teacher education program awards a certificate. Another awards a diploma. A job posting asks for “Waldorf certification.” And two sets of acronyms — AWSNA and WECAN — turn up everywhere without much explanation.

Adult students in a Waldorf teacher education class at Sunbridge Institute

Here’s what it all means:

What is Waldorf teacher certification?

It is the credential you receive by completing a Waldorf teacher education institute program. There is no national exam, no government license, and no association that certifies teachers directly. The institute that trains you is the one that credentials you. And that credential is measured by the institute’s quality and credibility.

So when a job posting asks for “Waldorf certification,” it is really stipulating that you have completed (or are willing to complete) a “recognized” Waldorf teacher education program (more on what that means, below).

Certificate or diploma — what is the difference?

There is no one difference — or standard definition of each. The choice of whether to confer a “certificate” or a “diploma” upon its graduates is really up to the institute. Some teacher education institutes award diplomas at the conclusion of a full-length program; others award certificates for the same length and criteria of study. The main thing to look at is the length of the offering and what it encompasses.

Term	What it means	Who issues it
Certificate	Evidence of completing a full teacher education program comprising a lengthy course of study and supervised practice teaching — OR evidence of completing a shorter or more focused program, such as a subject specialism, a foundation year, or a summer sequence	The institute that ran the offering
Diploma	Evidence of completing a full teacher education program comprising a lengthy course of study and supervised practice teaching	The institute that ran the program
Certification	The everyday umbrella word people use for “I am qualified to teach in a Waldorf school”; it is not a formal category on its own. In practice it refers to whichever certificate or diploma you hold	“Certification” as such is not issued; rather, it is inherent in your earned credential
Credential	A neutral catch-all for whatever qualification you hold, whether certificate or diploma	—
State teaching license	A government authorization to teach, usually required in public schools. Entirely separate from Waldorf training	Your state’s education department

Two things worth knowing:

Neither “certificate” nor “diploma” tells you much on its own. Ask about the specifics of the program: contact hours, curricula areas, observation, practice teaching, and which associations (if any) recognize that program. (“Recognized” teacher training programs are those offered by WECAN- and/or AWSNA-member institutes.)
Waldorf certificates or diplomas usually are not academic degrees. Institutes generally measure their programs in clock hours, not credit hours. However, depending on the institute and whether it’s affiliated with an accredited college or university, a certificate or diploma you earn can be counted toward an academic degree. For instance, through the Sunbridge/SUNY Empire partnership, a Sunbridge diploma program graduate who also hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution can apply their Sunbridge diploma as 12 credits toward a fully-accredited master’s degree.

Using Sunbridge as a further example, Early Childhood, Elementary, and High School teacher education program graduates receive diplomas, whereas graduates of the shorter World Languages & Cultures and Elementary Music teacher education programs are awarded certificates.

Does earning Waldorf teacher certification give you a state teaching license?

No; they are separate credentials, and one does not convert into the other. What you need depends on where you want to teach:

Independent Waldorf schools. Most states (and provinces) — though not all — let private schools set their own teacher qualifications. Check to see what your own state/province — or the state/province where you want to teach — requires.
Public Waldorf charter schools. These are public schools, so the state license requirement applies. Waldorf training sits on top of this license, not instead of it.
Outside the US. Requirements differ by country, so ask the school directly for information.

What are AWSNA and WECAN?

AWSNA — the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America — is a nonprofit membership organization of independent Waldorf schools and teacher education institutes in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

WECAN — the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America — is a non-profit membership organization of independent Waldorf early childhood programs, birth-to-three programs, kindergartens, child care centers, home programs, and teacher education institutes in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

What do these associations do?

They set standards for schools, programs, and teacher preparation centers, and provide education, advocacy, and support for Waldorf professionals, institutions, and communities.

Through a rigorous qualitative and quantitative process, AWSNA accredits Waldorf schools and admits teacher education institutes as members.
Through a rigorous qualitative and quantitative process, WECAN recognizes early childhood programs and admits teacher education institutes as members.
Only AWSNA and WECAN members may use “Waldorf” in their name.

Both AWSNA and WECAN carry minimum expectations for programs offered by their member institutes, including a specific minimum number of instructional (contact) hours, fieldwork experiences (including supervised practice teaching), and broad curricula areas (although not the specific courses themselves).

Sunbridge is a full-member institute of both AWSNA and WECAN, meaning its teacher education programs qualify for these two organizations’ highest standards of excellence. Sunbridge’s Early Childhood Teacher Education program’s course offerings are also consistent with guidelines set by IASWECE (International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education). WECAN is a full IASWECE member.

Why does AWSNA and/or WECAN membership matter?

Membership in AWSNA and/or WECAN — whether as an institute or a school — demonstrates a proven commitment and adherence to shared principles, standards, and expectations. Both associations carry stipulations for the educational background of their member schools’ faculty. Completion of — or enrollment in — an AWSNA- or WECAN-recognized teacher education program is usually a baseline requirement of schools when hiring lead teachers and a preference when hiring assisting teachers.

What should you ask before applying to — or enrolling in — a Waldorf teacher education program?

Which association/s does this institute belong to, and at what level of membership?
What is the institute’s commitment to anthroposophy — the foundation of Waldorf education as laid out by its founder, Rudolf Steiner?
Which age/grade range will this program prepare me to teach?
How many contact hours does this program entail, and does that number include practice teaching?
How much supervised practice teaching is included, and who arranges it?
Does this program carry academic credit or lead toward a master’s degree?

Where to start

If you are weighing your own next step, these pages outline the Waldorf teacher education programs offered by Sunbridge Institute:

Or just ask us. Questions about which route fits your situation are the ones we most like to answer.