These trainings are available through the Washington State Learning Center.

Non-agency public sector and higher education employees, who don't have a Learning Center license, must get one to register for a class. 

• Learn how to register for a class.

Required training

Required training is any training specified by one or more of the following for all or specific groups of employees of the state of Washington:

• Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
• Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
• Governor Executive Order
• State Human Resources Directive
• State Administrative and Accounting Manual (SAAM)
• Federal requirements

*An agency may require additional training for its employees in support of agency policies or procedures.

Below are current training requirements and solutions provided by DES Equity and Employee Development.

Recruitment and hiring 

Required training for state employees participating in recruitment and hiring.

Recognizing and mitigating bias in hiring (initial)

Guidance:	Executive Order 12-02, State HR Directive 20-02, Executive Order 24-04
Who:	All employees who are participating in the hiring process
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	eLearning

Reducing bias and noise with a competency-based approach (annual)

Guidance:	Executive Order 24-04
Who:	All employees who are participating in the hiring process, after completing "Recognizing and Mitigating Bias in Hiring" initial training
Frequency:	Annually
Class Availability	Class Dates
According to Executive Order 24-04, the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) must approve any training content developed by other agencies.

Reducing bias and noise with a competency-based approach (online annual refresher)

Guidance:	Executive Order 12-02, State HR Directive 20-02, Executive Order 24-04
Who:	All employees who are participating in the hiring process
Frequency:	Annually
Class Availability:	eLearning

All employee

Required training for all state employees.

Accessibility

Guidance:	Executive Order 24-05
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Within six months of appointment
Course options:	eLearning Create More Accessible Email Messages in Outlook Create More Accessible PowerPoint Slides Create More Accessible Word Documents Create More Accessible Excel Workbooks Instructor-led Accessible Document Design for Beginners Accessible Office Documents Creating Accessible Documents 101: Source Documents in MS Office, PDFs, and PDF Fillable Forms Creating Accessible Multimedia Communications eLearning Accessibility Remediation Workshop: Fixing Inaccessible PDFs Remediation Workshop: Fixing Inaccessible Fillable PDF Forms User-Centered Design and Usability 101 Web Accessibility

Customer service

Guidance:	Executive Order 03-01
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability	Class Dates

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Guidance:	Executive Order 22-02 and State HR directive 23-01
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability	Employees will be prompted to take the training when they are assigned to the training. Learn more about this training.

Information technology security training

Guidance:	RCW 43.105.225 and OCIO Policy 141
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Annual
Class Availability:	Contact your agency training manager for training assignment

Privacy basics for Washington state agency employees

Guidance:	RCW 43.105.225, OCIO Policy 141, and WaTech Privacy and Data Protection Policy
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Within 30 days of employment and annual thereafter
Class Availability:	Contact your agency training manager for training assignment

Quality management

Guidance:	RCW 43.17.385
Who:	All appropriate employees, based on their agency's policy
Frequency:	Agency discretion
Class Availability:	Instructor-led Strategic Quality Management

Sexual harassment prevention

Guidance:	WAC 357-34-100, WAC 357-34-115 and OFM DES Guidelines for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Within six months of appointment and then every five years
Class Availability:	Class Dates or eLearning

Violence in the workplace

Guidance:	Executive Order 96-05
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	Class Dates or Class Dates

Supervisor and manager

Required training for supervisors and managers.

Leadership development

Guidance:	WAC 357-34-065, WAC 357-34-055, and WAC 357-34-070
Who:	All supervisors and managers appointed to a permanent position within the last six months
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	Class Dates

OFM HRMS basics

Guidance:	RCW 43.41.113 and RCW 41.07.020
Who:	All HRMS professional users
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	eLearning

Performance management

Guidance:	WAC 357-58-385
Who:	All WMS employees
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	eLearnings (both required): Performance Plans and Reviews and Resolving Performance Issues

Sexual harassment prevention for supervisors and managers

Guidance:	WAC 357-34-105 and OFM DES Guidelines for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Who:	All supervisors and managers
Frequency:	Within six months of appointment and then every three years
Class Availability:	Class Dates or eLearning

Select Washington state employee

Required training for select Washington state employees.

Bloodborne pathogens

Guidance:	WAC 296-823-100
Who:	All employees who have occupational exposure
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	Agency determined and provided

Computer software piracy

Guidance:	Executive Order 00-02
Who:	All appropriate employees
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	Agency determined and provided

Contract management for contract monitors and managers

Guidance:	RCW 39.26.110
Who:	All employees who do post award work only
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	Multiple required classes accessible through the DES Procurement and Contract Training Website

Contract management for contract and procurement professionals

Guidance:	RCW 39.26.110
Who:	All employees who do pre-award and post-award work as a primary part of their job
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	Multiple required classes accessible through the DES Procurement and Contract Training Website

Customer experience

Guidance:	Executive Order 25-06
Who:	All appropriate employees, based on their agency's policy
Frequency:	Agency discretion
Course options:	Instructor-led Beyond Customer Service: Crafting Experiences That Stick Customer Experience Prototyping and Usability Testing Customer Experience Research for Government Leaders Customer Experience Research: Strategy, Execution, and Insight Sharing Customer Experience Research-Based Solutioning Customer Personas and Journey Maps Foundations of Human-Centered Design and Customer Experience Leading with a Human-Centered Design Approach Planning and Managing a Human-Centered Design Project

New employee orientation

Guidance:	WAC 200-600-015
Who:	All new Employees
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	Agency determined and provided

Office safety

Guidance:	WAC 296-800-14020
Who:	All occupational safety and health employees
Frequency:	Prior to their job assignment
Class Availability:	Agency determined and provided

OFM HRMS basics

Guidance:	RCW 43.41.113 and RCW 41.07.020
Who:	All HRMS professional users
Frequency:	Once
Class Availability:	eLearning

Plain language writing and design

Guidance:	Executive Order 23-02
Who:	All appropriate employees based on their agency's policy
Frequency:	Agency discretion
Class Availability:	Class dates
Additional Resources:	Visit the communications category for additional classes that support Plain Language

Plain language writing and design (eLearning)

The Department of Enterprise Services now offers an on-demand plain language training. Every state employee must use plain language and accessible design in all written communication. This course supports accessible, plain language best practices and how to apply them. You'll gain skills to convey information— including complex concepts—clearly and simply. You'll also learn how to write so others can find, understand, and use the information and ideas you present.

This 2-hour course is available at no additional cost to cabinet agencies that contribute to the Personnel Service Fund (PSF). If you are unsure if your agency contributes to the PSF, email traininginfo@des.wa.gov. This course supports accessible, plain language best practices and the on-demand option allows learners to take the training at their own pace and meet the requirements of Executive Order 23-02: Plain Language.

Special Note: Executive Order 23-02 has replaced 05-03, directing agencies to establish their own plain language policy. Contact your agency for details. As of June 2024, the "Writing Documents in Plain Talk" curriculum has been updated and is now titled "Plain Language Writing & Design."

Recommend training

All state employees

Recommended training for all state employees:

Essential ethics

Guidance:	RCW 42.52.365
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Once every three years
Class Availability:	Class Dates and also available via eLearning

First aid

Guidance:	U.S. Dept. of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Who:	Determined by agency
Frequency:	Agency discretion or whenever first aid or CPR certificate expires
Class Availability:	Class Dates

Improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities in state employment

Guidance:	Executive Order 24-05
Who:	All employees
Frequency:	Within six months of appointment
Course Options:	eLearning Create More Accessible Email Messages in Outlook Create More Accessible PowerPoint Slides Create More Accessible Word Documents Create More Accessible Excel Workbooks Instructor-led Accessible Document Design for Beginners Accessible Office Documents Web Accessibility