PERS Education Table of Service Credit Rules – Active Members

Washington State Department of Retirement Systems

This chart explains how service credit is earned in an eligible position. For additional information, refer to Chapter 3 of the DRS Employer Handbook. This chart does not apply to Elected Officials or Substitutes.

A member cannot earn service credit for months before employment in an eligible position. For example, a member who meets the criteria for a full year of service credit but is not employed in an eligible position until October can receive only eleven months of service credit that year.

PERS Plan 1	PERS Plan 2 and Plan 3*
On or after September 1, 1991 A member employed in an eligible position earns service credit as follows: If compensated in nine months of the school year and for 630 hours or more = 12 months of service credit* A member employed in an eligible position who does not qualify for a full year of service credit earns service credit as follows: 70 hours or more of compensation in a month = one month of service credit Some compensation but less than 70 hours in a month = 1/4 month of service credit	On or after September 1, 1991 A member employed in an eligible position earns service credit as follows: If compensated in nine months of the school year and for 810 hours or more = 12 months of service credit* If compensated in nine months of the school year and for at least 630 hours but less than 810 hours = 6 months of service credit A member employed in an eligible position who does not qualify for a full or half year of service credit earns service credit as follows: 90 hours or more of compensation in a month = one month of service credit 70 hours but less than 90 hours of compensation in a month = 1/2 month of service credit Some compensation, but less than 70 hours in a month = 1/4 month of service credit

PERS Plan 1

PERS Plan 2 and Plan 3*

On or after September 1, 1991

A member employed in an eligible position earns service credit as follows:

If compensated in nine months of the school year and for 630 hours or more = 12 months of service credit*

A member employed in an eligible position who does not qualify for a full year of service credit earns service credit as follows:

70 hours or more of compensation in a month = one month of service credit

Some compensation but less than 70 hours in a month = 1/4 month of service credit

On or after September 1, 1991

A member employed in an eligible position earns service credit as follows:

If compensated in nine months of the school year and for 810 hours or more = 12 months of service credit*

If compensated in nine months of the school year and for at least 630 hours but less than 810 hours = 6 months of service credit

A member employed in an eligible position who does not qualify for a full or half year of service credit earns service credit as follows:

90 hours or more of compensation in a month = one month of service credit

70 hours but less than 90 hours of compensation in a month = 1/2 month of service credit

Some compensation, but less than 70 hours in a month = 1/4 month of service credit

* A PERS Plan 2 or Plan 3 member working in a classified eligible position must be reported in SERS.

Contact Employer Support Services for additional information.