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• Members

• Table of Contents
• Key plan provisions
• Plan 1 membership definition
• When should I start planning for retirement?
• Who pays for my benefits?
• What is service credit?
• Claiming credit for substitute teaching
• Can I purchase credit for past service?
• What if I leave my TRS position?
• Reestablishing membership
• Can I restore credit for past service?
• What if I’ve previously been a member of another retirement system
• How do I retire?
• Can I obtain a refund of contributions paid after 30 years of service?
• What is my service retirement benefit?
• What are my benefit options?
• What is the purchase additional service credit option?
• Can I continue health care coverage after I retire?
• Can my benefit increase after I retire?
• What if I work after retirement?
• What if I become disabled?
• What benefits do my survivors receive?
• Taxation and assignment of benefits
• Why does DRS need my Social Security number?
• Administrative information
• Contacting DRS

Teachers' Retirement System

Can I purchase credit for past service?

You may purchase service credit for earlier periods of employment including:

• Up to two years of approved professional preparation following Washington state public school teaching.
• Up to five years of active service in the United States military if it interrupted your Washington state public school service. If the military service occurred in time of war, you can receive credit for more than five years.
• Up to four years of out-of-state teaching service while on an authorized leave of absence.

If you earned service credit as a teacher in a retirement system outside Washington state, you may be eligible to purchase this service credit. Contact DRS for more information.

You must submit proof of service and a lump sum payment of the required amount (contributions plus interest) by June 30 of the fifth school year following return to membership, or by retirement, whichever comes first.

It is still possible to purchase service credit after the statutory deadline. For more information, see the brochure Plan 1 Recovery of Withdrawn or Optional Service Credit.