Teacher Licensure

Teacher Licensure

Teaching licenses/credentials issued by OSSE authorize the holder to serve in an instructional, school leadership or support personnel capacity in a District of Columbia public, private or public charter school. (Note: Public charter and private school teachers and administrators are not mandated by DC law to hold a state license; however, local education agencies (LEAs) may opt to require state licensure for employment). 

Please see below for license types and required qualifications.  Visit our Teacher Licensure Exams [PDF] webpage for more information on testing requirements.

• Regular I (valid for 2 years, non-renewable)

1. Bachelor’s Degree
2. Verification of current enrollment in a state approved teacher preparation program
3. Verification of current employment as a teacher in a DC local education agency
4. Passing scores or equivalents for all portions of the Praxis I
5. Passing score for the Praxis II Content Knowledge exam in the subject area of the approved program (not required for ELL and Special Education teachers until Regular II application submission)

• Regular II (valid for 4 years, renewable)

1. Verification of successful completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program; OR
2. Completion of ALL content and teacher education coursework required under the DC Municipal Regulations as determined by an OSSE transcript review; AND
3. Passing scores for all portions of the Praxis I*
4. Passing scores for all applicable Praxis II Content Knowledge and Pedagogy exams in the area of the requested license*

            *May be waived for applicants eligible for licensure reciprocity

• Transitional (valid for 1 year, non-renewable)

1. May only be requested by a DC local education agency
2. Candidate has never been previously employed as a DC public school teacher
3. Candidate has a major in the content area of the teaching assignment (Liberal Arts for elementary education teaching assignments); OR
4. Candidate has verification of completion of a state-approved teacher education program or full valid out-of-state teaching license (only needs to complete DC’s testing requirements)
5. Applicants not eligible for a Regular I or II license must be hired by a DC LEA/school district or school to be eligible for a Transitional license.  Please contact the school district’s personnel office for more information on obtaining a Transitional license.

Application Procedures

1. Individuals who have completed an approved preparation program in the District of Columbia must have an Approved Program Recommendation form on file with our office.  Please contact the Certification/Licensure Officer from your approved program to verify that a recommendation has been sent.  Refer to the Approved Program Directory [PDF] to view program contact information.  DC Program Completers must submit the following forms (see forms for detailed list of required supporting documents):

• Application for Regular II Licensure [PDF]
• Procedures to obtain nationwide criminal history report (for DCPS employees only) [PDF]
• Procedures to obtain nationwide criminal history report (for all other applicants) [PDF]

2. Applicants who are enrolled in or completed a state-approved teacher licensure program at an institution/agency located outside of the District of Columbia must submit the following forms (see forms for detailed list of required supporting documents):

• Application for Regular I Licensure  [PDF] (Currently enrolled preparation program participants employed by a DC public, private or public charter school): OR
• Application for Regular II Licensure [PDF] (Program completers)
• Approved Program Verification Form [PDF]
• Educational Employment Verification Form [PDF]
• Procedures to obtain nationwide criminal history report (for DCPS employees only) [PDF]
• Procedures to obtain nationwide criminal history report (for all other applicants) [PDF]

3. Applicants who did not complete a state-approved program may be licensed through the Transcript Analysis process by meeting DC’s testing requirements and the coursework outlined in Chapter 16 of the DC Municipal Regulations [PDF]

• Application for Regular II Licensure [PDF]
• Employment Verification Form [PDF]
• Procedures to obtain nationwide criminal history report (for DCPS employees only) [PDF]
• Procedures to obtain nationwide criminal history report (for all other applicants) [PDF]

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

General consultation from the licensure team is available.  Consultation includes Q & A regarding licensure application requirements and processing timelines, and a check to ensure that application packets have the documents required to begin a review.  Licensure evaluations/eligibility determinations are not conducted at the time of submission as that will occur once a complete application packet is logged into our system for review by a specialist.

Friday: 8:30 am to 5 pm for application/material pick-up and drop-off only. Consultation from the licensure team is not available.