There are three ways to obtain a DC initial teaching credential. Initial teaching credentials are valid for three years and are not renewable.

Option 1: You are currently enrolled in an approved teacher certification program

Required documents to submit:

• A completed Program Admission Verification Form.
• An Identity History Summary Check (IHSC) issued by the FBI or an approved FBI channeler agency. If employed with DC Public Schools (DCPS), make sure the DCPS central office has made your clearance information available to OSSE electronically.
• Official transcripts verifying a completed a bachelor’s degree.
  • Applicants with degrees and studies from institutions outside of the US must submit a foreign credential evaluation report issued by an approved evaluation agency.
  • Applicants seeking to demonstrate basic skills knowledge based upon a completed bachelor’s degree grade point average (GPA), must submit transcripts that clearly indicate a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Passing test scores for an approved basic skills reading, writing and mathematics exam. Note: applicants seeking to demonstrate basic skills knowledge through a 3.0 or higher GPA need not submit evidence of passing test scores on an approved basic skills exam.
• Passing scores for the subject content exam required for the teaching area of the credential. For subject areas where a subject content exam has not been adopted, the applicant must hold a completed degree major in the subject area or have completed an approved educator licensure program in the area.
• A completed DC LEA Request Form for an initial credential signed by the hiring official of the DC local education agency (LEA).

Option 2: You hold an active full teaching credential in another state

Required documents to submit:

• A copy of your active full teaching credential(s).
• An Identity History Summary Check (IHSC) issued by the FBI or an approved FBI channeler agency.
• Official education transcripts from all institution(s) where you completed a degree and related studies.
  • Applicants with degrees and studies from institutions outside of the US must submit a foreign credential evaluation report issued by an approved evaluation agency.
  • Applicants seeking to demonstrate basic skills knowledge based upon a completed bachelor’s degree GPA, must submit transcripts that clearly indicate a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Passing test scores for an approved basic skills reading writing and mathematics exam. Note: applicants seeking to demonstrate basic skills knowledge through a 3.0 or higher GPA need not submit evidence of passing test scores on an approved basic skills exam.
• Passing scores for the subject content exam required for the teaching area of the credential. For subject areas where a subject content exam has not been adopted, the applicant must hold a completed degree major in the subject area or have completed an approved educator licensure program in the area.
• All pages of your final end-of-year performance rating reports verifying that you achieved at least an effective or equivalent performance ratings for two school years (if applicable). Currently the DC Public Schools (DCPS) agency is the only DC LEA that administers an official educator evaluation system that is accepted by OSSE for credentialing purposes.

Option 3: You are currently employed as Regular teacher at a DC Local Education Agency (LEA)

Required documents to submit:

• A completed DC LEA Request Form for an initial credential signed by the hiring official of the DC LEA.
• An Identity History Summary Check (IHSC) issued by the FBI or an approved FBI channeler agency. If employed with DC Public Schools (DCPS), make sure the DCPS central office has made your clearance information available to OSSE electronically.
• Official education transcripts from all institution(s) where you completed a degree and related studies.
  • Applicants with degrees and studies from institutions outside of the US must submit a foreign credential evaluation report issued by an approved evaluation agency.
  • Applicants seeking to demonstrate basic skills knowledge based upon a completed bachelor’s degree GPA, must submit transcripts that clearly indicate a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Passing test scores for an approved basic skills reading, writing and mathematics exam. Note: applicants seeking to demonstrate basic skills knowledge through a 3.0 or higher GPA need not submit evidence of passing test scores on an approved basic skills exam.
• Passing scores for the subject content exam required for the teaching area of the credential. For subject areas where a subject content exam has not been adopted, the applicant must hold a completed degree major in the subject area or have completed an approved educator licensure program in the area.