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How to become a certified teacher in District of Columbia. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required. Primary exam: Approved Basic Skills Exam (Praxis Core or equivalent). Government fees: $400–$540. Substitute requirements: Determined by individual LEA (Local Education Agency). Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · District of Columbia
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in District of Columbia. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Primary Exam
Approved Basic Skills Exam (Praxis Core or equivalent)
Total Gov Fees
$400–$540
Initial Cert
2 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 3.0 (may waive basic skills exam requirement) |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
basic skills
Passing score: Varies by exam
Tests basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills. Applicants with a 3.0+ GPA need not submit basic skills exam scores.
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Subject-specific content and pedagogy exam required for the credential area sought.
Issued for 2 years to new educators. Must advance to Standard License.
The primary teaching credential in DC, issued to teachers who meet all requirements including passing subject content and pedagogy exams, student teaching, and background check.
Short-term credential for educators who are missing some requirements. Valid for 1 year.
Minimum Education
Determined by individual LEA (Local Education Agency)
Certificate Required
No separate certificate
Background Check
Required
Validity
Determined by employing LEA
As of March 2016, OSSE no longer issues substitute teacher licenses. Individual LEAs (Local Education Agencies) such as DCPS manage their own substitute teacher hiring and requirements. Background checks are required for all school employees.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application FeeApplication fee per credential area | $50 |
| Fingerprint FeeFBI Identity History Summary Check (IHSC) fee | $50 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Praxis Core ($90 x 3) plus Praxis Subject Assessment(s); basic skills waived with 3.0+ GPA | $300–$440 |
| Initial CertificateCredential application fee | $50 |
| Renewal FeeCredential renewal fee | $50 |
| Total Government FeesIncludes application, background check, and exam fees | $400–$540 |
Graduate from an accredited teacher preparation program with at least a bachelor's degree.
Pass an approved basic skills exam (waived with 3.0+ GPA) and an approved subject content and pedagogy exam.
Fee: $300–$440
Request an Identity History Summary Check (IHSC) from the FBI or an approved channeler agency.
Fee: $50
Apply through the OSSE Educator Credentialing Information System (ECIS V2.0) online portal.
Fee: $50
OSSE offers live one-on-one consultations every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Once all requirements are verified, the appropriate credential is issued.
DC offers several alternative certification pathways for individuals with a bachelor's degree who did not complete a traditional teacher preparation program. The DC Teaching Fellows program is one of the most prominent alternative routes.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Renewal Cycle
5 years
DC requires continuing professional development for credential renewal every 5 years. Specific requirements are determined by OSSE and the employing LEA.
Reciprocity Type
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
DC participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Out-of-state teachers with valid certificates may be eligible for DC credentials.
Additional requirements: Out-of-state applicants must pass DC-required exams, complete an FBI Identity History Summary Check, and submit official transcripts.
Unique to District of Columbia: DC is unique in that OSSE stopped issuing substitute teacher licenses in 2016, leaving all substitute teacher management to individual LEAs. Additionally, a 3.0+ GPA entirely waives the basic skills exam requirement, which is more generous than most states' waiver provisions.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in District of Columbia.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#3 of 51
Cost
#23 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$75,110
25th percentile
Median
$94,730
+52% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$117,080
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
3,540 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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District of Columbia requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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