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District of Columbia teacher license transfer

How to transfer your teaching license to District of Columbia

D.C. can use an active full out-of-state credential without deficiencies for reciprocity on the applicant's first D.C. credential application, mapping it to a comparable Standard Teacher Credential.

Build my license plan See official sources

Starting point

Does District of Columbia accept out-of-state teaching licenses?

An out-of-state license can open a path to District of Columbia certification, but it does not transfer automatically. The state decides which certificate, endorsements, tests or additional requirements apply.

Your exact route can still depend on your license type, preparation, experience, subjects, grade levels and testing history.

How teacher license reciprocity works · Look up your current license

Keep your place

Your District of Columbia application checklist

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State review still applies

What can change your path

  • • Reciprocity applies only during the first D.C. educator-credential application
  • • The source license must be active, full and without deficiencies
  • • Subsequent D.C. credential areas must meet D.C.-specific requirements
  • • OSSE makes the final subject, grade and examination comparability decision

What the state says

2 official sources

These facts come from official sources. The state agency still makes the final licensing decision.

First-application reciprocity

An applicant holding an active full educator credential without deficiencies from another U.S. state or territory may qualify for a comparable D.C. credential through reciprocity on the first D.C. application.

Comparable evidence matters

The reciprocity and Standard pathways evaluate preparation and accepted basic-skills, subject and pedagogy evidence; active National Board certification provides a separate branch without D.C. credentialing exams.

Core evidence

The application uses active full source credentials, official transcripts, preparation or examination evidence and an FBI Identity History Summary Check or accepted DCPS clearance.

State certification help

2 guides

01Application documentsSee the core records to prepare and who may need to send themOpen 02Out-of-state testingSee how the state treats prior tests for an out-of-state applicationOpen

Why your details matter

State websites describe the possible routes. The right one for you can depend on your license, preparation, experience, subjects, grades, tests, National Board status and compact eligibility. TeachPassport uses those details to work out your path and handle the steps it can do for you.

One thing to know: Reciprocity is available only on the first D.C. credential application; the source credential must be active and full, and later additions or issuances must satisfy D.C.-specific requirements.

Plan the whole move

Questions to answer before you apply

The application is only one part of the move. Check the costs, timing and records that can hold up an otherwise complete file.

01What could this cost?Plan for state fees, records, tests and fingerprints.Read 02How long could it take?See what affects review time and when to start.Read 03Will my test scores count?Check prior Praxis scores before registering again.Read 04Will I need new fingerprints?Use the destination’s required process and vendor.Read 05How will my experience count?Prepare the verification the state actually accepts.Read 06Should I apply to jobs first?Work out whether the license or job offer comes first.Read

Official sources

State agency material

District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of EducationOut-of-State Credential Holders (Reciprocity)District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of EducationStandard Teacher Credential