School Librarian / Media Specialist / District of Columbia
2026 data District of Columbia board official source

District of Columbia School Librarian / Media Specialist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Manages school library resources. Requires teaching cert in most states.

What the District of Columbia data shows for School Librarian / Media Specialists

District of Columbia's path to school librarian / media specialist licensure runs through 2,000 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a criminal history screening. District of Columbia folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Degree".

The initial price tag is $100 every 5 years. District of Columbia doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

District of Columbia handles out-of-state credentials on a case-by-case basis instead of a standing reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
36/100
School Librarian / Media Specialist · District of Columbia

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
2,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in District of Columbia

Education / Training Hours
Degree
2,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for School Librarian / Media Specialist All District of Columbia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with District of Columbia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Librarian / Media Specialist in District of Columbia? ▼
District of Columbia requires 2000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a School Librarian / Media Specialist in District of Columbia? ▼
Certification as a school librarian / media specialist in District of Columbia means clearing the state's checklist: 2000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The District of Columbia licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my School Librarian / Media Specialist license to District of Columbia from another state? ▼
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for school librarian / media specialists in District of Columbia - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the District of Columbia licensing board for the current process.
Does District of Columbia require a background check for School Librarian / Media Specialist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the school librarian / media specialist licensing process in District of Columbia. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this school librarian / media specialist license

School Librarian / Media Specialist in District of Columbia is one requirement row in a school librarian / media specialist-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the District of Columbia licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.