Secondary School Teacher / District of Columbia
2026 data District of Columbia board official source

District of Columbia Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Instructs students in grades 7-12. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the District of Columbia data shows for Secondary School Teachers

Becoming a licensed secondary school teacher in District of Columbia means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. District of Columbia regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification".

The initial price tag is $158, and renewal costs $101 every 5 years. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For secondary school teachers, the reciprocity picture is: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
51/100
Secondary School Teacher · 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 N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$158
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A
$20/yr
$101 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in District of Columbia

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$158
Renewal Fee
$101
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Secondary School Teacher 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 Secondary School Teacher in District of Columbia? ▼
District of Columbia's requirements cover, the State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent) exam, and an initial fee of $158. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Secondary School Teacher in District of Columbia? ▼
District of Columbia licenses secondary school teachers who complete its requirements and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the District of Columbia licensing board.
Can I transfer my Secondary School Teacher license to District of Columbia from another state? ▼
For secondary school teachers, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the District of Columbia licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does District of Columbia require a background check for Secondary School Teacher licensing? ▼
Yes, District of Columbia requires a criminal background check as part of the secondary school teacher licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Secondary School Teacher in District of Columbia? ▼
District of Columbia ties continued secondary school teacher licensure to 150 continuing-education hours, due every 5 years, alongside a $101 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this secondary school teacher license

Secondary School Teacher in District of Columbia, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a secondary school teacher-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.