District of Columbia Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

To practice as a secondary school teacher in District of Columbia, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on the State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent) examination. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under District of Columbia's professional licensing framework, which classifies training as "Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification".

Upfront cost is $158, with renewal running $101 on a 5-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity is available: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Compared to the profession-wide pattern, the numbers above should be cross-checked against other states before relocating — licensing cost, training hours, and exam requirements vary enough that a different state may cut thousands of dollars and months of training from the path. The state board, not this page, is the final authority; verify every field below with the official regulator before you pay fees or enroll in training.