Become a Teacher
in the District of Columbia
Certification Roadmap
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Prerequisite Coursework
Teacher Preparation
Certification Reciprocity
Teacher Salary
Required Tests
Teacher Certification Information & Links
the District of Columbia Highlights
To become a certified teacher in the District of Columbia, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas.
- Elementary Education: : A minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of specialized course experiences appropriate for children at this age level, 6 hours of math, 6 hours of reading, 12 hours of language arts, 12 hours of social science, 6 hours of science, 6 hours of health and phys ed, appreciation and creative expression in fine arts including at least two (2) of the following: art, music, drama, dance, and film (six (6) semester hours), supervised planning, observation and teaching experience preferably at both the primary (1-3) and intermediate (4-6) grade levels; or one experience on the elementary level (1-6)
- Secondary English: Thirty-six (36) semester hours shall be required of the writing process, American literature, English literature, linguistics, public speaking, comparative literature, multicultural literature, drama, media, mythology, adolescent literature, and journalism.
- Secondary Math: 33 semester hours of related coursework required.
- Secondary Science: 30 semester hours of related coursework required.
- Secondary Social Studies: 33 semester hours of related coursework required.
Teacher Preparation
Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.
Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification in District of Columbia is coming soon!
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.
Certification Reciprocity
| Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
| Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana |
| Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan |
| Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
| Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico |
| New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina |
| South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah |
| Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia |
| Wisconsin | Wyoming | Oklahoma |
Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: District of Columbia provides no support for teachers teaching in high needs schools or teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: District of Columbia has no induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in District of Columbia makes $63,370
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in District of Columbia makes $56,270
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in District of Columbia makes 85% of the salary of the average worker in District of Columbia
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in District of Columbia receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
Teacher Certification Information & Links
- District of Columbia Teacher Certification Services
- District of Columbia Teacher Tenure
- This page is sponsored by MAT@USC, an innovative Master of Arts in Teaching program delivered online from the University of Southern California. Click here to learn more and become a teacher in Washington, D.C..
