Please note: This information was last updated in 2023. Check with your state for the most recent information.

District of Columbia

Contact Information

Address:
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
1050 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002

Phone: (202) 727-6436 (Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Email: osse@dc.gov

District of Columbia: http://osse.dc.gov/service/educator-resources or http://osse.dc.gov/ed-credentials

Certification Requirements

Teacher Licensure Needed: Yes

Master's Degree Needed: Yes

Praxis II Library Media Content Test Needed: Yes: School Library – 151 or above

Other Testing Needed: No

Description: In the District of Columbia, all of the teacher and staff licensing is done through the Federal department of Education. The District of Columbia offers a School Librarian/Media Specialist.

Evaluation Process for Licensure:

Criteria for eligibility includes completion of the following requirements:

A conferred master's degree from an accredited institution; and,

Twenty-one (21) semester hours in library or information science content that includes the following:

• Cataloging and classification;
• Computerized applications of library automation and information access;
• Instructional media design and production;
• Organization of school library media programs and collections;
• Reference sources and services;
• Evaluation, selection and utilization of instructional media for children and young people; and
• Integration of library resources in the curriculum; and
• Directed field experience in a school library media center with an experienced media specialist; OR two (2) years of successful recognized teaching experience; OR one (1) year of library experience.
• Achieved a passing score for the DC-required school library media specialist content exam or has passed a comparable exam in another state where an active school librarian credential is held.

For additional information please visit: https://osse.dc.gov/page/standard-school-service-provider-ssp-certification

Reciprocity: The District of Columbia is a participate in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement. This can be found at: https://www.ecs.org/teacher-license-reciprocity-state-profiles/