Teacher Licensure and District of Columbia Praxis Test Requirements

Applications for licensure can be obtained in Gray Hall 119

Initial License: You can apply for an initial license once you have completed your teacher preparation program and received DC passing scores on Praxis I and applicable Praxis II exams.

To teach in the public school system, you must be properly licensed. You are eligible for licensure after completing your program at American University. However, teacher certification is a state responsibility; it is not granted by any university.

The Teacher Education Program at American University is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and approved through the District of Columbia which is a partner in a reciprocity agreement with the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Education and Certification (NASDTEC).

Licensure is not an automatic process. It has detailed, prescribed procedures, some of which are time-bound. You should plan carefully to complete the certification process in a timely fashion, working with an advisor to ascertain the necessary steps.

The process outlined below will help you get started.

Licensure in the District of Columbia

To apply for an initial license in DC, submit the following documents to the Teacher Education Office once you have completed your program and the appropriate Praxis exams.

PLEASE SUBMIT:

• FORM I – Complete sections the District of Columbia Application for Initial License and Added Endorsements (you can obtain this form from the Teacher Education Office)
  
• Your Electronic PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II scores from ETS - Students must earn a passing score (as set by the District of Columbia teacher licensing agency) on the PRAXIS I: Academic Skills Assessment and subject-specific Praxis II exams.
  
• A $30 payment in the form of a cashier’s check or money order made payable to DC Treasurer.
  
• Copy of your AU transcript (this can be an unofficial copy)

Once you have submitted the requisite forms and documentation, the Teacher Education Department will confirm your eligibility and forward all documents to Educator Licensing and Accreditation (OSSE)at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Licensure in Other States

Students who complete approved teacher preparation programs and pass the appropriate national teacher examinations are eligible to apply for teacher certification (licensure) in the District of Columbia, and through such certification are eligible for reciprocal certification in over 40 states. Please be aware that some states may require additional courses or national teacher examinations. Students should contact individual State Departments of Education for the most recent information on current state requirements. Also, be sure to consult the ETS website (www.ets.org/praxis) for the specific tests required by each state.

District of Columbia Praxis Test Requirements

ALL students are required to take the Praxis I exams before admission into a program.

Before program completion all students must take the appropriate Praxis II Content and Pedagogy exams for their program. Alternative Route students teaching in DC Public Schools will have to pass the Praxis II Content exams before admission to the program and take the Praxis II Pedagogy before completion of the program.