American University



Greetings All,

This email provides you with important information about obtaining an initial license from the District of Columbia.  The Office of Teacher Education strongly recommends students apply for initial DC licensure upon completion of your program.  You can apply for an initial license once your degree has been conferred, completed the background check and fingerprinting,  and received DC passing scores on Praxis I and applicable Praxis II exams.

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). Reciprocal certification is accepted in over 40 states. You may find the reciprocity agreement at agreement.php.

Licensure is not an automatic process. It has detailed, prescribed procedures, some of which are time-bound.  You should plan carefully to complete the licensure process in a timely fashion.  SETH's Office of Teacher Education is here to help you through the process, which is outlined below.

Initial Licensure in the District of Columbia

To teach in the public school system, you must be properly licensed. The Teacher Education Office will answer any questions about the licensing process, but you are responsible for submitting your application to OSSE. Teacher certification is a state responsibility; it is not granted by any university.

By completing a teacher education program at American University, you are eligible to apply for a Regular II Initial DC License(F-2).  Following are the procedures to complete this application.  

1.) Students submit Regular II DC Initial License Application (F-2) to OSSE. The application can be found at . The application includes:

• Fully completed application form ( Parts I, II, III, IV, and V). Please include your AU ID on your application.

• A $50 application processing fee in the form of a cashier’s check or money order made payable to DC Treasurer. No cash and no personal checks will be accepted.

• Official undergraduate transcript(s) sealed in a college/university envelope documenting completion of a Bachelor's Degree.  OSSE also recommends that all degree-bearing transcripts be submitted to them, which means you should also include your AU transcript and transcripts for any other graduate degree program you have completed.

• An original fingerprint supported nation-wide Criminal History Report that has been issued within the previous 12 months.  The report must be sealed in the official enveloped mailed by the agency issuing the criminal history background report.  If you are employed with DC Public Schools (DCPS), you may submit the official clearance letter issued by the DCPS Office of School Security - Fingerprinting/ID Badge Office in lieu of the national criminal history report. (Please see more information below)

• Submit your complete application package to:

OSSE - Division of Educator Licensure and Accreditation

810 First Street, NE, 5th Floor

Washington, DC 20002

Background Check and Fingerprinting Information

DC Public Schools (DCPS) Employees:

All licensure applicants must provide a criminal history record/background check with their licensure application. The DCPS fingerprinting clearance process meets this requirement. This applies to initial, renewals, upgrades, and added endorsements. This clearance must be completed no more than one year from the date of the application submitted to OSSE. The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) currently fingerprints existing and recently hired employees at no cost.

Please go to the DCPS Office of Human Resources located at 1200 1st street N.E. Washington, DC 20002 10th floor to obtain the required authorization form to complete the fingerprinting process. DCPS employees must submit the original fingerprint clearance letter to OSSE along with their complete licensure application packet. OSSE cannot accept applications that are not inclusive of an official fingerprinting clearance letter from DCPS.

If you are not a current DC Public Schools Employee, (which includes new hires) you may not access fingerprinting services from the District of Columbia Public Schools.

Non-DCPS Employees

Applicants who are not employed or recently hired by the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) must submit official background check results from the FBI. For more information on the FBI background check process, please visit: . You will need to supply your fingerprints to the FBI.

Please see appendix for additional fingerprinting information.

2) AU Submits Program Verification Form to OSSE. The Field Placement Coordinator will complete this form once your degree has been conferred. This form also verifies the PRAXIS scores that SETH has on file for you.  OSSE will not authorize you to be licensed unless you have passed the appropriate PRAXIS exams for your program.

REVIEW of PRAXIS REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION and LICENSURE

This link provides you with a list of the required Praxis exams .   You must have passing scores on all required tests

in order to receive a license.

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 (

praxis) for the specific tests required by each state.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

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