All individuals seeking state licensure to provide services as a principal or assistant principal in the District of Columbia must meet the requirements below. In order for an application to be fully processed, license seekers must submit a complete packet that includes: a fully completed application form; all required supporting documentation (e.g. official transcripts, test scores, work experience, etc.), and the applicable application processing fee(s). Completed application packets must be sent to: 51 N Street NE, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20002. Please be advised that incomplete applications received by this office will be returned to sender unprocessed.

 

 

Option 1

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; and, Completion of a state-approved program in K-12 School Leadership/Administration; and, Successful completion of two (2) years of full-time PreK-12 school-based teaching or pupil services experience; OR two (2) years of other full-time PreK-12 school-based instructional leadership work experience; and, Official verification of a passing score for the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) as required by the District of Columbia.

Option 2

Master’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university; and Successful completion of two (2) years of full-time PreK-12 school-based teaching or pupil services experience; OR two (2) years of other full-time PreK-12 school-based instructional leadership work experience; and, Official verification of a passing score for the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) as required by the District of Columbia.

 

 

License Type(s)	Validity Period	Issued to:
Regular Administrator	Valid for four (4) years from date of issuance and is renewable	Applicants who successfully meet all requirements outlined in Option 1 or 2 listed above.
Restricted Administrator	Valid for one (1) year from date of issuance and may be extended one time for one additional year upon submission of official documentation verifying the required score for the School Leaders Licensure Assessment and verification of continuing progress towards the completion of a state-approved program in school leadership/administration.	Currently employed District of Columbia Public School principals or assistant principals who were hired prior to January 1, 2000 with no breaks in service as a principal or assistant principal.
Transitional Administrator	Valid for one (1) year from date of issuance and may not be renewed or extended	Applicants who hold a current out-of-state license that authorizes him/her to operate as a full or lead principal in a K-12 grade school but who have not successfully completed the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) as required by the District of Columbia.

License seekers, who completed their education administration program at an institution located in DC, please contact the Certification Officer in the School of Education at the institution where you completed your program to apply for licensure.

 

Forward completed application packets to:
OSSE–Division of Education Excellence
Office of Educator Licensure and Quality
51 N Street NE, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20002

 

Questions, please contact us: educator.licensurehelp@dc.gov