Main questions

Once you have been offered a position and into onboarding, the Staffing team will notify you of the security clearance items (fingerprinting, background check, drug testing, etc.) you need. Security clearance typically takes 15 business days, so we strongly encourage you to complete this process early to expedite the hiring process. 

You will be sent information on drug testing once selected for hire, so it is not necessary to seek drug testing ahead of time. Drug testing must be completed within 15 calendar days from that day you were selected for hire. Failure to complete drug testing within the 15 calendar-day window will result in automatic cancellation of your hire request and you will be ineligible for hire for three years. 

Candidates must complete and pass a DCPS security clearance before receiving a formal offer of employment. You can refer to our Fingerprinting and Drug Testing Guide for additional information.

If you would like to be considered for any of our Central Services openings, please visit our Central Office Job Board and complete the application for the position(s) you are interested in.  

Please note that this website serves as a tool for Teacher, School Leader, and Related-Service Provider questions. Hiring teams at Central Office review applications on a rolling, as-needed basis. If you are selected to move forward in the application process, you will be contacted directly by the hiring manager via email. For questions, please reach out to @email.

School-based, non-instructional positions (e.g., registrar, administrative aide, etc.) are handled on a school-by-school basis, and we do not have a centralized application for these positions. You would need to contact individual schools to inquire about openings in these areas. Please refer to our "School Profiles" page with more information and contact information on all of our schools. You can access that page here.

All candidates must apply online in order to be considered for a position. To get started, please visit our Teaching and Leadership positions page and find the position you want to apply for. 

All DCPS teachers need a valid teaching credential (license), issued by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). However, we are aware that many candidates will not have their OSSE-issued credential upon applying for a position. As such, candidates who meet at least one of the following conditions are eligible to advance through the teacher application screening process:  

• Passing Score on the Praxis Core or Praxis I (reading, writing, and math) or waiver via SAT/ACT/GRE/PCMAS or cumulative 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA 

OR 

• Active and full OSSE-issued credential or active and full license from another state  

OR 

• Enrollment in a teacher preparation program AND proof of registration for Praxis Core (reading, writing, and math), proof of registration for other state-equivalent, or waiver via SAT/ACT/GRE/PCMAS or cumulative 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA 

Click here for additional Praxis information, free preparation, and study resources! 

What do I need to be hired into a teaching position?

To be selected for hire for a DCPS teaching position, candidates must possess a valid OSSE teaching credential or meet one of the conditions below: 

• Proof of a passing score on the Praxis Core or Praxis I (reading, writing, and math) AND proof of a passing score on the Praxis II subject area exam 

OR 

• Proof of an active and full license from another state to receive an official offer letter.

Candidates selected for hire must provide evidence of their OSSE teaching credential, or evidence of a completed application for an OSSE teaching credential, to receive an official offer letter. Once an application for a DC credential has been submitted to OSSE, it may take up to 12 weeks for the credential application to be processed so we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. 

Open transfer opportunities are made available to school-based employees at the close of each school year. The open transfer period where employees do not need the permission of their current Principal is from the close of the school year through July 15. Learn about the Internal Teacher Transfer Process.

Transfers made after July 15 must have the approval of the losing Principal. Interested employees should contact the school administrator that has an open position and express an interest to transfer. If the school administrator and your current school administrator consent to your transfer, Human Resources will be notified and will officially complete the transfer process.

While DCPS sponsors H-1B and J-1 visas, individual schools determine whether to hire individual teachers requiring sponsorship. Individuals interested in working at DCPS can connect with individual school leaders about vacancies. You can research schools and find contact information for school leaders at our School Profiles: https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/ website. If a school leader would like to hire you, the school leader will reach out to the Staffing Team indicating that they would like to sponsor a teacher for a H-1B or J-1, and the school will also work to secure the funding to pay the government filing fees.