District of Columbia → Maryland
Transferring your teaching license from District of Columbia to Maryland
Both District of Columbia and Maryland participate in the NASDTEC interstate agreement, which standardizes how states evaluate out-of-state teaching credentials. Educators relocating from District of Columbia can generally expect a streamlined review process, though state-specific content exams or coursework may still be required.
See 209 open teaching jobs in Maryland →Your current credential (District of Columbia)
- Issuing authority
- Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
- License type
- Initial Teaching License (4 years)
- Reciprocity policy
- DC evaluates out-of-state teaching credentials individually. OSSE generally honors valid licenses from NASDTEC-participating states; additional Praxis content-area exams may be required to upgrade from an Initial to a Standard license.
Maryland certification
- Issuing authority
- Maryland State Department of Education
- License you'll earn
- Standard Professional I Certificate (2 years)
- Typical timeline
- 12–18 months traditional; RTC pathway allows immediate classroom entry with completion over 2 years
- Maryland reciprocity policy
- Maryland participates in the NASDTEC compact. Out-of-state educators with valid certificates may receive reciprocal licensure; content exams may be required.
Exams typically required in Maryland
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on Maryland's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills (or qualifying SAT/ACT/GRE scores)Basic reading, writing, and mathematics
- Praxis Subject AssessmentsContent knowledge for your certification area
- edTPAPerformance assessment during student teaching
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your District of Columbia credential is current. Maryland will request a verification of your active Initial Teaching License from Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
- Apply through Maryland State Department of Education. The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any Maryland-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but Maryland may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to Maryland districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 209 active openings — browse Maryland teaching jobs to start identifying districts.