Teacher Education Programs – Certification Information
Teacher Education Programs
Trinity’s teacher education programs are nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and state-approved and meet certification requirements of the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
At the graduate level, the School of Education offers specializations in early childhood education, elementary education, and special education.
The School of Education, in conjunction with the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional and Graduate Studies, also offers undergraduate majors in education that prepare students for certification in early childhood education and elementary education.
Teacher Certification
Teacher licensure and certification is granted by the education agency in each state and may be recognized through reciprocity by other jurisdictions. Successfully completing all program components and earning a certification-leading degree, along with qualifying scores on state-determined teacher licensure and certification examinations, makes the graduate eligible for teacher certification by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). This certification is accepted by numerous other jurisdictions, sometimes with conditions or additional requirements. It is the responsibility of candidates to obtain up-to-date information on certification requirements in the states they wish to teach.
State Required Examinations
The Praxis examinations, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), are used by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education of the District of Columbia (OSSE) as part of its teacher certification process. The Praxis Core series measures reading, writing, and computational skills important to all teacher candidates. The Praxis Subject Test examinations measure prospective teachers’ knowledge of the subjects they will teach, as well as aspects of teaching that subject, and are usually taken in the last semester of course work and must be taken prior to student teaching. Students are responsible for arranging to take these tests and have their scores reported to Trinity as well as to appropriate certification agencies. Further information is available from ETS. Trinity’s school code is RA5796. See Trinity’s Policy on State Required Examinations.
Students seeking teacher certification must pass the examinations required by the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and a nationally-based background check. For details concerning the Praxis II/Principles of Learning and Teaching Examinations and other licensure requirements, please visit OSSE.
Certification Application Process
The School of Education assists graduates in obtaining the initial standard license. For specific instructions, contact the Education Programs at 202-884-9561 or gorowarac@trinitydc.edu.