Overview
The Concurso de Oposición Docente is how the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Education (MINERD) selects teachers for public-school vacancies. A National Contest Commission made up of MINERD, the teachers' association (ADP) and the Ministry of Public Administration (MAP) runs it. Each round is governed by its own departmental order (Orden Departamental); the 2024 "focalizado" (targeted) round was governed by Order 16/2024.
The contest aims to fill published vacancies across the country's 18 regional directorates and 122 education districts for the coming school year. In the 2024 round, 38,532 applicants were admitted to the evaluation.
Who can apply
The 2024 call was open to graduates in education sciences and other disciplines, to be assessed for different subject areas and levels. Applicants had to meet the requirements in articles 16 and 17 of the order and upload their documents to the platform and also hand them in at the education district office.
The documents listed for 2024 were:
a one-page curriculum vitae
a copy of the identity and voter card, both sides
the degree (licenciatura or equivalent with teaching qualification), plus any specialisation in education sciences or related areas and any master's or doctorate in education or related areas
a title certification from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
a teaching qualification certificate for the technical-professional and arts modalities
a certificate of no criminal record and a medical certificate of physical health, each issued within 30 days of the call
Scans had to be legible, in colour and in original form.
Exam pattern
Evaluation in the 2024 round had three parts.
| Part | Content |
|---|---|
| General cognitive skills (Habilidades Cognitivas Generales) | Test |
| Pedagogical and disciplinary knowledge (Conocimientos Pedagógicos y Disciplinares) | Test |
| Competency interview (Evaluación por Competencias) | Structured interview |
The interview is worth 10 points. It looks at command of the subject and communication skills, attitude, emotional management and commitment to teaching, together with ethical and professional competence for the post.
Marking and results
To be called to the interview, an applicant must have passed the two earlier tests with 63 points or more (article 31 of Order 16/2024). MINERD's 2016 guide to the contest describes a 0 to 100 scale for the overall result: 0 to 59 does not meet the standard, 60 to 69 is insufficient, 70 to 79 is a pass, 80 to 89 is very good and 90 to 100 is excellent. Results are communicated through the platform.
Important dates
Dates are set in each round's call. For the 2024 focalizado round, registration ran from 26 April to 26 May 2024 (30 calendar days), and the tests continued until 3 July 2024, with interviews starting on 13 June 2024.
How to apply
Register on the platform linked from MINERD's announcement, upload the required documents within the registration period and deliver them in person to the education district, as the round's order requires.
After the exam
Applicants who meet the requirements but are not selected join a Registro de Elegibles (list of eligibles), under article 22 of the teaching-statute regulation. When filling vacancies in 2024, MINERD gave priority to teachers already on the registers from the 2021 and 2023 contests.
Preparation tips
Read the departmental order for the round you are applying to, as thresholds and steps can change.
Prepare general reasoning as well as the content and teaching methods for your own subject and level.
Gather and scan your documents early, since scans must be legible and in colour.
Prepare for a structured interview on teaching practice and ethics.
Is the contest held every year?
No fixed schedule is stated. MINERD opens rounds through departmental orders, so watch its official news page.