MD certification
Maryland teacher certification
Teaching credentials in Maryland
Each row is a credential Maryland reported to Title II. Initial means a first credential for a new teacher. Years is the length of validity.
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct License | No | 1 | Yes | 4-9, 7-12 |
| Advanced Professional License | No | 5 | Yes | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Conditional License | Yes | 5 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Conditional Special Education License | Yes | 3 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Initial Professional License | Yes | 5 | Yes | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Montessori Professional License | Yes | 99 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Professional License | Yes | 5 | Yes | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Resident Teacher License | Yes | 3 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Temporary Professional License | Yes | 2 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
Requirements
Yes means the state reports the item as required for that credential. Tests shows only whether tests are required; Title II does not name the tests.
| Credential | Bachelor's | Master's | Education degree | Prep program | Tests | Performance assessment | Clinical | Coursework | Credit hours | Min. GPA | Transcripts | Employment | Mentoring | Recency | Background check | Fingerprint | Police check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct License | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Professional License | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Conditional License | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional Special Education License | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Initial Professional License | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Montessori Professional License | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Professional License | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Resident Teacher License | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary Professional License | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Verify a teaching license in Maryland
Teaching licenses in Maryland are verified on the lookup service run by Maryland State Department of Education. Search there by the teacher's name or certificate number to see current status.
PT3 does not verify licenses and holds no records of individual teachers.
Renewal
Renew times is how many times the credential can be renewed; renewal years is the length of each renewal.
| Credential | Renewable | Renew times | Renewal years | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct License | Yes | 99 | 1 | Requested by LEA |
| Advanced Professional License | Yes | 99 | 5 | A. Individual Professional Development Plans. (1) An educator shall have an individual professional development plan in place for each of the 5 years of validity for each Initial Professional, Professional, and Advanced Professional license issued to the educator. (2) An educator shall ensure this individual professional development plan includes a minimum of 90 professional development points as set forth in Regulation .06 of this chapter, to renew the educator’s License. (3) Educators who are not employed with a local school system, State-operated school, or nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10 are responsible for developing their own individual professional development plan. |
| Conditional License | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Conditional Special Education License | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Initial Professional License | Yes | 99 | 5 | (1) An educator shall have an individual professional development plan in place for each of the 5 years of validity for each Initial Professional, Professional, and Advanced Professional license issued to the educator. (2) An educator shall ensure this individual professional development plan includes a minimum of 90 professional development points as set forth in Regulation .06 of this chapter, to renew the educator’s License. (3) Educators who are not employed with a local school system, State-operated school, or nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10 are responsible for developing their own individual professional development plan. |
| Montessori Professional License | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Professional License | Yes | 99 | 5 | A. Individual Professional Development Plans. (1) An educator shall have an individual professional development plan in place for each of the 5 years of validity for each Initial Professional, Professional, and Advanced Professional license issued to the educator. (2) An educator shall ensure this individual professional development plan includes a minimum of 90 professional development points as set forth in Regulation .06 of this chapter, to renew the educator’s License. (3) Educators who are not employed with a local school system, State-operated school, or nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10 are responsible for developing their own individual professional development plan. |
| Resident Teacher License | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Temporary Professional License | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
Emergency and temporary credentials
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional License | Yes | 5 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Conditional Special Education License | Yes | 3 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Resident Teacher License | Yes | 3 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
| Temporary Professional License | Yes | 2 | No | 1-6, 4-9, 7-12 |
Out-of-state teachers
Title II lists no separate out-of-state credential for Maryland. Ask Maryland State Department of Education how it reviews licenses from other states.
Newly licensed teachers prepared out of state: 2,263.
Alternative routes
- Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Programs (teach while completing)
About Maryland certification
Maryland colleges and universities play a major role in preparing highly qualified teachers to have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are essential for all Maryland children to learn. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) recommends that all readers recognize that each of the Maryland teacher preparation programs is unique. Program data should be read within the context of institutional characteristics, which are provided in this report as institutional profiles.
Program Approval and Performance:
Maryland colleges and universities’ educator preparation programs have been approved by the MSDE by meeting the requirements outlined in The Blueprint for Maryland's Future, the Institutional Performance Criteria, and demonstrating readiness to align with the proposed regulations governing State approval. Programs need to follow MSDE’s Traditional and Alternative Proposal Guidelines to seek the State’s approval for new or modified programs. The Guidelines include clear proposal elements mapping standards to program curriculum, and requiring programs to provide curriculum mapping and align curriculum to national standards. The new highlights reflect performance assessment linkages, alignment to address program goals and outcomes, descriptions of how programs will use data to self-assess for continuous improvement, and the processes by which data-driven changes are implemented.
Maryland law allows programs the choice of being approved by the State or by a national accrediting agency recognized jointly by the MSDE and the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Programs that choose to be nationally accredited shall operate in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the national accrediting agency and submit to the MSDE proof of accreditation with supporting documentation or any change in a program’s accreditation status. The MSDE may investigate complaints regarding any aspect of a program separate from any review conducted by the national accrediting agency. It is important to note that currently, no national accrediting agencies are recognized by MSDE and MHEC, and the regulations governing program approval are in the process of being repealed and replaced. Until amended regulations are adopted, Maryland educator preparation programs are not required to participate in the State renewal process.
How to become a teacher in MarylandMaryland teacher preparation providers
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a teaching certificate in Maryland?
Maryland reports 9 credentials to Title II, 7 of them initial. 7 initial credentials require a bachelor's degree, 0 require a preparation program and 6 require tests. Apply through Maryland State Department of Education.
How do I verify a teaching license in Maryland?
Licenses are verified on the lookup service run by Maryland State Department of Education. PT3 does not verify licenses.
Can I renew a Maryland teaching certificate?
4 of 9 Maryland credentials are reported as renewable. Renewal details by credential are listed in the Renewal section.
Does Maryland issue emergency or temporary teaching certificates?
Yes. Title II lists 4: Conditional License; Conditional Special Education License; Resident Teacher License; Temporary Professional License.
Can I teach in Maryland with an out-of-state license?
Title II lists no separate out-of-state credential for Maryland. Ask Maryland State Department of Education how it reviews licenses from other states.
Is there alternative teacher certification in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland reports 1 alternative route to Title II.