What it Takes to Teach in Maryland in 2018

The governing body that oversees the licensure process and applications in The Maryland Department of Education.

Like the majority of states, Maryland requires that all teachers earn a bachelor’s degree, have successfully graduated from a state-approved teacher preparation program (in this case a Maryland approved program), and earned passing scores on The Praxis Exam.

The “Traditional Route” to becoming a teacher in Maryland would be to graduate from an accredited college or university, complete a state approved teacher preparation program, pass the Praxis and then apply for licensure. Like in other states, however, alternative teacher certification options exist in Maryland which we will cover as well.

Teacher Certification and Licensure in Maryland

As with other states, Maryland has a tiered model for teaching certification and licensure as teachers advance in their education and experience. Here is a quick glance at the Maryland teacher certification levels offered for graduates of teacher preparation programs.

• Personal Eligibility Certificate – prospective teachers are eligible for this certificate once they have met all certification requirements
• Standard Professional Certificate I – Teachers are eligible for this certificate once they are employed to teach at a public school
• Standard Professional Certificate II – Teachers are eligible for this certificate after 3 years of professional experience under their belt and a certain number of semester hours worth of course work.
• Advanced Professional Certificate – Teachers of eligible for this certificate once they have earned a master’s degree or the equivalent in semester-hours and work experience.

After earning your bachelor’s degree, which all must do before being eligible for the following tiers of licensure, aspiring teachers must complete a state-approved teacher certification program. There are an array of programs available, and many of them have online options available for working students. Here is the most recent list of approved, Maryland teacher training programs from the Department of Education in Maryland.

Alternative Teacher Training Programs in Maryland

Alternative teacher training programs are also available in Maryland. As of July 2017, this list included:

• AACC/AACPS Secondary RTC Program (Anne Arundel County)
• The Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) Program Special Education and Elementary or Secondary Education (Anne Arundel County)
• Baltimore City Teaching Residency – BCTR (Baltimore City)
• Bard-City Schools MAAPP – BARD (Baltimore City)
• Teach For America (Baltimore City, Baltimore County)
• Urban Teacher Center (Baltimore City)
• Alternative Teacher Preparation Program in World Languages Education (Baltimore County)
• MC/MCPS Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers – ACET (Montgomery County)
• Maryland Science and Mathematics Resident Teacher (MSMaRT) Program (Prince George’s County)
• Prince George’s County Resident Teacher (PGCRT) Program (Prince George’s County)
• The Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) for Special Education and Secondary Education (Prince George’s County)
• Prince George’s County Public School System-Teach For America (Prince George’s County)

For the most up to date list of approved, alternative teacher training programs in Maryland, please visit the Maryland State Department of Education.

Teacher Exams in Maryland:

Testing in Maryland is straightforward and flexible. The first exam requirement is the pre-professional skills test which can be replaced with equivalent scores on the SAT, ACT or GRE. The second exam requirement is the Praxis subject test – aspiring teachers should take the test that corresponds with the correct grade and subject that they desire to teach in. When it comes to foreign language, Maryland requires the American Council on Teaching Foreign Language.

The last requirement that is unique to some states, including Maryland, is to pass a state and federal background check which includes fingerprinting and a criminal background check. After completing these steps, any aspiring teacher should be set to begin their teaching career in Maryland.

The Maryland teacher preparation landscape is generally straightforward and rudimentary like other states. As long as you complete an undergraduate degree, graduate from a teacher preparation program, and pass all required exams and background checks, becoming a teacher should be a breeze!

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