Table of Contents
Requirements For a Maryland Teacher PEC
- Bachelor’s degree with a focus on the subject surrounding your certification area
- Graduation from a Maryland Approved Program
- Fingerprint file for background check purposes
- Completion of the two exams
Exams Necessary for a Maryland Teacher
- Basic knowledge exam; this may entail a Praxis I, GRET, SAT, or ACT exam with a passing score
- A content area exam; the Praxis II test is necessary for most, but the ACTFL exam is for those who will teach foreign languages
Rules For Upgrading Your Maryland Teacher License
- Complete three or more years of teaching in Maryland
- Complete six semester hours of continuing education courses
- Submit a plan for how you may attain an advanced license
Renewal Rules
- Complete six semester hours of study credit
Who Supports Maryland Teacher Work?
The Teach in Maryland program helps people become teachers in the state. You can visit the Teach in Maryland website to apply to become a teacher and to learn about the requirements necessary for entering the profession in the state. The Teach in Maryland group is associated with the Maryland State Department of Education and focuses on highlighting what people can do when they are aiming to become teachers within the state.
Requirements For a Maryland Teacher PEC
You will earn your Professional Eligibility Certificate or PEC when you first become a teacher in Maryland. A PEC is open for those who meet the requirements for certification but do not have a job at a Maryland school. You can use your PEC to confirm your ability to teach students. Your PEC will become a Standard Professional Certificate I or SPC I after you receive a job at a school.
Additionally, you will require a bachelor’s degree, plus you must complete a Maryland Approved Program, a teacher preparation program supported by the state. The MAP will include pedagogical studies and will focus on how you can manage a classroom setting.
You must also complete the necessary exams when attaining your PEC. These will vary surrounding your experience and the subject area you will teach.
Your application must also entail a background check. A fingerprint file is required through one of the state’s approved collection locations. The check occurs through the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
Identifying Your Certification Area
Your license to teach in Maryland will be for a specific certification area. Therefore, the Maryland State Department of Education will cover one of these subjects:
- Early childhood or elementary education
- Middle school science, social studies, math, or English
- Secondary education in various fields of math, science, and liberal arts
- Special education for students with unique learning needs
- Specialty education for K-12 purposes, including for health, environmental education, physical education, and American Sign Language
Your bachelor’s degree must include courses surrounding the subject you wish to teach. Your studies in education must also focus on the age group of students you will teach.
What the MAP Covers
Your Maryland Approved Program will entail two segments. Firstly, you will study a curriculum surrounding pedagogy, foundational skills for teaching, and how to prepare students for various activities.
Secondly, the MAP will entail field experience. The work may entail a student teaching session or an internship. The field experience can last for one or two semesters.
The Maryland State Department of Education will confirm all MAP programs. The MAPs are also good for all certification areas. Your field experience will be relevant to whatever certification area you will complete.
The program will work for about a year on average. The Maryland Department of Education can provide details on programs within the state where you can complete your studies.
Tests Required for a Maryland Teacher
The first test you must complete for your Maryland teacher certification is a basic skills test. You may complete one of the following tests to meet this standard:
- Praxis I test with a score of 177 or greater on all three segments
- SAT with a score of 1100 or greater (the score may be 1000 or greater if you took the SAT prior to April 1995)
- GRE test with a combined score of 1000
- ACT test with a 24 or greater score
The second test is a content area assessment. Most prospective teachers will complete the Praxis I exam. Those who will teach foreign languages will complete the ACTFL exam in the specific language one will support.
Attaining Your SPC II License
Your Professional Eligibility Certificate will become a Standard Professional Certificate I after you attain employment at a public school in Maryland or an accredited private institution. You can get an SPC II when you complete three or more years of teaching and complete six semester hours of further education.
You must also submit a plan for attaining an Advanced Professional Certificate. The APC is optional, as it entails completing at least thirty-six semester hours of post-baccalaureate student with a majority being graduate-level. But you must still provide a plan for this, although it will be a prospective point that you might consider.
Renewing Your License
All teaching licenses in Maryland will last for five years. You must attain six semester hours of study during your time period to renew your license. You can earn this study credit through many methods:
- Completing work surrounding a school assignment
- Finish courses in-person or online, including continuing education studies
- Follow programs supported by the Maryland Continuing Professional Development program
The Maryland State Department of Education has a section on its website where you can renew your license when the time for doing so comes. The website recommends you complete your renewal within three to six months of when your current license expires. The timing ensures you will receive a proper certification on time. Your new license will start after the last one ends, meaning there will be no gaps surrounding your coverage.