Want to become a teacher in the great state of Maryland? If so, you have come to the right place. Below you will find a short article that lists the steps to becoming a teacher in Maryland.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Teacher Preparation Program

To teach in the U.S., educators must hold at least an undergraduate degree. The state of Maryland also requires students to complete a state-approved teacher education program to receive certification.  However, U.S. states differ in undergraduate course requirements. For example, potential teachers enrolled at the University of Maryland must complete specific courses and credit requirements, depending on a student’s major. See UMD’s College of Education page for additional information about obtaining an undergraduate teaching degree in early, elementary, middle, and secondary education or instructional specialties.

Teacher education programs generally consist of two elements—curriculum and field experiences. Curriculum typically includes instruction on teaching foundational skills, pedagogy (the science of teaching), and preparing students to research, create, and implement learning experiences in their field of study. Field experiences often include field observations, internships, student teaching, or a combination of all three. A list of accredited teacher education programs in Maryland can be found at the Maryland State Department of Education.

Step 2: Complete the Required Exams

Most U.S. states require exams to show expertise in basic skills as well as the subject area that you plan to teach in. For basic skills, Maryland requires that you pass the Pre Professional Skills Test (PPST) or receive a passing mark on the SAT, ACT, or GRE. For Subject Area Expertise, the Praxis II: Subject Exams are used.

To obtain your Maryland teaching credential, you must complete required the appropriate amount of undergraduate courses and standardized exams, and an accredited certification program. Maryland offers four tiers of certification for graduates of traditional teacher education programs:

Professional Eligibility Certificate (PEC), issued to new educators who meet all certification obligations and are not yet teaching in a Maryland school or district.

Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC I), given to educators after employment at a Maryland public school or accredited nonpublic school.

Standard Professional Certificate II (SPC II), given when the candidate completes three years of effective professional experience and six semester hours of courses.

Advanced Professional Certificate (APC), issued to an educator who has met all the above obligations and completed a master’s degree, or finished at least 36 semester hours of post-graduate course work which must include a minimum of 21 semester hours of graduate credit.

Step 3: Submit a Maryland Teaching Credential Application

Once you have successfully finished all of your educational obligations, completed your student teaching requirements, and passed all of the required assessments, you may apply for teaching licensure in the state of Maryland. As part of the Maryland educator certification process, you will be required to establish a new user account to apply online. You can also send the required documents by mail directly to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Certification Branch, 200 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201.