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Become a Teacher in Maryland
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Teaching in Maryland Snapshot
All career and salary information pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics pupil expenditure information was provided by Governing
Explore Featured Degree Options in Education
University Name | Type of Program | Learn More | Program Description |
---|---|---|---|
University of Southern California | Master of Arts in Teaching | Learn more about USC Rossier | The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating. |
Fordham University | Master of Science in Teaching | Learn more from Fordham University | Fordham University’s online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education. |
Vanderbilt University | Master of Education in School Counseling | Learn more about Vanderbilt Peabody | Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings. |
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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Maryland
Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 10/31/2016)
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Prerequisite Coursework in Maryland
All states require a bachelor’s degree to teach, while states differ on undergraduate coursework requirements. For example, prospective teachers enrolled at the University of Maryland must complete specific course and credit requirements depending on a student’s major.
See UMD’s College of Education page for more details about earning an undergraduate teaching degree in early, elementary, middle and secondary education as well as teaching specialities.
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Maryland Teacher Certification Programs
Teacher certification programs can be taken online or on-site. They typically include an educational theory and classroom skills seminar and a fieldwork component of student teaching in the area. A list of accredited teacher preparation programs in Maryland can be found at the Maryland State Department of Education.
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Required Tests for Maryland
Most states require tests to show competency in basic skills as well as in the desired subject area. For basic skills, Maryland requires either the Pre Professional Skills Test (PPST) or a passing score on the SAT, ACT, or GRE. For Subject Area Competency, the Praxis II: Subject Tests are used.
You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.com's Ultimate Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.
Initial Teaching Certifications
To earn your Maryland teaching credential, you will have to complete required the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. Maryland offers four levels of certification for graduates of traditional teacher preparation programs:.
- Professional Eligibility Certificate (PEC), issued to new teachers who meet all certification requirements and are not yet employed by a Maryland school or district
- Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC I), issued to teachers during at some point after employment at a Maryland public school or accredited nonpublic school
- Standard Professional Certificate II (SPC II), issued upon completion of three years of satisfactory professional experience and six semester hours of coursework
- Advanced Professional Certificate (APC), issued to teachers who have met all of the above requirements and earned a master's degree, or completed a minimum of 36 semester hours of post-baccalaureate course work which must include at least 21 semester hours of graduate credit
Learn more about getting your teaching credential on Teach.com.
Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard's Bok Center
Earn recognition of your ability to develop and deliver a memorable teaching experience when you receive a premier certificate from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX, upon successful course completion.
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Alternative Certification in Maryland
Maryland offers alternative teacher preparation at the county and city level, which means there are many different programs available throughout the state. These programs are compiled in the Maryland Approved Alternative Teacher Preparation Programs Directory which is consistently updated by the department of education. Teachers in alternative preparation programs are issued a Resident Teacher Certificate, which is valid for two years.
Maryland Teacher Certification Information & Links
Transferring Your Certification
Certification Reciprocity in Maryland
Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Maryland, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page. Or, for more specific questions about your situation, contact the Maryland State Department of Education.
To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Maryland, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.
Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Maryland
Maryland Teaching Jobs
The Maryland Department of Education posts some teaching jobs on their site. Job seekers can also go to use the Maryland page on SchoolSpring to find in-state teaching jobs. in state. Learn more about finding a teaching job.
Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.
Maryland Teacher Salary and Incentives
In Maryland, teachers earned an average of $66,961 in 2017-18, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Maryland is one of the highest paying states to teach in and provides additional pay support to teachers working in high-needs schools and shortage subjects. Salary schedules are left up to individual school districts. An example of a salary schedule can be found on Montgomery County Public Schools website.
Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.
Maryland Teacher Benefits and Retirement
Teachers in Maryland public schools become vested in the pension system after five years of service. Employees must work at least 50% of the work week to be eligible for benefits. Teachers in Maryland can retire with full benefits at age 62 with at least five years of service, or at age 55 with 25 years of service for reduced benefits. Additional benefits include multiple healthcare plans, compensation plans, tuition reimbursement, and paid annual, personal, and sick leave. For more information, visit the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System or by going to Teach.com.the online Maryland’s Public School Teacher Benefit Summary.
Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.
Maryland Teacher Shortage Areas
A teacher shortage occurs when there are not enough teachers in key subject areas, which has been partly caused by years of teacher layoffs during the Great Recession, a growing student population and fewer people entering teacher preparation programs, according to the Learning Policy Institute.
The following is a list of teacher shortage areas in Maryland for the 2016-17 school year as reported by the U.S. Department of Education (see page 74).
- Arts (Pre-K–Grade 12)
- Dance
- Career and Technology Areas (Grades 7–12)
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Technology Education
- Business Education (Grades 7–12)
- Computer Science (Grades 7–12)
- English (Grades 7–12)
- ESOL (Pre-K–Grade 12)
- Mathematics (Grades 7–12)
- Middle School Education (Grades 4–9)
- English/Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Science Areas (Grades 7–12)
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth/Space Science
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Special Education Areas
- Generic: Infant/Primary (Birth–Grade 3)
- Generic: Elementary/Middle School (Grades
- Generic: Secondary/Adult (Grade 6–Adult)
- Blind and Visually Impaired
- Hearing Impaired
- World Language Areas (Pre-K–Grade 12)
- French
- Spanish
Financial Aid in Maryland
Maryland residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship as well as the TEACH Grant, a grant which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.
Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree on Teach.com.
Career Advancement
Professional Development for Maryland Teachers
Maryland’s Professional Development Advisory Council (PDAC) recognizes the importance of professional development to improve public education. The council aims to standardize policies and programs and the local and state level. Teachers can currently participate in a variety of conferences and workshops, or take online courses over the summer.
Benefits of a Master's Degree in Maryland
It is no longer enough to only have many years of experience teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, teachers are almost solely being evaluated by their success in the classroom. A master’s degree in the field of education will give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor.
After a master’s program, you will be able to achieve better results in the classroom, which can lead to higher pay. Teachers can earn significantly more with a master’s degree, depending on years of experience, according to a 2018 Post provided by the National Council for Teacher Quality.
Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.
Explore Featured Program Options in Education
University Name | Type of Program | Program Description |
---|---|---|
University of Southern California | Master of Arts in Teaching | The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating. |
Fordham University | Master of Science in Teaching | The online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education. |
Harvard University's Bok Center | Advanced Certification in Teaching | The 8-week Teaching and Learning Strategies for Higher Education online short course is delivered by Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX. Students in this course will engage deeply with the most relevant research on effective teaching methods in the higher education context, while refining their own practices, portfolio, and teaching philosophy. |
Vanderbilt University | Master of Education in School Counseling | Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings. |
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