Challenges in Teacher Licensure in Maryland
Published: | by Alex Skov
When you start researching what teacher licensure in Maryland requires, things may seem complicated as you navigate government websites, come across outdated information, and find conflicting license names on Google. It’s a lot to deal with and can leave you wishing there was one place to find all the details.
Here’s what’s actually true about the process of becoming an educator in Maryland, including some of the most common challenges you may face in teacher licensure and what to do about each one.
Myth vs. Fact: What You Really Need to Know
Myth: Maryland is lowering standards to fix its teacher shortage.
This isn’t true, although the myth does trace back to a real policy.
In April 2026, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) extended a policy that was already in place to allow any scoreable Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) submission to count as passing through August 2027.
The goal of this extension, as stated by Maryland, is to “increase the percentage of teachers with a professional license” while still vetting them and ensuring students are being led by trusted faculty. After this initial period, the plan is for edTPA to permanently replace the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) in Maryland.
Myth: You need an education degree to get certified in Maryland.
No, you don’t need an education degree to become a licensed teacher in Maryland. From biology majors to business grads, the state certifies plenty of teachers who studied something else entirely as undergraduates. Their licenses are earned through alternative teacher preparation programs, which are built for people who already have a bachelor’s degree but need the pedagogy, supervised teaching experience, and licensure exams to go with it.
Myth: If you fail a Praxis exam once, you’re done.
You can retake Praxis tests, and there’s no cap on how many times. The test’s issuer (ETS) even runs a Free After 3 program, allowing people who have taken the exam multiple times to get free retake vouchers.
The reality is retaking a test costs time and money you’d rather not spend, but a low score is just a setback, not an ending to your licensure journey.
Common Licensure Challenges Aspiring Teachers Face in Maryland
Navigating Maryland’s Teacher Licensure Tiers
Maryland retired its previous teacher licensure system on April 1, 2024, and replaced it with new license names and types:
| License | Who it’s for | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Conditional License | Bachelor’s degree holders working toward full licensure | 5 years, non-renewable (3 years for special education) |
| Resident Teacher License | Candidates completing a residency through an approved alternative program | 3 years, non-renewable |
| Temporary Professional License | Out-of-state completers still finishing any Maryland-specific requirements | 2 years, non-renewable |
| Initial Professional License | New teachers who’ve finished an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and passed the required exams | 5 years, renewable |
| Professional License | Teachers who’ve completed Maryland’s induction program or three years of effective performance | 5 years, renewable |
Many career changers start on a Resident Teacher or Conditional License while they’re finishing their EPP. They then advance to an Initial Professional License once they’ve completed everything MSDE requires.
Financial Barriers
Teacher licensure isn’t free, and the costs show up in more places than people expect. Educator Preparation Program (EPP) tuition varies between programs, and so do test fees (plus, most candidates need to pass more than one).
There’s also the potential to lose income during full-time student teaching since you’ll need to spend several weeks completing clinical learning in a classroom. For career changers leaving a full-time job, that gap can be the biggest barrier of all.
Teacher Licensure Doesn’t Happen Immediately
Even after you’ve fulfilled all the requirements, MSDE’s FAQ says completed teacher licensure applications take up to eight weeks to process if you’ve submitted everything correctly. Missing transcripts, unclear program verification, or a test score that hasn’t posted yet can add to that timeline. If you’re counting on a license by a specific hiring date, be sure to budget plenty of time for your application to be processed.
How to Overcome Maryland’s Licensure Challenges
1. Choose a reputable EPP.
Not every EPP is designed with working adults or career changers in mind. Look for one built to fit around your current schedule and responsibilities. Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program is 100% online and can be completed in just 9 months — perfect for busy adults.
2. Explore Maryland’s tuition support and loan-repayment programs.
Maryland supports teacher licensure candidates with several financial opportunities:
- The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship covers up to full tuition, fees, and room and board at public institutions for candidates who commit to teaching in a Maryland high-need school or shortage subject after graduation.
- The Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program is designed to help current school employees in Maryland (including paraprofessionals and provisional teachers) who want to earn full licensure while staying on the job.
- The Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program helps Maryland residents in public service roles pay down existing student debt, with awards up to $10,000 a year for those carrying larger loan balances. This includes teachers!
- Federal loan forgiveness programs for teachers are worth researching, especially if you’ll be teaching in a low-income school or staying in public education long-term.
3. Plan your application timeline.
Submit your application the moment you have everything MSDE requires. You don’t necessarily need to wait until a district makes you an offer; you can build the 8-week processing window into your job-search timeline. Just make sure to double-check that your application packet includes everything Maryland requires before you hit submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common reasons teachers fail to get certified in Maryland?
If a teacher fails to get certified in Maryland, it’s usually due to a combination of reasons. These can include underestimating the cost of exams (and potentially lost income during student teaching) and/or forgetting to include a required document in their licensure application.
Do I have to take edTPA or PPAT for Maryland licensure now?
Maryland is phasing out the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) in favor of the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) for most pathways. National Board Certificate holders are exempt from the performance-assessment requirement. Check with your program or MSDE directly to confirm which assessments apply to your specific pathway.
How long does Maryland teacher licensure take?
It depends on your starting point. If you’re a high school graduate and you know you want to become a teacher, your timeline is probably about 4 years as you complete a traditional bachelor’s degree in education.
If you already have a degree in another subject and are looking to change careers into education, your timeline could be much faster through an alternative Educator Preparation Program (EPP). Moreland University’s online TEACH-NOW program, for example, can be completed in just 9 months.
Once you’ve completed all the requirements for licensure, MSDE states that completed applications process within eight weeks, if everything is submitted correctly. Keeping transcripts, test scores, and program verification organized in advance can help you avoid adding to that timeline.
What financial help is available for licensure costs in Maryland?
Several financial aid options are available to teachers earning their license in Maryland. Depending on your unique situation, these could include:
- The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship
- The Grow Your Own Educators Grant
- The Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program
- Federal programs like Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for educators in qualifying schools
Ready to earn your Maryland teaching license?
Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program is a great option for earning your teacher license in Maryland. It can be completed in as little as 9 months, fully online, so you can keep working full-time while you finish.
You can apply for free in about 15 minutes, and you’ll hear back within 2 business days.
Questions? Join an upcoming information session.
