Your Guide to Becoming a Certified Teacher in Maryland in 2024
| by Kyle Freelander
Ready to change your career and your life this year? Becoming a teacher in Maryland is an excellent opportunity to make a positive difference in your life and the lives of others. Whether you are a conditionally certified teacher or looking to make a career change, a little intentional planning and dedication can help you become a certified teacher in Maryland in 2024.
Teaching in Maryland comes with perks.
See why Maryland is popular among aspiring and current teachers in our infographic.
Lay the groundwork for becoming a Maryland teacher in 2024
Understand the requirements for becoming a teacher in Maryland
If you’re looking to become a certified teacher in Maryland in 2024, the first step is to understand the requirements for certification. Maryland requires all teachers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree and complete an approved teacher preparation program.
Additionally, you will need to pass the Praxis exams in your subject area and complete a background check. It is also important to note that Maryland requires all teachers to participate in ongoing professional development to maintain their certification.
Specific requirements for teacher certification in Maryland may vary based on the type of certification and the grade level or subject area you intend to teach. To find out which requirements are unique to your career path, schedule a free no-obligation conversation with a Moreland University admissions representative.
Download Moreland University’s “Guide to Teacher Certification in Maryland”.
Obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
As we mentioned above, most Maryland teaching certifications require a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree with exceptions for career, technical, and agricultural education fields. If you’re unsure whether your international degree is equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree, you can order an independent review prepared by a transcript evaluation agency to find out.
It’s important to note that your bachelor’s degree does not have to be in the field of education. However, whether your degree is in education determines your next steps toward becoming a teacher in Maryland. To help you navigate your 2024 Maryland teacher certification journey, we’ve outlined both paths below.
How to become a teacher in Maryland in 2024 if your bachelor’s degree IS NOT in education
Even without a bachelor’s degree in education, it is still possible to become a certified teacher in Maryland in 2024. With a little planning, scheduling, and knowledge, you can chart your way into a new career or ensure your current one this year. Here are the key steps to becoming a Maryland teacher in 2024:
- Complete a teacher certification program
If your bachelor’s degree is not in education, you will need to complete a teacher preparation program. This helps ensure you have the necessary skills and knowledge to qualify as a teacher.
If your goal is to become a Maryland teacher by the end of the year, you’ll need to pay close attention to program duration and start dates alongside program quality as you evaluate various teacher preparation programs. Keeping a calendar nearby during the search and consideration process can help you ensure ample time to complete the program requirements and other necessary steps in 2024.
Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW certification preparation program, for example, can be completed in 9 months. So if you start by March, you can complete the preparation program before the end of the year. If you start even sooner, you’ll have time to complete the program and the additional steps required to become a certified teacher in Maryland. Because the TEACH-NOW program is 100% online and offers monthly start dates, it’s a proven and successful way to become a teacher by the end of the year with just a little pre-planning.
- Pass the required exams
After you complete your teacher preparation program, there are some required exams you’ll need to pass to become a teacher in Maryland to demonstrate your content knowledge and teaching abilities.
The exact exams and additional requirements can vary depending on the specific teaching certification area you are pursuing, but they often include:
- A Basic Skills Test or Praxis Core
- The Praxis Subject Assessment
- The Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching
- Complete a background check
To become a teacher in Maryland, you’ll need to undergo a criminal background check, which includes fingerprinting (which is a standard requirement for teachers in the US). You can learn more about the background check process in Maryland here.
- Apply for your teaching license
Once you’ve completed your teaching preparation program and required exams, you’ll need to submit an application for teacher certification to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) via The Educator Application and Certification Hub (TEACH) account.
To become a teacher in Maryland, these are the documents you’ll need to submit:
- Passing scores on a Basic Skills test or a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on the most recently earned degree (teacher applicants only)
- Passing scores on the Content and Pedagogy test scores required for the area of certification you are seeking (if applicable)
- Your official transcripts
- Verification of completion of a teacher preparation program
- Completed application along with payment of non-refundable processing fees (A $10 processing fee is required for the initial certificate and for each certificate renewal/reinstatement thereafter)
Once you’ve submitted your application, it can take up to eight weeks to hear back. If you want to get your Maryland teaching license in 2024, you’ll want to reserve at least eight weeks at the end of the year to hear back about your license.
How to become a teacher in Maryland in 2024 if your bachelor’s degree IS in education
If you are looking to become a teacher in Maryland in 2024 and you have a four-year bachelor’s degree in education, you’ll just need to complete steps 3 and 4 outlined above.
Want to become a certified teacher in Maryland? Moreland University can help you get there.
Learn everything you need to know about becoming a certified teacher in Maryland. Then, schedule a free no-obligation conversation with a Moreland University admissions representative to learn more about how we can help you become a certified teacher in Maryland.
