How to Become a Teacher in Maryland: Certification Requirements
Here's how to become a teacher in Maryland: earn a bachelor's degree, complete an approved preparation program or another statutory pathway, and pass the subject-specific assessment(s) required for the license you're seeking. Since July 1, 2025, candidates also complete a portfolio-based or induction teaching-performance requirement. Career-changers with a degree in another field can use Maryland's alternative licensure pathways. MSDE issues every license.
If you're researching how to become a teacher in Maryland, the process runs through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Most candidates complete a bachelor's degree, an approved preparation program, the subject-specific assessments tied to their license, and, since July 1, 2025, a portfolio-based or induction teaching-performance requirement. Career-changers who already hold a bachelor's degree have a faster alternative path. The shape of it follows the same state-by-state certification path you'll find in most states, just with Maryland's own names and deadlines attached. Here's how each piece works.
Choose What You Want to Teach
Before anything else, decide the age range and subject you want in front of you every day. If you gravitate toward one subject, secondary certification in that content area makes sense. If you'd rather cover several subjects with the same group of kids, elementary certification is the better fit. The Maryland State Department of Education publishes district and school-level data that can help you see where the openings actually are. If you're weighing Maryland against a neighboring state, our guides to how to become a teacher in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. cover the same ground for each.
Complete a Degree and an Approved Preparation Program
Most paths to a Maryland teaching license start with a bachelor's degree and an MSDE-approved teacher preparation program completed at an accredited college or university. Career and technical education routes work differently: they can lean on relevant work experience alongside a shorter preparation sequence, so a four-year education degree isn't always the requirement there.
Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
Which route you take depends on the education and experience you're starting with. Completing an MSDE-approved preparation program at an accredited institution is the standard route to a Maryland teaching license, though the state's regulations also provide other statutory pathways for candidates coming from different backgrounds. In a traditional program, coursework typically covers pedagogy, content-specific teaching methods, differentiated instruction, and assessment. The fieldwork half is where it gets real: classroom observation, then student teaching or an internship under a mentor teacher, where you're planning lessons, grading, and talking with parents like it's your own classroom, because for a few months a week, it is.
Alternative Certification in Maryland
If you already have a bachelor's degree in something other than education, Maryland's alternative preparation programs let you start teaching and drawing a paycheck sooner, usually under a mentor, while you finish coursework and testing on the side. These programs lead to a license, not necessarily a second degree, and the compressed timeline is demanding. They're built for people who can't afford to step away from work to go back to school full time, and the classroom is held to the same standard either way.
Meet Maryland's Testing and Performance Requirements
Subject-Specific Assessments
Required assessments vary by the license and endorsement you're pursuing, and by which pathway you're taking to get there. Your preparation program will confirm exactly which subject-specific assessment(s) apply to your certification area. Pass the assessment(s) required for the license you're seeking, and MSDE won't move your application forward without that score on file.
Teaching-Performance Requirement
Beginning July 1, 2025, Maryland added a statutory teaching-ability requirement to initial licensure. Qualifying program completers satisfy it through either an approved portfolio-based assessment or a qualifying induction pathway, on top of the subject-specific assessment(s) required for their license. Ask your preparation program which option fits your situation.
Apply for Your Maryland Teaching Certificate
Once you've cleared your preparation program and your exams, you'll submit your application materials to MSDE.
Application Requirements
- Official transcripts from all coursework
- Verification of a completed teacher preparation program at an accredited school
- Passing scores for your required certification exams
- A cover letter with your name, mailing address, and the certification area you're seeking
- Completed application and the non-refundable processing fee
Contact Information
Maryland State Department of Education, Certification Branch, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Phone: (410) 767-0412.
Reciprocity for Out-of-State Teachers
Already licensed in another state? Maryland provides distinct pathways for candidates who hold an out-of-state preparation credential or license, and exactly what applies to you depends on your specific credential and experience. If you hold an out-of-state license but haven't yet submitted Maryland test scores, a Temporary Professional license can let you begin teaching while you complete Maryland's requirements. Submit your credentials to MSDE for an evaluation of which pathway fits your situation.
Find a Teaching Job in Maryland
Once your application clears, you're ready to start your career as a certified teacher in Maryland.
Public School Jobs
Maryland keeps teacher postings open and continuous rather than tied to a single hiring season, so you can apply once you're certified rather than waiting for a specific window. The state maintains listings at marylandpublicschools.org, and individual county school systems post their own openings as well.
NEA and AFT-Maryland
Once you're hired, you'll have the option to join the Maryland State Education Association (NEA) or the American Federation of Teachers-Maryland (AFT-Maryland). Both offer support on labor and legal issues, plus professional development and networking.
Retirement Benefits for Teachers
Public school teachers here draw a pension through mandatory contributions to the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System. Supplemental options also exist through the Maryland Teachers & State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans. A financial planner who knows educator retirement plans is worth the conversation before you assume you know how the numbers work.
Private School Jobs
Maryland's private schools are hiring too: more than 800 of them serve roughly 158,000 students statewide, often with smaller class sizes than you'd find in a comparable public school classroom.
Where the Need Is Greatest
MSDE's Teacher Shortage Area list for the 2021-2022 school year flagged these subjects and grade bands as high-need in Maryland. This list is a few years old. Ask MSDE directly for the current-year list if you're weighing subject areas based on demand:
- Career and Technical Education, grades 7-12
- Special Education, all exceptionalities, PreK-12
- World Languages (Spanish, French), PreK-12
- Biological Sciences, grades 7-12
- Family and Consumer Sciences, grades 7-12
- Business Education, grades 7-12
- ESOL, PreK-12
- Chemistry, grades 7-12
- Mathematics (basic and advanced), grades 7-12
- Elementary Education, grades 1-6
- English, grades 7-12
- Early Childhood, PreK-3
- Computer Science, grades 7-12
How Many Teachers Maryland Employs, by Grade Band
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland employed roughly 29,610 elementary school teachers, 14,530 middle school teachers, and 16,640 secondary school teachers as of May 2025, plus 1,560 kindergarten teachers counted separately in the state's data. Special education added another 6,900 teachers across preschool through secondary grades.
| Grade Level | Employment (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,560 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 29,610 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and CTE | 14,530 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and CTE | 16,640 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 2,760 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 1,540 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 1,560 |
Continue Your Education and Professional Development
Teachers who keep learning tend to keep growing in the classroom. MSDE sets the guidelines for professional development in Maryland, and it's worth building a habit of it rather than treating it as a box to check every renewal cycle.
Professional Development in Maryland
MSDE publishes its professional development guidelines directly, and teachers register for opportunities through the state's Blackboard portal. Groups like the Council of Educational Administrative and Supervisory Organizations of Maryland (CEASOM), the Maryland Society for Educational Technology (MSET), and the Maryland Assessment Group (MAG) are worth knowing too. If you have questions, MSDE's Instructional Assessment and Professional Development office is the right place to start.
Advance Your Maryland Teaching License
Maryland's license structure moves through three main tiers, with a Temporary Professional license available in specific circumstances, including for some out-of-state applicants (see Reciprocity above).
Step 1. The Initial Professional Teacher License is issued once you've met Maryland's initial licensure requirements, including the applicable subject-specific assessment(s) and the teaching-performance requirement. It's a renewable five-year credential.
Step 2. The Professional Teacher License is the next renewable five-year tier, issued once you've built qualifying experience under the Initial Professional License.
Step 3. The Advanced Professional Teacher License is Maryland's highest tier. You qualify after meeting Professional License requirements and completing one of the following: a master's degree or higher, at least 30 semester hours of post-baccalaureate coursework, or National Board Certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to become a teacher in Maryland?
Most traditional routes require a bachelor's degree and an MSDE-approved teacher preparation program. Career and technical education certification can work differently, sometimes drawing on relevant work experience instead of a traditional four-year education degree.
Can I become a teacher in Maryland without an education degree?
Yes. If you hold a bachelor's degree in another field, Maryland's alternative preparation pathways let you begin teaching under a mentor while you complete the remaining coursework and testing.
What tests do I need to pass for Maryland teacher certification?
Required assessments depend on the license and endorsement you're pursuing, and your preparation program will confirm which subject-specific assessment(s) apply to you. Since July 1, 2025, candidates also satisfy a teaching-performance requirement through an approved portfolio assessment or a qualifying induction pathway.
Can I transfer my out-of-state teaching license to Maryland?
Maryland provides distinct pathways for candidates who hold an out-of-state preparation credential or license, and what applies to you depends on your specific credential and experience. Submit your credentials to MSDE for an evaluation of which pathway fits, rather than assuming automatic transfer.
How much do teachers in Maryland get paid?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $77,680 as of May 2025, with middle school teachers at $78,510 and high school teachers at $78,670. Actual pay depends heavily on your county's salary schedule and where you land on it.
- One agency, several pathways - MSDE issues every Maryland teaching license, but the exact mix of preparation, testing, and performance requirements depends on the license and pathway you're pursuing.
- Alternative routes exist - career-changers with a non-education bachelor's degree can use Maryland's alternative preparation pathways to start teaching while finishing requirements.
- Testing is license-specific - required subject-specific assessments vary by endorsement and pathway, and since July 1, 2025, candidates also complete a portfolio-based or induction teaching-performance requirement.
- Three license tiers - the Initial Professional Teacher License leads to the Professional Teacher License, then the Advanced Professional Teacher License, which requires a master's degree, 30 post-baccalaureate credit hours, or National Board Certification.
- Out-of-state credential holders have distinct pathways - including a Temporary Professional license for those who haven't yet submitted Maryland test scores.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Maryland Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers. Job growth projections (2024-2034) for Maryland are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central, citing the Maryland Department of Labor as the state source. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.
Certification requirements are only half the decision: the other half is finding a preparation program that fits how you need to study. The sponsored programs on this page include options built for career-changers who already hold a degree in another field.