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Certification Renewal Requirements

Please note this page and related pages are currently being updated. Complete information is forthcoming.

Jump to: Certificate Requirements | Senior Teacher Waiver | Reading Requirements

It is the responsibility of the certificate holder review and know the certification renewal requirements for their current certificate and to complete renewal requirements, including the applicable application for certificate renewal in TEACH, prior to the expiration of their certificate. A complete certificate renewal request includes:

For a certificate to be considered continuous with no lapse, renewal course work must be completed prior to the expiration date of your certificate. There is no grace period or extension for completing renewal requirements. Failure to maintain a valid professional certificate may result in non-renewal of your employment contract.

Certificate Requirements

It is the individual’s responsibility to verify that the certificate renewal requirements below are met prior to the expiration of their current certificate.

Individuals Holding a Standard Professional I (SPC I) Certificate

*Credits must be earned within the five years immediately preceding the expiration date of your current certificate.

Individuals Holding a Standard Professional II (SPC II) Certificate

  • Review the MSDE renewal requirements to ensure you have met all certificate renewal requirements
  • Meet one of the following criteria:
    • Hold a conferred master’s degree*
    • Complete 36 post-baccalaureate credits* (minimum of 21 graduate level credits)
    • Hold a National Board Certification and 12 graduate-level credits*
  • Complete three years of satisfactory performance
  • Review the Professional Development Plan (PDP) instructions and form. A completed PDP form must be uploaded to the Continuing Education section of your application for renewal in TEACH for all individuals, including those eligible for the Senior Teacher Waiver, seeking renewal of their certificate.
  • Submit an application to renew your unexpired certificate in TEACH

*A minimum of six credits must be earned within the five years immediately preceding the expiration date of your current certificate.

Individuals Holding an Advanced Professional (APC) Certificate

  • Review the MSDE renewal requirements to ensure you have met all certificate renewal requirements
  • Complete six semester hours of acceptable credit*
  • Complete three years of satisfactory performance
  • Review the Professional Development Plan (PDP) instructions and form. A completed PDP form must be uploaded to the Continuing Education section of your application for renewal in TEACH for all individuals, including those eligible for the Senior Teacher Waiver, seeking renewal of their certificate.
  • Submit an application to renew your unexpired certificate in TEACH

*Credits must be earned within the five years immediately preceding the expiration date of your current certificate.

Senior Teacher Waiver

A certified individual employed by HCPSS at the time of the expiration of their current certificate may be eligible for the Senior Teacher Waiver of certification renewal credits if they meet the following criteria:

  • Individual has twenty-five (25) applicable years of experience; or
  • Individual is fifty-five (55) years of age or older

Individuals who terminate their permanent employment with HCPSS prior to the expiration of their certificate are no longer eligible for the Senior Teacher Waiver and must complete the complete renewal requirements per MSDE.

Note: Individuals holding a School Counselor certificate are required to meet MSDE’s School Counselor renewal requirements, regardless of eligibility for the Senior Teacher Waiver.

Reading Requirements

In July 1998, the State Board of Education increased the number of reading credits required for educator certification at all educational levels.

If more than six semester hours of reading coursework are needed to meet the Maryland reading requirement, the individual must submit six semester hours in reading within the first validity period of their certificate and the remaining semester hours during the second validity period.

Certificate holders with certification in early childhood education, elementary education, and special education Infant-3 and 1-8 are required to complete 12 semester hours of reading, to include:

  • Process and acquisition of reading skills
  • Methods of teaching reading
  • Reading assessment
  • Materials for teaching reading

Certificate holders with certification in a secondary content area, special education 6-Adult, PreK-12 disciplines and library media specialist are required to complete six semester hours of reading, to include:

  • Reading/Literacy in the Content Area – Part I
  • Reading/Literacy in the Content Area – Part II

Reading Coursework Alternative

Individuals holding a professional certificate in early childhood, elementary, or special education at the early childhood and/or elementary level(s) may opt to test out of the reading coursework requirement (12 semester hours) by meeting the qualifying score on the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) assessment.

This option is not available to individuals holding secondary content area, library media specialist or pre-K-12 content area certifications requiring six semester hours of reading credits.

Specialist, Administrator, and Supervisor Reading Coursework Requirement

Individuals certified in a Specialist (excluding Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist), Administrative, or Supervisory area listed below are not required to complete the Maryland reading requirements, unless they also hold a content area endorsement.

  • Administrator I/II (Supervisors of Instruction, Assistant Principals, and Principals)
  • Gifted & Talented Specialist
  • Library Media Administrator
  • Psychometrist
  • Pupil Personnel Worker
  • School Counselor
  • School Psychologist
  • School Social Worker
  • Supervisor of Guidance
  • Supervisor of Pupil Personnel
  • Supervisor of School Psychological Services
  • Supervisor of Special Education
  • Supervisor of Teachers of Hearing Impaired

Resources

Ancillary Credits

Completed reading coursework is documented on the individual’s educator certificate under Ancillary Credits.

Individuals holding a certificate in a specialist, administrator, or supervisory area who do not hold a certification in Generic Special Education are required to complete three semester hours of special education as part of the regular renewal requirements.