TEACHERS
Additional teaching areas may be added to a Teacher's certificate by meeting one of the following requirements:
1. Credit Count
- For elementary or early childhood education, obtains 30 credits distributed across the four content areas of English, social studies, math, and science, with at least 6 credits in each content area
- For secondary, middle school, or prek-12 education, obtains 30 credits at least 15 of which are in the area for which the new certification is sought and 15 of which are in content-related areas
- For special education, obtains 30 credits of which at least 15 credits are in the age-appropriate area of special education and 15 are in related areas
To request an endorsement via credit count, please submit the following:
- A cover letter with your name, mailing address, last 4 digits of your social security number, date of birth, personal email address, and the area of certification you are seeking.
- Official transcript(s) in an unopened mailer (if not previously submitted) for all course work taken (community college, baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, if applicable) Student copies in an unopened mailer are also acceptable.
2. Passing the Praxis Content Assessment
- Obtain a qualifying score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on the content-specific tests required for certification
To request an endorsement via test, please submit the following:
- A cover letter with your name, mailing address, last 4 digits of your social security number, date of birth, personal email address, and the area of certification you are seeking.
- Score report showing qualifying scores on the Praxis content or ACTFL content assessment.
To add an Administrator or Specialist area to a Teaching certificate, the individual must meet the requirements specific to that area.
ADMINISTRATORS AND SPECIALISTS
To add an endorsement to an Administrator or Specialist certificate, the individual must meet the requirements specific to that area.
Documents may be mailed to:
Maryland State Department of Education
Certification Branch
200 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Document may be sent electronically to certdocuments.msde@maryland.gov
(Transcripts must come to this address directly from the Institute of Higher Education or an e-transcript service. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted.)