Teaching Areas may be added to an educator'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.
- 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.
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.)
