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Renewal

​How do I renew my Maryland Teaching Certificate?

An applicant who receives a certificate is responsible for initiating the renewal of the certificate.

  1. If you are under contract in a Maryland local school system, a non-public school providing services to special education students, or a State institution, your renewal request will be processed by your employer.

  2. If you are not currently employed in a local school ​ system, non-public school providing services to special education students, or a State institution, please submit the following within 90 days of certificate expiration:

    • ​A cover letter requesting a renewal of your certificate. Please include your full name, email address, last 4 digits of your social security number, and telephone number;
    • Six semester hours of acceptable credit*
*​Acceptable credit is credit that is:
  • Earned or taught at a regionally accredited college/university or through Maryland approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits​; and
  • Related to a school assignment; and
  • Earned within 5 years immediately preceding the date the certificate is issued​​; and
  • Earned in required reading course work if not      already completed (teaching areas only).

Those educators who hold a license from another Maryland agency or national organization may submit the credits used to renew that license, along with a copy of said license, to renew their Maryland Educator Certificate.  

To request a renewal of your certificate, please submit the following:
  • A cover letter with your name, mailing address, last 4 digits of your social security number, date of birth and personal email address.
  •  Official transcript(s) in an unopened mailer or MSDE Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits earned within the past five (5) years.  
  • Please do not submit a payment with your renewal request.  The Certification Branch will notify you when it is time to make a payment.

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.​​)

​​​Renewal requirements are outlined in
 COMAR 13A.12.01.11​​​​

Renewal Requirements- PDF

​Attention School Counselors:

On October 6, 2016, regulations were adopted that established additional renewal/reinstatement requirements for school counselors.

Upon renewal/reinstatement of a certificate in school counseling, an individual must present 6 acceptable credits, which shall include:

  • One semester hour of coursework; or
  • One CPD; or
  • An equivalent number of CEUs that addresses the following:
  1. The need for intervention or referral in response to indicators of mental illness and behavioral distress, including, but not limited to:
    • Depression;
    • Trauma;
    • Violence;
    • Youth Suicide; and
    • Substance Abuse.
  2. The identification of professional resources and best practices for distributing resources to parents or guardians to help students in crisis.

Policy allows school counselors who currently hold a valid certificate one full renewal cycle prior to having to meet this requirement. Those who were issued a certificate on or after January 1, 2017 and choose to accelerate the renewal of their certificate to the next professional level must present the requirements outlined above.

Visit our School Counselor Renewal Requirements page for more information.


Attention Teachers of the Blind/Visually Impaired:

If you hold a certification in the area of Blind/Visually Impaired, credit toward renewal must include maintenance of knowledge of Braille code.