Alternative Teacher Certification in Maryland

Maryland alternative certification requirements, step by step

Each requirement below is stated as Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Educator Licensure publishes it, with the governing source cited.

1. 1

   Enroll in a Maryland-approved alternative preparation program

   Complete a Maryland-approved alternative teacher preparation program holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Alternative programs integrate coursework, mentoring, and performance assessment requirements.

   Source: marylandpublicschools.org

2. 2

   Obtain a Resident Teacher License (RTL)

   A local school system, State-operated school, or nonpublic special education program issues a three-year non-renewable Resident Teacher License to a candidate enrolled in an alternative preparation program who is employed as a teacher.

   Source: marylandpublicschools.org

3. 3

   Complete program and assessment requirements while teaching

   Finish alternative program coursework, mentoring, Praxis content and reading assessments, and pedagogy performance assessment (edTPA, PPAT, or approved portfolio) while serving under the RTL or Conditional License.

   Source: marylandpublicschools.org

4. 4

   Conditional License option for employed teachers

   Local systems may issue a Conditional License (three-year non-renewable for special education, five-year for other areas) to employed teachers working toward professional licensure who have not yet met all requirements.

   Source: marylandpublicschools.org

5. 5

   Apply for Initial Professional License via TEACH

   Upon completing the alternative program and all assessments, apply through TEACH for the five-year Initial Professional License.

   Source: marylandpublicschools.org

Maryland's alternate route is employer-issued rather than candidate-applied for the employment credential itself. Resident Teacher Licenses are three-year non-renewable documents issued by local school systems, State-operated schools, or nonpublic special education programs—not by MSDE directly—to candidates enrolled in approved alternative preparation while teaching. That LEA gatekeeping means district hiring decisions precede formal alternate enrollment.

Conditional Licenses provide a parallel bridge for employed teachers working toward professional status who do not fit RTL criteria. Special education Conditional Licenses run three years non-renewable; other teaching areas receive five-year non-renewable Conditional Licenses. Both require active employment and documented progress toward IPL requirements.

Assessment stacks mirror the traditional pipeline without shortcuts. Alternate route candidates face Praxis Core, content tests, reading instruction assessments in applicable areas, and pedagogy performance evidence through edTPA, PPAT, or approved portfolios. Career changers expecting content tests alone to suffice will find Maryland's performance assessment requirement unchanged by route type.

Content-expertise transcript analysis pathways (Fine Arts and Secondary Content) offer additional entry options for candidates with demonstrated subject expertise plus 21 semester hours of professional coursework and portfolio or evaluation-based performance evidence. These sit alongside—not instead of—formal alternative programs for most endorsement areas.

Required exams and fees

Maryland uses Praxis Core/content, pedagogy performance assessments (edTPA, PPAT, or Maryland-approved portfolio), and reading instruction assessments. Fees and cut scores appear only when published by the cited source (as of August 2026).

Full Maryland exam requirements →

Moving a license to Maryland

Alternate-route RTL and Conditional Licenses are issued by Maryland employers to enrolled program candidates, not transferred from out-of-state alternate credentials. Out-of-state teachers use the Out-of-State Professional License pathway with reading assessment and experience/portfolio options.

Official Maryland reciprocity guidance