Alternative Teaching Certification in Maryland
Maryland’s Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) lets candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any field start teaching while completing a Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program (MAAPP). Candidates qualify by passing a Basic Skills exam and Praxis II, or meeting GPA and coursework benchmarks, then complete a supervised internship before earning the RTC, valid for up to two years, on the way to a Standard Professional Certificate I.
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You don’t need a degree in education to teach in a Maryland public school. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, you can qualify for Maryland’s alternative teaching certification route and start earning a salary in the classroom while you finish the rest of the requirements.
This route fits several kinds of candidates: career changers with a non-education bachelor’s degree, ex-military members transitioning to civilian work, and recent college graduates who want to start teaching right away instead of completing a traditional education program first. If any of these describe you, you’re a candidate for Maryland’s alternative teaching certification.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Maryland.
Not ready to commit to a full alternative certification program yet? Maryland’s substitute teaching license offers a lower-commitment way to get classroom experience first.
Use the links below to jump to eligibility requirements, exam information, the internship and certification timeline, background check steps, and program contacts.
- Education requirements for Maryland’s alternative route
- Examinations required for MAAPP entry
- Internship and certification progression
- Criminal history background check
- Contact information for Maryland alternative certification programs
Education Requirements for Maryland’s Alternative Route
To qualify for Maryland’s alternative teaching certification route, you must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in any field other than education, and then satisfy one of the following:
- Pass a qualifying examination (listed below) and hold an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher
- Complete a major matching the area in which you seek certification with a GPA of 2.75 or higher in that major
- Complete 30 hours of study in the certification area, regardless of your major, with a GPA of 2.75 or higher in those 30 credit hours
Once you’ve satisfied one of these paths, you qualify for entrance into a Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program (MAAPP). Most MAAPPs run in partnership with a local school system, and MSDE notes that alternative preparation leads to teacher certification, but not necessarily to a degree. Some programs are structured to also lead to a graduate certificate or a master’s degree, so ask any program you’re considering exactly what credential you’ll walk away with.
Montgomery County Public Schools runs one example of this model through Montgomery College: the Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers (ACET) program pairs career changers with a residency year in an MCPS secondary school while they complete coursework toward the Standard Professional Certificate I. Each school system that participates in MAAPP sets its own program name and specific entry requirements, so check with the district where you want to teach.
Examinations Required for MAAPP Entry
If you choose the examination path to satisfy MAAPP’s educational requirement, you’ll need to pass a Basic Skills exam, now called the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Praxis Core), or an accepted alternative like the SAT, ACT, or GRE. You’ll also need to pass a Praxis II subject assessment in the specific content area where you want to be certified. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) sets the passing score benchmarks for each test, so confirm current cut scores with your MAAPP coordinator before you register.
Internship and Certification Progression
Every MAAPP requires an internship through the local school system supporting your program. Internships typically run four to eight weeks, though the exact length and structure depend on your specific school system and program, so confirm the timeline with your MAAPP coordinator.
After you complete the internship, your superintendent requests a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) on your behalf. The RTC is valid for up to two years, isn’t transferable to another Maryland school system or state, and lets you teach while you finish any remaining MAAPP coursework. From there, you transition from an RTC to a Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC-I) once you’ve completed the MAAPP program requirements, passed all necessary Praxis II exams, met the reading requirement, and been evaluated by your school’s principal. Exact evaluation and coursework benchmarks can vary somewhat by local school system, so check your specific program’s checklist.
Criminal History Background Check
Once a Maryland school system hires you, you’ll need to submit to a criminal history background check. Your school system provides an Application for Criminal History Records Check from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and you’ll also need to sign a Disclosure Statement covering any criminal history.
As part of the background check, you’ll submit fingerprints through one of the approved Maryland fingerprinting locations and pay the associated fees. Your application is processed through the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and the results are forwarded to MSDE.
Contact Information for Maryland Alternative Certification Programs
For more information about Maryland’s alternative teaching certification programs, contact one of the state-approved MAAPPs or the Maryland State Department of Education’s certification office at 410-767-0390 or [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching degree to qualify for Maryland’s alternative certification route?
No. You need a bachelor’s degree in any field, plus either a qualifying exam score and a 2.75 GPA, a matching major with that GPA, or 30 credit hours in the certification area. The degree itself doesn’t need to be in education.
How long does Maryland’s Resident Teacher Certificate last?
The RTC is valid for up to two years and isn’t transferable to another Maryland school system or another state. It covers you while you complete your MAAPP coursework and required exams, after which your superintendent can request the Standard Professional Certificate I on your behalf.
What exams do I need to pass for MAAPP entry?
A Basic Skills exam, now called the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, or an accepted alternative like the SAT, ACT, or GRE, plus a Praxis II subject assessment in your certification content area. Some candidates skip the exam route entirely by meeting the GPA and coursework alternatives instead.
Can I earn a salary while completing my Maryland alternative certification program?
Yes. Once you hold a Resident Teacher Certificate, you teach as a paid employee of your school system while finishing your remaining MAAPP requirements.
What happens after I complete my MAAPP internship?
Your superintendent recommends you for the Resident Teacher Certificate. From there, you work toward the Standard Professional Certificate I by finishing your coursework, passing your Praxis II exams, meeting the reading requirement, and getting a principal evaluation.
- A non-education bachelor’s degree still qualifies you — Maryland’s alternative route accepts any bachelor’s degree, not just one in education.
- Two paths to MAAPP entry — pass a Basic Skills exam and Praxis II with a 2.75 GPA, or meet the matching-major or 30-credit-hour coursework alternative.
- The RTC lets you teach while you finish requirements — you earn a salary as a Resident Teacher for up to two years while completing coursework, exams, and evaluations.
- A background check follows hiring — fingerprinting and a Disclosure Statement go through the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
- MSDE oversees every MAAPP — the Maryland State Department of Education approves each program and reviews your transition from RTC to Standard Professional Certificate I.
Find accredited alternative teacher certification programs in Maryland, including MAAPP-approved pathways and application requirements for your certification area.
