The usual steps
- Create a TEACH licensure account and select the Maryland area sought
- Submit degree and valid out-of-state professional-license evidence
- Submit the reading-instruction assessment when the requested field requires it
- Provide an accepted performance assessment, evaluations or National Board evidence
- Submit the completed application and monitor TEACH for agency requests
What can change your path
- • Early childhood, elementary, generic special education and ESOL applicants have an additional reading-instruction assessment requirement
- • The out-of-state professional license must be valid and in the area sought
- • An employing Maryland school may issue a two-year nonrenewable Temporary Professional License when only Maryland assessments remain
- • MSDE retains the final pathway and field determination
What the state says
These facts come from official sources. The state agency still makes the final licensing decision.
Professional-license route
The out-of-state professional-license pathway requires a bachelor's degree or higher and a valid professional license from another state or country in the Maryland area requested.
Assessment alternatives
Applicants must provide an accepted performance measure, while specified early-childhood, elementary, special-education and ESOL fields also require an approved reading-instruction assessment.
Core evidence
Core evidence includes the degree, valid out-of-state professional license, requested-area alignment, reading score when applicable and an accepted portfolio, evaluation or National Board record.
Published processing target
MSDE states that completed applications are processed within eight weeks of submission; incomplete or fact-specific reviews can take longer.
Why your details matter
State websites describe the possible routes. The right one for you can depend on your license, preparation, experience, subjects, grades, tests, National Board status and compact eligibility. TeachPassport uses those details to build your checklist and keeps checking the state’s rules.
One thing to know: The requested field determines whether a reading-instruction assessment is required, and the performance requirement can be met through an accepted portfolio assessment, evaluations, National Board certification or a qualifying Maryland evaluation.