What Maryland says
How this move starts
Maryland has an initial-licensure pathway for teachers with a bachelor's degree and a valid out-of-state professional license in the area sought, plus Maryland's applicable reading and performance evidence.
Where the state decides
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.
No blanket reciprocity claim
What this guide will not guess
A state pair alone cannot settle your exact credential, tests or timeline. Those answers can change with your license type, endorsements, preparation and experience. This page shows the reviewed Maryland rule; the move planner uses your teaching details to narrow the checklist.
Your Virginia record
Confirm exactly what you hold
Virginia's public query covers active state teaching and educator licenses. Applicants use Virginia Licensure Online, or VALO, for status, correspondence and documents.
- •Active teaching and educator licenses issued by the Virginia Board of Education
- •License and endorsement information included in the active record
- •State-issued active credentials, excluding local licenses
Compact check
Use the regular out-of-state path
This pair is not currently a two-member compact route. Maryland's out-of-state rules control.
Check compact eligibilityYour likely order
5 reviewed steps
- 01Create a TEACH licensure account and select the Maryland area sought
- 02Submit degree and valid out-of-state professional-license evidence
- 03Submit the reading-instruction assessment when the requested field requires it
- 04Provide an accepted performance assessment, evaluations or National Board evidence
- 05Submit the completed application and monitor TEACH for agency requests
What can change the answer
- 01Early childhood, elementary, generic special education and ESOL applicants have an additional reading-instruction assessment requirement
- 02The out-of-state professional license must be valid and in the area sought
- 03An employing Maryland school may issue a two-year nonrenewable Temporary Professional License when only Maryland assessments remain
- 04MSDE retains the final pathway and field determination
The records worth gathering first
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.
Virginia to Maryland questions
Does a Virginia teaching license automatically transfer to Maryland?
No. Your Virginia credential is evidence for the application, but Maryland State Department of Education decides which Maryland license, endorsements, tests and remaining conditions apply.
Can I use the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact from Virginia to Maryland?
This is not currently a move between two listed compact member states. Use Maryland's regular out-of-state pathway unless the destination agency tells you a different route applies.
What should I gather before applying in Maryland?
Start with your current Virginia license record, exact endorsements, preparation transcripts, experience verification and test history. Then follow the evidence requests in Maryland's application.
What does the TeachPassport move planner include?
It uses your credential, experience, subjects, grades and destination to prepare likely steps, reusable worksheets and official links. You can use it without an account or save the move.
Official sources
State material only