EDCI UNDERGRADUATE Training Programs
HOW DO I BECOME CERTIFIED TO TEACH?
One of the most frequent questions that we are asked is "how do I get certified?"
Here at the University of Maryland at College Park, the College of Education has only three types of certification programs available:
- Undergraduate degree program
- One year Master's Certification program
- Certification program in our graduate (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program.
If you already have an undergraduate degree in a field other than education, either of these three options is available to you.
There is one option which is not mentioned above AND WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE AT UMCP- and that is Credit Count Certification. Credit Count Certification is a method of certification where you only take those credits as determined by Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) that you need for certification. In some instances those may be only 18 hours of Education credits which include:
- Child or Adolescent Development
- Human Learning
- Teaching Methodology
- Inclusion of Diverse Student Populations; and
- Assessment of Students
50% of this course work needs to be done at the same institution. There is also a requirement for either supervised student teaching experience or one year of satisfactory full-time teaching in a public or accredited nonpublic school setting at the appropriate age or grade level in the subject area for which the applicant is seeking certification.
To see if you meet the minimum course requirements for certification visit to the MSDE certification website.
There are colleges and universities in the state of Maryland which have alternative certification programs.
You may also obtain a second undergraduate Degree here at the University
of Maryland.
The University of Maryland at College Park does not allow students
to take our professional courses without being a degree seeking
student and admitted to our selective admissions
major.
"The Maryland State Department of Education issues certificates to teach in the public schools of the state. In addition to graduation from an approved program such as the one offered by the College, the Maryland State Department of Education requires passing scores on the Praxis I and Praxis II exams for certification. (Please check the MSDE website for exact requirements.)
The Maryland State Department of Education also may consider the criminal history of each applicant and may deny certification in the event an applicant has a conviction for a crime of violence or a crime against children. Following graduation, the College provides the Maruyland State Department of Education with a list of all students who have satisfactorily completed the approved teacher education program for purposes of their consideration for certification."