{"id":6992,"date":"2026-06-05T09:48:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T09:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/praxis\/?p=6992"},"modified":"2026-06-22T07:15:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:15:01","slug":"maryland-teaching-certificate-renewal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/praxis\/maryland-teaching-certificate-renewal","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Teaching Certificate Renewal: Requirements, Steps & Fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Maryland teaching license is not a lifetime credential. Every Maryland professional educator license has a finite validity period \u2014 currently five years \u2014 and must be renewed before expiration to remain in good standing and legally qualified to teach in Maryland public schools. The renewal system is designed to ensure that Maryland educators remain current in their professional knowledge, pedagogy, and cultural competency throughout their careers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maryland’s renewal framework underwent its most significant transformation in years on April 1, 2024, when the MSDE implemented new COMAR 13A.12 licensure regulations that converted the former certificate-based system to a license-based system, redefined renewal requirements, and established clearer procedures for advancement. The core renewal mechanism \u2014 90 Professional Development Points (PDPs) submitted with an Individualized Professional Development Plan (IPDP) \u2014 remained consistent, but the April 2024 changes clarified how historical certificates convert to new licenses and established a transition framework for existing certificate holders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting July 1, 2025, additional renewal requirements took effect for educators in early childhood, elementary, generic special education, and ESOL \u2014 requiring demonstration of science of reading proficiency at renewal. This is one of the most significant substantive renewal requirement changes in recent years and affects a large portion of Maryland’s teacher workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n

This Prepsaret<\/a> guide covers every aspect of Maryland teaching certificate renewal from primary sources: the MSDE Renewal and Advancement page, the MSDE IPDP document (March 2024), the HCPSS Licensure Renewal Requirements page, the MSDE Educator Licensure Overview (April 2024), the Calvert County Procedure 6120.1, Model Teaching Maryland PD requirements, and Teaching Channel’s Maryland renewal guide.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Maryland Teaching Certificate Renewal \u2014 The Essential Facts<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VALIDITY: Professional licenses (IPL, PL, APL) are valid for 5 years.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TWO PATHWAYS TO RENEW: (1) Earn or maintain National Board Certification (NBCT) within the validity period, OR (2) Submit an IPDP demonstrating 90 PDPs that include a minimum of 1 hour in each of four required topic areas.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FOUR REQUIRED TOPIC AREAS: Content\/pedagogy in your license area; ESL\/Sheltered English\/Bilingual Education; Strategies for students with disabilities or differentiated instruction; Culturally Responsive Teaching or Diverse Student Identities.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PDP MATH: 1 contact hour = 1 PDP; 1 semester credit hour = 15 PDPs; 1 CEU = 10 PDPs.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SCIENCE OF READING (July 2025): Early Childhood, Elementary, Generic SpEd, and ESOL educators employed in Maryland LEAs must demonstrate science of reading proficiency at renewal.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IPDP: Required at renewal; developed at license issuance; supervisor approval required within 6 months of license issuance for LEA-employed educators.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
APPLY THROUGH TEACH: All renewals submitted through the TEACH Dashboard at certificationhub.msde.maryland.gov; $10 fee.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sources: MSDE Renewal and Advancement page (marylandpublicschools.org); MSDE IPDP Document (March 15, 2024); HCPSS Renewal Requirements page.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Maryland Certificate Renewal: Key Numbers<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5 yrs<\/b><\/p>\n

License Validity Period<\/b><\/p>\n

IPL, PL, APL \u2014 MSDE Renewal page<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

90<\/b><\/p>\n

Professional Development Points<\/b><\/p>\n

Required per 5-year cycle \u2014 MSDE<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

4<\/b><\/p>\n

Mandatory PDP Topic Areas<\/b><\/p>\n

Minimum 1 hr each \u2014 MSDE Renewal<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

July 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

Science of Reading Deadline<\/b><\/p>\n

New renewal req. \u2014 Elementary\/SpEd\/ESOL<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
15<\/b><\/p>\n

PDPs per Semester Credit Hour<\/b><\/p>\n

1 hr = 1 PDP; 1 CEU = 10 PDPs<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

NBCT<\/b><\/p>\n

Renews Without PDPs<\/b><\/p>\n

National Board Cert = full renewal<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

$10<\/b><\/p>\n

MSDE Renewal Fee<\/b><\/p>\n

Per MSDE; TEACH portal payment<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

IPDP<\/b><\/p>\n

Required Document<\/b><\/p>\n

Submit with TEACH renewal application<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: MSDE Renewal and Advancement page (marylandpublicschools.org\/about\/Pages\/DEE\/Certification\/Renewal.aspx) \u2014 5-yr validity; 90 PDPs; 4 mandatory topic areas; NBCT option; IPDP required; HCPSS Licensure Renewal Requirements page (hcpss.org) \u2014 4 topic areas and additional requirements; Model Teaching Maryland PD page (modelteaching.com, Feb 18, 2026) \u2014 PDP math conversions (1 hr=1 PDP; 1 semester hr=15 PDPs; 1 CEU=10 PDPs); Science of Reading July 2025 effective; Calvert County Procedure 6120.1 \u2014 90 PDPs per 5-yr cycle; grades C+ only; Montgomery County RTC page \u2014 $10 MSDE fee.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Legal Foundation: COMAR 13A.12 and the April 2024 Reforms<\/b><\/h2>\n

Maryland teaching license renewal is governed by the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), Title 13A, Subtitle 12 \u2014 Education Personnel. The renewal requirements are administered by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Educator Effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n