How To Become a Teacher Online in Maryland

You can become a teacher online in Maryland by earning a bachelor's degree, passing a background check, completing a teacher preparation program, and becoming certified.

If you have a passion for continuous learning, desire job security, and want to make a difference, then becoming a teacher may be the right path. Before becoming a teacher in Maryland, you must meet the Maryland teacher certification requirements.

You can become a teacher online as obtaining licensure in Maryland can be done mostly online from the comfort of your home. This benefits people with busy schedules who want to start their educational career at their own pace. For those looking for a more affordable option, there's even ways to become a teacher for free online as well.

Steps for Becoming a Teacher Online in Maryland

You must complete several requirements, which are set by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), before applying for a Maryland teaching license. Many of these requirements can be completed online but some require you to attend in person.

Here are the steps for becoming a teacher online in Maryland.

1. Determine Your Area of Focus

Determining your area of focus is the first step to becoming a teacher. Decide what subjects you want to teach and what kind of work environment you would like. Some examples of work environments for teachers include:

• public school
• private school
• online school

Some areas for teachers to work in are:

• elementary education or early childhood education
• secondary education (middle school or high school)
• higher education

2. Gain a Bachelor's Degree Online

The state of Maryland requires school teachers to have a bachelor's degree. Luckily, many accredited institutions in Maryland provide online bachelor's degree programs to prepare you for a teaching career.

Teaching degrees are highly recommended but not mandatory for teachers. You can look into affordable online education degrees before deciding to earn a non-education degree. However, many majors can prepare you for a career in education, such as:

• psychology
• English
• liberal studies
• history

If you don't pursue a teaching degree, pursue a degree in a subject you want to teach or specialize in.

3. Pass a Background Check

Aspiring teachers in Maryland must submit to a background check that involves fingerprinting and an extensive criminal background check. The background check ensures the safety of students, teachers, and the school.

During the criminal background check, the state will check if you have any criminal charges, sexual offenses, child abuse offenses, and more. This background check must be completed every five years with a child protective services clearance every two years.

4. Participate in a Teacher Preparation Program

All educators must complete a Maryland-approved educator preparation program. Many colleges and universities provide teacher preparation programs as part of their education degree programs.

Teacher education programs help aspiring teachers with professional development and provide practical experience. A full list of state-approved teacher preparation programs can be found on the Maryland.gov website.

5. Pass Maryland Required Teaching Tests

One of the most important requirements of becoming a teacher in Maryland is completing required teaching tests. Students in Maryland teacher preparation programs must complete these exams whether they are in a traditional or an alternative program.

Basic Skills Assessments

The Basic Skills Assessments mainly test your reading and writing skills. These exams can be taken on Praxis and include these exams:

• Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
• Praxis I: PPST/CPPST

Subject Area Content

Another assessment required by Maryland is the Subject Area Content assessment. Some of the assessments included are:

• Art: Content and Analysis
• Business Education: Content Knowledge
• Teaching Reading: Elementary Education
• Biology: Content Knowledge

Pedagogy

You must submit the edTPA, PPAT, or the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching as part of the pedagogy assessment. While the edTPA and PPAT don't require a specific score, the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam does.

The scores for the Praxis exam depend on the licensure area and test type. Here are some examples of licensure areas for pedagogy assessments:

• Art PreK-12
• Biology 7-12
• Business Education 7-12
• Chemistry 7-12

6. Complete Required Student Teaching Hours

According to the Maryland State Department of Education, candidates in a licensure program must complete a practicum experience. The practicum experience must be completed in a state-approved school where the candidate instructs and manages classrooms for at least 100 hours.

7. Obtain Teaching Certification

You can apply for teaching licensure once you have completed all the requirements and gotten enough teaching experience. Visit the Educator Application and Credentialing Hub (TEACH) to apply.

Once you visit this website, create a profile and start your licensure application. Check back on the hub for your application status and print out your certificate.

Online Bachelor's Programs for Aspiring Teachers in Maryland

Several accredited institutions in Maryland offer online bachelor's degree programs. Many of these are teacher certification programs to fast-track your becoming a certified teacher.

While teaching programs are highly recommended, they are not mandatory to becoming an educator. Ensure you choose a degree that aligns with your teaching area of focus.

University of Maryland Global Campus � BA in History

Professional historians teach and develop the Bachelor of Arts in history at the University of Maryland Global Campus. If history interests you and you are considering teaching it, this is a great degree for you.

Some of the core courses in this degree program include:

• Western Civilization I & II
• Historical Methods
• Historical Writing
• World History I & II

Morgan State University � BS in Applied Liberal Studies

Morgan State University's online Bachelor of Science in applied liberal studies is a flexible program. This degree program is great for aspiring teachers because of its interdisciplinary approach and focus on cultural and historical awareness.

Some of the skills applied liberal studies majors can expect to learn are:

• critical thinking skills
• research skills
• understanding of ethics

Coppin State University � BS in Early Childhood Human Development

Coppin State University's Bachelor of Science in early childhood human development prepares students to become teachers by exposing them to classroom environments. This degree program focuses on providing students with knowledge of human development, teaching challenges, and learning principles.

Core courses include:

• African American History I & II
• Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurial Economics
• Child Growth and Physiological Development
• Principles and Practicum in Early Childhood

What Is a Conditional Teaching Certificate in Maryland?

Candidates who haven't met all teaching licensure requirements may be issued a Maryland State Department of Education Conditional Teaching Certificate. The local school system decides whether these conditional teaching certificates are issued, not the MSDE.

To qualify for a conditional teaching certificate in Maryland, you must have:

• a subject area of interest
• conferred bachelor's degree
• Baltimore County public schools offer of employment for a teaching position

Conditional teaching certificates last three to five years and are non-renewable.