How to Become an Art Teacher in Maryland

<p>All Maryland educators need to get certified to teach the subject and grade area they specialize in. Art teachers are responsible for instructing students in various forms of art, like painting, design and sculpture, appropriate to the grade level. Art teacher certification is considered a specialty area of certification in Maryland and allows educators to teach preschool through 12th grade. To get an art teacher certification, candidates must meet education, training and testing requirements. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree; teacher preparation program approved by the state</td></tr> <tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> Basic skills test<br />Praxis Subject Area Assessment in Art: Content and Analysis</td></tr> <tr><td> License Validity Period </td><td> 5 years</td></tr> <tr><td>License Renewal Requirements</td><td> 6 hours of credit or professional development in reading</td></tr> <tr><td> Advancement Requirements </td><td> 3 years of teaching experience, 6 college credit hours and a plan for graduate-level education</td></tr> <tr><td> Mean Salary (2018, for general teaching)</td><td> $38,440 (preschool)<br /> $67,170 (kindergarten)<br />$71,060 (elementary)<br /> $69,710 (middle)<br /> $72,610 (high school)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026, nationwide) </td><td> 10% (preschool)<br /> 7% (kindergarten and elementary)<br /> 8% (middle and high school)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---RequiredEducationAndExperience">Required Education and Experience</h3> <p>Maryland requires that art teachers complete a bachelor's degree with: </p> <ul><li>A major in art, or at least 30 semester hours in the subject (half of the hours need to have been taken at the same college or university, and 12 need to be upper-level). </li><li>21 semester hours in education, with 3-credit courses in each of these areas: adolescent development, human learning and teaching methodology, including special needs students and student assessment. </li><li>6 semester hours in reading methods (although this requirement can be fulfilled later through professional development). </li><li>A supervised teaching experience or a year of full-time teaching experience (both have to be for the relevant grade and subject). </li></ul><p>Various colleges and universities in Maryland offer state-approved art teacher programs. A list is available on the state department of education website. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>To get certified, art teacher candidates must pass the: </p> <ul><li>Basic skills assessment to test reading, writing and math skills. Candidates can take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams in these areas, or they can submit ACT, GRE or SAT results (passing scores depend on the exam month and year). </li><li>Praxis Subject Area Assessment in Art: Content and Analysis (5135). A passing score is 161. The exam covers art theory and history, creation, processes and analysis. </li></ul><h3 id="section---CertificationApplicationProcess">Certification Application Process</h3> <p>Once education and testing requirements are complete, candidates need to apply for their certification. This requires making an account on the state's online portal. Then, they must send an application form, official transcripts and test scores to the state through mail or email. Educators only pay a fee once their application is approved. </p> <h3 id="section---AdvancingACertification">Advancing a Certification</h3> <p>Initially, art teachers in Maryland will receive a Professional Eligibility Certificate (PEC) if they aren't employed with a school district, or a Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC I) if they are. </p> <p>With additional education and experience, teachers in Maryland can advance the level of their teaching certificates. Teachers can earn a Standard Professional Certificate II (SPC II) after 3 years of teaching, as long as they've completed 6 hours of professional development and have a plan for continuing graduate-level education to advance to the next certification. This certification, the Advanced Professional Certificate (APC), can be attained after completion of a master's degree, 36 hours of coursework (21 hours at the graduate level) or a National Board Certification (with at least 12 hours of graduate coursework). </p> <h3 id="section---RenewingACertification">Renewing a Certification</h3> <p>Maryland teaching certificates are valid for five years. To renew a teaching certification after five years, teachers must complete 6 hours of professional development or reading coursework (mentioned in the education requirements above) if they haven't already. Employed teachers renew their certificates through their schools. Teachers who aren't employed can apply for renewal by sending a cover letter and proof of their coursework to the state.</p>