Educator Certification Information
Adding Endorsements
OPTIONS AND INFORMATION ABOUT ADDING A NEW AREA OF LICENSURE TO AN EXISTING LICENSE
1) Adding New Endorsements to Your Educator License VIA Coursework
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) allows a licensed teacher to add a new licensure area/ endorsement by completing college/university content coursework. Please review the MSDE website for more details.
Effective April 1, 2024, educators must also submit the Science of Reading requirement to add endorsements in early childhood, elementary, special education, and ESOL. See MSDE’s information page at https://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/Future-Reading-Requirements.aspx.
I think I have enough or most of the coursework toward a licensure area. How can a request for a review of my previous coursework be submitted? Please review below and DO NOT submit the Add Endorsement request via MSDE TEACH until eligibility is confirmed.
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Via email: Send an email request to Marie_Bercaw@mcpsmd.org for a review of your previous coursework on file and the desired area of the licensure area/endorsement. We can honor one request per educator per year. The evaluation will be sent via email in approximately 4-8 weeks and will include any next steps you must complete at that time.
I completed a program that leads to licensure in another teaching subject, specialist area, or administrator. How can a request for the new licensure area/endorsement be made to update my Educator license AND how long will it take to update my Educator license? Requests can take 4-8 weeks depending on the current workload.
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Via pony/regular mail: Send the official transcript with a written request to add the new licensure area/endorsement to Marie Bercaw, Assistant Director-Certification.
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Via email: If you have previously submitted the official transcript(s), send an email request to add the new licensure area/endorsement to Marie_Bercaw@mcpsmd.org.
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Once your request and official transcript have been received in our office, we'll send a confirmation email indicating the anticipated time it will take to update your Educator licensure and will include any next steps you must complete at that time.
2) Adding New Endorsements to Your Educator License VIA Testing
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) allows a licensed teacher with a teaching licensure area/endorsement on their educator license to add a new licensure area/endorsement by passing the applicable subject area assessment test. Applicants must meet current acceptable tests and qualifying scores at the time of application for a new licensure area/endorsement. Assessments and qualifying scores are subject to change without notice. Retain the original test score report for your records since ETS only keeps score information a limited number of years.
See MSDE’s Licensure Assessments content testing information.
Effective April 1, 2024, educators must also submit the Science of Reading requirement to add endorsements in early childhood, elementary, special education, and ESOL. See MSDE’s information page at link.
If you believe you now qualify to add a new endorsement, please send your PDF score report via email attachment with an email requesting the new endorsement to Marie_Bercaw@mcpsmd.org.
Once registered in TEACH, and the MCPS Certification Unit has confirmed your eligibility, then you MUST complete the application to add an endorsement on TEACH, using our MCPS TEACH Application Guide-ADDING ENDORSEMENTS (click the link and follow the instructions) to guide you through each step and the pages you do NOT need to worry about. It typically takes MCPS 4-6 weeks to add the endorsement. You will receive a confirmation email via TEACH upon completion.
3) Adding Administrator II to your Educator License (Must be licensed in Administrator I and have passed the current SLLA)
Applicants must meet current acceptable tests and qualifying scores at the time of application for a new licensure area/endorsement. Assessments and qualifying scores are subject to change without notice.
If you believe you now qualify to add a new endorsement, please send your PDF score report via email attachment with an email requesting the new endorsement to Marie_Bercaw@mcpsmd.org.
Once registered in TEACH, and the MCPS Certification Unit has confirmed your eligibility, then you MUST complete the application to add an endorsement on TEACH, using our MCPS TEACH Application Guide-ADDING ENDORSEMENTS (click the link and follow the instructions) to guide you through each step and the pages you do NOT need to worry about. It typically takes MCPS 4-6 weeks to add the endorsement. You will receive a confirmation email via TEACH upon completion.
For more information, please contact a Certification Unit team member at 240-740-8030 or email Marie Bercaw, Assistant Director-Certification, at Marie_Bercaw@mcpsmd.org.