Educator Certification Information
Salary Advancement
All coursework taken for GRADUATE credits through a regionally accredited college/university and MSDE approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits earned after the completion of the bachelor's degree are acceptable toward advanced salary placement.
VIEW THIS Power Point presentation (PDF) about understanding salary advancement.
VIEW THIS Optional Guide that you can use to help you track applicable credits toward salary advancement.
Procedure for Requesting Advanced Salary Placement
Placement on advanced salary lanes is not automatic. It is the professional's responsibility to request advanced salary placement. Salary advancement is requested by submitting the original OR digitally signed and dated Form 475-1, Request for Advanced Salary Placement to the Certification Unit. Please review and follow the instructions on page 2 of Form 475-1 in order to ensure acceptable submission and choose ONLY ONE of the following submission options:
- Via Email: certification@mcpsmd.org
- Via Interoffice Mail (pony): ATTN: Certification Unit, OHRD/DTA, 45 W. Gude, Suite 2300
- Via Regular U.S. Mail to: ATTN: Certification Unit, MCPS–OHRD/DTA, 45 West Gude Drive, Suite 2300, Rockville, MD 20850-1159
See instructions for submitting official documentation. The request will be processed only when successful completion of all coursework has been verified by the certification unit. The unit has a two week period after the Last Date for Human Resources to Receive All Official Documentation to process and notify the educator. See Important Notes below for more information.
Qualifying for Advanced Salary Placement
Salary lane changes will occur no later than the second pay period after all required and verified official documentation of eligibility is submitted to the Certification Unit. Yearly "salary schedules" can be accessed on the ERSC Web site.
Here is an Optional Guide you can use to help you track applicable credits toward salary advancement.
Overview of Salary Lanes
The following chart reflects an overview of the salary lanes. Click on the applicable salary lane for more information related to that salary lane. Again, view this Power Point presentation (PDF) about understanding salary advancement.
| Bachelor’s | Master’s or Master’s Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or non-degree T & I (Trades and Industry) or non-degree PTE (Professional & Technical Education)* |
A minimum of 30 post-baccalaureate credits, 15 of which must be graduate; the remaining 15 may be graduate or CPD; or Two bachelor’s degree conferrals with a minimum of 30 credits in the second degree or a total of 150 credits earned with both bachelor's degrees |
| Master’s+30 or Master’s Equivalent+30 |
Master’s+60 or Master’s Equivalent+60 |
| A minimum of 60 post-baccalaureate credits, 15 of which must be graduate; the remaining 45 may be graduate or CPD | A minimum of 90 post-baccalaureate credits, 15 of which must be graduate; the remaining 75 may be graduate or CPD |
Important Notes
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A change in the salary lane does not impact salary steps for educators on BA and top step 10 who have been approved for a salary lane change to M/MEQ, M/MEQ+30 or M/MEQ+60. The educator will remain at step 10, but will have their top step status removed which will make them eligible for a step increase on their next anniversary date.
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The term "credit" refers to semester hours. Quarter hour credits are converted to semester hour credits with three quarter hours equaling two semester hours.
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Acceptable courses must earn a grade "C" or better or the equivalent
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Make sure you do not take coursework that you have previously taken. Duplicate coursework is not acceptable.
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CPD credits are only courses approved for CPD (continuing professional development) credits.
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MCPS’s Professional Development Online (PDO) transcript will only include MCPS workshops or MCPS CPD courses. Outside agency CPD credits or university credits will not be on the PDO transcript.
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*Non-degree Professional Technical Education (also known as, Trades & Industry) educators should contact the Certification Unit regarding salary advancement.
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An employee who has earned a second bachelor's degree after the granting of the first bachelor's degree should refer to the information on the MEQ salary lane and contact the Certification Unit for additional information and clarification.