Maryland Teacher License Lookup: Verify Teacher Credentials
Use the Maryland State Department of Education public credential search to verify an issued Maryland teacher license before relying on a paper certificate, resume, school profile, pending application, or third-party directory.
This guide explains the official MSDE lookup, how to read a teacher credential, current license types, renewal and reinstatement, the $10 statutory fee limit, professional-development rules, out-of-state pathways, application timing, and what to do when no public record appears.
Quick Answer: How to Verify a Maryland Teacher License
Open the official MSDE Public Search for Maryland License Holders, find the educator’s issued credential, and confirm that the record belongs to the correct person. Then check the license level, teaching or specialist area, current status, and validity information before using the record for employment, assignment review, credentialing, or public verification.
The public search is for credentials that have already been issued. An application inside TEACH, a university recommendation, an exam score, or an application payment should not be treated as proof that a Maryland educator license is active.
If you need a non-education Maryland license, use the Maryland License Verification guide. If the educator’s credential was issued outside Maryland, our Teaching License Verification guide explains how to locate the correct state certification system.
Searching “MDE License Lookup”? Maryland’s Agency Is MSDE
Users often type “mde license lookup,” but Maryland’s education agency is the Maryland State Department of Education, abbreviated MSDE. Using the full agency name helps avoid landing on educator systems operated by other states.
MSDE handles educator licensure
MSDE administers Maryland educator licensing, renewal, advancement, reinstatement, licensure assessments, preparation pathways, and the public educator credential search.
Use Public Search
Parents, schools, credential reviewers, and members of the public should use the public license-holder search when they need to verify an issued Maryland educator credential.
Use TEACH for applications
Educators use the TEACH credentialing hub for initial applications, renewal, advancement, endorsements, and access to their own licensure activity.
How to Use the Maryland Teacher License Lookup
A useful verification goes beyond finding a matching name. You need to establish that the credential belongs to the correct educator and that the authorization fits the teaching or professional assignment being checked.
Open the official MSDE public search
Start from the Maryland educator licensure system rather than a commercial directory, school biography, social profile, or general Maryland occupational-license portal.
Search with the educator’s accurate identity information
Use the legal name associated with the credential and any available credential identifier. If a recent legal-name change is involved, keep the former name available for troubleshooting.
Open the complete matching record
Do not stop at a similar name. Open the credential record and compare the identity and license details with the educator you intend to verify.
Check the license and teaching area
Verify the license level and the specific teaching, specialist, administrator, Montessori, professional-technical, or other area shown. An active credential does not automatically authorize every subject or role.
Check status and validity
Confirm that the credential is current and review the effective or expiration information. Historical, expired, conditional, temporary, resident, and professional licenses have different rules.
Document the verification when it matters
For HR, assignment, credentialing, or compliance files, save the official source, date checked, educator name, license type, licensure area, status, and relevant validity details.
What to Check on a Maryland Educator Credential
| Field | Why it matters | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Educator identity | Similar names can produce the wrong match. | Use the correct legal identity and credential record. |
| License level | Maryland uses professional, temporary, conditional, resident, adjunct, and Montessori license categories. | Identify the exact license held. |
| Licensure area or endorsement | A credential may authorize a specific subject, role, specialty, or grade range. | Match the credential to the actual assignment. |
| Status | A listed record may be current, expired, surrendered, revoked, or otherwise affected. | Use the live MSDE record rather than an old certificate. |
| Validity | Different license types have different validity and renewal rules. | Check whether renewal, transition, or reinstatement is needed. |
| Public adverse-action information | MSDE provides a public resource for revocations and voluntarily surrendered licenses. | Use official MSDE information for employment or safety-sensitive review. |
Maryland regulations allow an educator to hold multiple licenses. An endorsement can also be added to an existing license, so school HR should review the authorization that applies to the exact classroom or professional assignment.
Maryland Teacher License Types and Current Validity Rules
Maryland’s licensing structure changed on April 1, 2024. For validity periods below, this guide follows the current Code of Maryland Regulations because the regulations are the controlling legal reference when a summary page and regulatory text differ.
| License type | Typical purpose | Current regulatory validity |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Professional License | Educator who qualifies through an approved initial licensure pathway. | 5 years; renewable when renewal requirements are met. |
| Professional License | Educator meeting an initial pathway plus Maryland induction or qualifying effective teaching performance. | 5 years; renewable. |
| Advanced Professional License | Professional-level educator with qualifying advanced education or National Board Certification. | 5 years; renewable. |
| Temporary Professional License | Certain employees who are prepared or licensed out of state but still need Maryland licensure assessments, or qualifying employees who miss professional-license renewal requirements. | Up to 2 years; non-renewable. |
| Conditional License | Employer-requested credential when a school cannot fill a position with an individual who already qualifies for professional licensure. | Up to 5 years; non-renewable. |
| Conditional Special Education License | Employer-requested special education credential when the position cannot be filled by an already-qualified educator. | 3 years; non-renewable. |
| Resident Teacher License | Candidate enrolled in an approved alternative teacher preparation program. | 3 years; non-renewable. |
| Adjunct Teacher License | Employer-requested part-time teaching credential for an individual with qualifying occupational expertise. | 1 year; renewable on employer request. |
| Montessori Professional License | Qualified Montessori educator meeting the Maryland Montessori requirements. | Indefinite under current COMAR, subject to its use limitations. |
MSDE’s public license-type summary and the current COMAR text do not display identical validity periods for every category. For the Professional and Adjunct licenses in particular, the current regulations state five years for the Professional License and one year for the Adjunct Teacher License. When verifying a real educator, rely on the current MSDE record and current regulations.
Maryland Teacher License Fee, Application Timing, and Issuance
Completed applications: within 8 weeks
MSDE states that completed educator licensure applications are processed within eight weeks of submission. Missing documents or unmet requirements can keep an application from being complete.
Maryland law caps the fee at $10
Maryland Education Article §6-704 allows a fee of no more than $10 for issuance or renewal of a teacher credential. MSDE’s licensure FAQ lists a $10 processing fee for issuance after approval.
Pay through the official process
Applicants should follow the payment instructions shown by MSDE or TEACH. Do not pay an unofficial website to issue, activate, or renew a Maryland teacher license.
Current COMAR states that a license issued from January 1 through June 30 receives a January 1 effective date, while a license issued from July 1 through December 31 receives a July 1 effective date. Check the actual public credential for the educator’s posted validity period.
Maryland Teacher License Renewal Requirements
Maryland educators may renew an Initial Professional, Professional, or Advanced Professional License instead of advancing to a higher tier. Current regulations use five-year professional-license cycles.
IPL, PL, and APL
Initial Professional, Professional, and Advanced Professional licenses may be renewed for successive five-year terms when the educator meets the applicable renewal requirements.
National Board Certification
MSDE allows qualifying National Board Certification earned or maintained during the validity period of the expiring license as a renewal route.
90 PDPs through an IPDP
The other main route is an Individualized Professional Development Plan documenting at least 90 Professional Development Points and any additional area-specific requirements.
Required IPDP topic coverage
- Content or pedagogy related to an area of the educator’s license.
- English as a Second Language, Sheltered English, or Bilingual Education.
- Strategies for students with disabilities or differentiated instruction.
- Culturally Responsive Teaching or Diverse Student Identities in Education.
Employer approval can be required
Educators employed by a Maryland local education agency, Maryland-approved nonpublic special education program, or Maryland-operated school must have the IPDP approved and signed by a supervisor or designee.
Educators who are not employed in those settings develop their own IPDP and do not need employer approval.
How Maryland Professional Development Points Work
The 90-PDP requirement is easier to plan when you know how MSDE converts common learning activities into Professional Development Points.
| Activity | PDP value | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Professional learning | 1 clock hour = 1 PDP | Activity must meet the applicable approval rules. |
| College credit | 1 semester hour = 15 PDPs | Use qualifying accredited coursework. |
| MSDE-approved CPD credit | 1 CPD credit = 15 PDPs | Must be an MSDE-approved Continuing Professional Development credit. |
| IACET CEU | 1 CEU = 10 PDPs | CEUs must come from an accredited IACET provider. |
| Approved micro-credential | 10 PDPs per micro-credential | The micro-credential must satisfy MSDE’s approval rules. |
| PTE occupational experience | 10 work hours = 1 PDP | Only for qualifying Professional Technical Education license holders; maximum 15 PDPs from occupational experience. |
MSDE’s IPDP includes a Professional Development Points Activity Log. Educators should track PDPs during the license cycle instead of waiting until renewal to reconstruct five years of professional learning.
Scientific Reading Instruction Requirement at Renewal
Beginning July 1, 2025, an additional reading-proficiency requirement applies to certain professionally licensed educators at renewal.
Specified teaching assignments
The rule applies to professionally licensed teachers employed in a Maryland public school, Maryland-operated school, or Maryland nonpublic special education facility and assigned to early childhood education, elementary education, special education, or English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Assessment or approved learning
At renewal, an affected educator may demonstrate proficiency through an approved reading assessment or approved professional learning. Educators who already passed an approved reading assessment for initial licensure have already demonstrated proficiency.
Expired Maryland Teacher License: Use Reinstatement
Once an eligible professional credential has expired, the educator should use the reinstatement process rather than treating the application as a normal active-license renewal.
Active professional credential from another state
MSDE lists an active professional certificate issued by another state as one option for reinstating an eligible expired Maryland professional credential.
90 PDP reinstatement route
An educator may also present an IPDP documenting 90 PDPs completed since the expired credential was issued, together with the required topic coverage and any additional licensure-area requirements.
MSDE states that a content area that is no longer issued may not be reinstated. An educator who allowed a historical content area to lapse should confirm the current available licensure area before preparing a reinstatement application.
Old Maryland Teacher Certificates: PEC, SPC, and APC
Maryland introduced the newer license structure on April 1, 2024. Older certificates can still matter when verifying a long-serving educator or processing renewal or reinstatement.
| Historical credential | Comparable current license |
|---|---|
| Professional Eligibility Certificate | Initial Professional License |
| Standard Professional Certificate I | Initial Professional License |
| Standard Professional Certificate II | Professional License |
| Advanced Professional Certificate | Advanced Professional License |
MSDE allows eligible historical professional-certificate holders to use the current renewal rules or, in qualifying circumstances, the historical six-credit renewal route described by MSDE. Once a current professional license is issued, the current license renewal requirements apply going forward.
Out-of-State Teachers Applying for a Maryland License
A valid teaching license from another state can provide a pathway to Maryland licensure, but it does not automatically become a Maryland credential. MSDE evaluates the applicant under Maryland’s current pathways.
Out-of-state teacher preparation
An applicant may qualify through completion of an approved out-of-state or foreign teacher preparation program that includes a clinical internship in the licensure area being requested.
Valid out-of-state professional license
Another pathway is based on a valid professional license from another state or country in the corresponding licensure area, together with Maryland’s applicable evidence requirements.
Reading and performance rules can apply
Early childhood, elementary, generic special education, and ESOL applicants can have a reading-instruction requirement. Depending on the pathway, MSDE also requires qualifying performance evidence such as a portfolio-based assessment, effective evaluations, or National Board Certification.
School HR should verify the source-state credential first, then verify the Maryland public record after MSDE issues the Maryland license. An active license elsewhere is not proof that Maryland has completed issuance.
Use the Teaching License Verification by State guide when you need the correct source-state educator lookup before beginning the Maryland pathway.
Maryland Teacher Testing and Assessment Rules
Assessment requirements depend on the exact pathway and licensure area. Applicants should use current MSDE rules rather than an old Praxis checklist.
3.0 GPA can remove the basic-skills test requirement
MSDE states that an applicant with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on the most recently earned degree is not required to submit a basic-skills assessment.
Content and pedagogy can still apply
The GPA provision does not automatically remove applicable content or pedagogy assessment requirements.
Testing exemptions may be available
MSDE states that a candidate who holds a professional certificate from another state and documents satisfactory teaching experience may be eligible for an assessment exemption.
MSDE lists several ways to submit scores, including selecting MSDE as a score recipient, notation on an official transcript, a copy of the examinee score report, or verification from another state department of education.
No Maryland Teacher License Result? Try These Fixes
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No result by name | Spelling variation, legal-name change, maiden name, or a wrong identity match. | Retry with the exact legal or former name and use a credential identifier when available. |
| Application submitted but no public license | The application is pending, incomplete, or not yet issued. | The applicant should review TEACH. Do not treat an application submission as an issued credential. |
| Old PEC, SPC, or APC document | Maryland moved to the new license structure in 2024. | Check the public record and current historical-certificate conversion rules. |
| Educator licensed in another state | The educator may not yet have a Maryland license. | Verify the source-state credential and then check whether Maryland issuance has occurred. |
| Active license but assignment is unclear | The credential may not cover the subject, grade span, or role being checked. | Review the exact licensure area or endorsement rather than relying only on active status. |
| Still unresolved | Manual clarification may be necessary. | Contact the MSDE Licensure Information Center at 410-767-0390 or certinfo.msde@maryland.gov. |
Maryland School HR Teacher Verification Checklist
- Official MSDE public search used.
- Date the verification was completed.
- Educator’s full name.
- License type or level.
- Current status.
- Teaching area or endorsement.
- Validity or expiration information.
- Assignment fit for subject, role, and grade range.
- Any relevant public revocation or surrender information.
- Reviewer details when required by school policy.
- A resume credential line.
- An old printed certificate.
- A staff directory.
- A social-media profile.
- An application confirmation.
- A passing test score without an issued license.
- An out-of-state license without Maryland verification.
- A matching name without reviewing the licensure area.
MSDE tells educators under contract with a Maryland public school system, nonpublic special education facility, or State-operated school to contact their employer about licensure needs. Employer certification staff may have responsibilities tied to the educator’s assignment or application route.
Maryland Educator Licensure Contact Information
| Contact | Verified detail | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Licensure Information Center | 410-767-0390 | General educator licensure and public-search questions. |
| certinfo.msde@maryland.gov | General educator licensure inquiries. | |
| Support hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed on State holidays | Phone and licensure support during published service hours. |
| MSDE headquarters | 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-2595 | Agency identification and correspondence when MSDE instructs you to use the address. |
| Maryland Relay | 7-1-1 | Relay access to State services. |
Teacher credential lookup is available online, and TEACH handles educator application activity. Use the Licensure Information Center before traveling or mailing documents unless MSDE specifically directs you to do so.
Official Maryland Teacher License Resources
Use these official resources for the final verification, application, renewal, reinstatement, assessment, or regulatory step.
Maryland Teacher License Lookup FAQs
How do I verify a Maryland teacher license online?
Use the Maryland State Department of Education Public Search for Maryland License Holders. Locate the educator’s issued credential, confirm the correct person, and review the license type, licensure area, status, and validity details before relying on the record.
Is an MDE license lookup the same as the Maryland MSDE search?
If you mean Maryland, the correct agency is MSDE, the Maryland State Department of Education. Searching only for MDE can lead to education departments in other states, so use the official Maryland MSDE educator licensure system.
Is the public teacher lookup the same as the TEACH portal?
No. The public search is for verifying issued Maryland educator credentials. TEACH is the account-based Educator Application and Credentialing Hub used for applications, renewals, advancement, endorsements, and access to the educator’s own licensure activity.
How long is a Maryland Professional Teacher License valid?
Current COMAR states that the Professional Teacher License is valid for five years and may be renewed when the educator meets the applicable renewal requirements. The current regulations also use five-year validity cycles for the Initial Professional and Advanced Professional licenses.
How much does a Maryland teacher license cost?
Maryland Education Article §6-704 allows the State Board to establish an issuance or renewal fee not exceeding $10. MSDE’s licensure FAQ currently states that a $10 processing fee is required for license issuance after the application is approved. Follow the amount and payment instructions shown in the official TEACH process for your transaction.
How long does MSDE take to process a teacher license application?
MSDE states that completed educator licensure applications are processed within eight weeks of submission. If documents or requirements are missing, the application may not yet be complete, so the applicant should review the TEACH dashboard for notices.
How many PDPs are required to renew a Maryland professional teacher license?
The standard IPDP renewal route requires 90 Professional Development Points. The IPDP must include the required professional-learning topic areas and any additional requirement that applies to the educator’s licensure area.
What happens if a Maryland teacher license has expired?
Eligible expired professional credentials use the reinstatement process. MSDE lists an active professional certificate from another state as one reinstatement option, or an IPDP documenting 90 PDPs completed since the expired credential was issued, together with any additional requirements that apply.
Can an out-of-state teacher automatically transfer a license to Maryland?
No. A valid out-of-state license or approved preparation program can provide a Maryland pathway, but MSDE still evaluates the applicant under Maryland requirements. Reading, performance, assessment, degree, experience, and documentation requirements can depend on the pathway and licensure area.
What should I do if a Maryland teacher does not appear in the public search?
Check the legal name and former names, confirm you are using the MSDE educator search, and remember that a pending TEACH application is not an issued license. If the record still cannot be resolved, contact the MSDE Licensure Information Center at 410-767-0390 or certinfo.msde@maryland.gov.
Verify the Maryland Credential Before You Rely on It
For a Maryland teacher license lookup, start with the official MSDE public search. Match the correct educator, identify the exact license and teaching area, and check current status and validity before treating the record as proof of authorization.
Applicants and current educators should use TEACH for account-based application and renewal activity. Employers should compare the credential with the actual assignment, while out-of-state educators should complete Maryland’s applicable pathway before assuming another state’s license has transferred.
Independent Guide Notice
VerificationLicense.org is an independent informational website. It does not issue Maryland educator licenses, operate the MSDE public search, make licensing decisions, or represent the Maryland State Department of Education. For an official credential decision, application, renewal, reinstatement, payment, or disciplinary record, use MSDE and the applicable Maryland government resources directly.