1. A. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Accredited nonpublic school” means a nonpublic school accredited by a national organization or regional organization.
   2. (2) “Approved nonpublic school” means a nonpublic school approved by a state department of education.
   3. (3) “Bilingual Education” means the teaching of academic content in two languages: a native and second language.
   4. (4) “Certificate” is the term for an educator credential issued by the Department. The term certificate has been replaced by the word license.
   5. (5) “Class” means a period allocated for lessons during a school day.
   6. (6) “Conditional license” means a non-renewable license issued while the applicant pursues a pathway to professional licensure.
   7. (7) “Content coursework” means coursework completed in academic disciplines as differentiated from pedagogical coursework.
   8. (8) “Continuing education units (CEUs)” means credit issued from an accredited International Association for Continuing Education and Training provider or approved by another Maryland State agency for purposes of licensure.
   9. (9) “Continuing professional development (CPD) credit” means credit earned through continuing professional development experiences approved by the Department.
   10. (10) “Crime against children” means any crime defined in Criminal Law Article, §3-601, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   11. (11) “Crime of violence” means any crime as defined in Criminal Law Article, §14-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   12. (12) “Culturally Responsive Teaching” means pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students’ cultural references in all aspects of learning.
   13. (13) “Department” means the Maryland State Department of Education.
   14. (14) “Educator” means an individual who holds a license in an area of teaching, Professional and Technical Education, specialized areas for fine arts, specialist, administrator or supervisor.
   15. (15) “Effective performance” means professional, full-time experience as a specialist, administrator, or supervisor in a public school system, approved nonpublic school, or accredited nonpublic school for which the annual overall evaluation rating is at least effective or equivalent.
   16. (16) “Effective teaching experience” means professional, full-time experience as a teacher in a public school, approved nonpublic school, or accredited nonpublic school for which the annual overall evaluation rating is at least effective or equivalent.
   17. (17) “Endorsement” means a credential issued on a license under COMAR 13A.12.01.04C to indicate satisfactory knowledge and skills to perform services in the area(s) specified.
   18. (18) “English as a Second Language (ESOL)” means the practice and theory of learning and teaching English to students of which English is not the native language.
   19. (19) “English Language Learners (ELL)” means students who come from non-English speaking homes and who are learning English.
   20. (20) “Full-time teaching experience” means a period of not less than 9 consecutive months as the responsible teacher in a classroom under an appointment requiring service for 50 percent or more of the school week or the equivalent.
   21. (21) “Higher degree” means a degree earned that is higher than a bachelor’s degree such as a Ph.D., Ed.D., Ed.S., master’s degree, J.D., M.D., D.D.M., D.D.S., or L.L.M.
   22. (22) “Historic Professional Certificate” means a previously issued certificate or area of certification that no longer exists.
   23. (23) “Historic Professional License” means a license or area of licensure that no longer exists.
   24. (24) “Individual professional development plan (IPDP)” means a plan developed in partnership with a supervisor, if employed, to provide appropriate and relevant professional learning.
   25. (25) “Initial license” means the first Maryland professional license issued to an educator.
   26. (26) “Internship” means a supervised period of clinical experience offered by an educator preparation program designed to allow pre-service teachers to practice and refine their teaching skills.
   27. (27) “Interstate Certification Compact (ICC)” means a legal agreement with other states to facilitate the certification of out-of-State teachers and other professional educational personnel as authorized by Education Article, Title 6, Subtitle 6, Annotated Code of Maryland, or as otherwise provided by law.
   28. (28) “License” means an educator credential issued by the Department, which allows the holder to practice the area(s) of licensure noted.
   29. (29) “Local school system (LSS)” means a Maryland public school system.
   30. (30) “Member state” means a state that participates in the Interstate Certification Compact (ICC).
   31. (31) “Micro-credential” means a digital form of certification indicating the demonstration of competency/mastery in a specific skill or set of skills.
   32. (32) “Montessori school” means a public school that uses Montessori instruction as its primary method of instruction, or is approved by the Department.
   33. (33) “Nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.09” means a school that is issued a Certificate of Approval by the State Board, excluding the federal government or any State, county, or municipal agency or division of these, to operate an educational program in a nonpublic kindergarten, elementary school, and secondary school.

   34. (34) “Nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10” means:

       1. (a) An entity which is responsible for governing and operating a school that provides a Type I, Type II, Type III educational program in a facility licensed by a unit of State government to provide treatment of care, or both; or
       2. (b) Educational programs that provide special education to children in a nonpublic school in accordance with Education Article, §8-406, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   35. (35) “Occupational experience” means experience gained while employed performing in the career area to be taught.
   36. (36) “Pedagogy” means the method and practice of teaching.
   37. (37) “Professional and Technical Education” means areas of study which include skilled trades, applied sciences, modern technologies, and career preparation.
   38. (38) “Professional conference” means a workshop, institute, or seminar of 4 or more hours that contributes to ongoing, sustained, and high-quality professional development.
   39. (39) “Professional development activity” means an activity, approved by the Department, local school system, State Agency, Maryland-approved nonpublic school, or another state department of education, that improves the professional knowledge, competence, skill, or effectiveness of the license holder.
   40. (40) “Professional Development Point (PDP)” means a unit used to renew teacher licenses earned through completion of specific professionally aligned tasks and assignments.
   41. (41) “Professional education coursework” means coursework dealing with the knowledge and process of teaching to prepare to become a teacher, as differentiated from content coursework.
   42. (42) “Professional licensure” means holding a Temporary Professional, Initial Professional, Professional, or Advanced Professional License.
   43. (43) “Reinstatement” means restoration of an expired license.
   44. (44) “Renewal” means the extension of the validity period of an existing license.
   45. (45) “Required grade” means a grade of C or better, pass, or satisfactory.
   46. (46) “Resident Teacher License” means a license issued to a candidate enrolled in an alternative teacher preparation program.
   47. (47) “School” means a public school, an approved nonpublic school, or an accredited nonpublic school.
   48. (48) “Sheltered English instruction” means an instructional approach that engages English Language Learners (ELL) in developing grade-level content-area knowledge, academic skills, and increased English proficiency.
   49. (49) “Specialist” means an individual licensed under COMAR 13A.12.04.
   50. (50) “Teaching endorsement” means a teaching area added to a professional license of an educator who has met the qualifications of COMAR 13A.12.02.02B.

Authority: Education Article, §§2-205, 2-303(g), 6-127, 6-701—6-708, and 8-3A-03; Family Law Article, §10-119.3; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

For a history of certification requirements before January 1, 1989, see the Administrative History for COMAR 13A.07.01.

Regulations .01—.08, .10—.12, and .15 adopted effective January 1, 1989 (15:26 Md. R. 2985)

Regulation .06C amended effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1921)

Regulation .08-1 adopted effective April 1, 1991 (18:1 Md. R. 30)

Regulations .09, .13, and .14 adopted effective April 3, 1989 (16:6 Md. R. 729)

Regulation .14F amended effective October 16, 1989 (16:20 Md. R. 2183)

Regulation .15 amended effective June 12, 1989 (16:11 Md. R. 1219)

Regulations .01—.15 repealed and new Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective August 15, 1994 (21:16 Md. R. 1388)

Regulation .02B amended effective September 23, 1996 (23:19 Md. R. 1376); July 27, 1998 (25:15 Md. R. 1192)

Regulation .05A amended effective November 6, 1995 (22:22 Md. R. 1670); September 7, 1998 (25:18 Md. R. 1435)

Regulation .05G amended effective September 23, 1996 (23:19 Md. R. 1376); September 7, 1998 (25:18 Md. R. 1435)

Regulation .05H amended effective September 7, 1998 (25:18 Md. R. 1435)

Regulation .08 amended effective September 7, 1998 (25:18 Md. R. 1435)

Regulation .09 amended effective September 7, 1998 (25:18 Md. R. 1435)

Regulations .01—.11 repealed and new Regulations .01—.14 adopted effective January 1, 2003 (29:22 Md. R. 1721)

Regulation .01 amended effective May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673)

Regulation .02B amended effective May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673)

Regulation .03A, B amended effective May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673)

Regulation .03D amended effective August 27, 2007 (34:17 Md. R. 1509); March 10, 2008 (35:5 Md. R. 641); March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337); July 3, 2017 (44:13 Md. R. 622)

Regulation .04 amended effective December 19, 2005 (32:25 Md. R. 1943); July 16, 2018 (45:14 Md. R. 697)

Regulation .04E amended effective October 4, 2010 (37:20 Md. R. 1395)

Regulation .04F amended effective May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673)

Regulation .05A amended effective February 26, 2007 (34:4 Md. R. 401); July 30, 2007 (34:15 Md. R. 1349)

Regulation .05C amended effective January 15, 2007 (34:1 Md. R. 32)

Regulation .05D amended effective September 11, 2006 (33:18 Md. R. 1506); February 11,2019 (46:3 Md. R. 107)

Regulation .06D amended effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728); July 30, 2007 (34:15 Md. R. 1349)

Regulation .06E amended effective May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673)

Regulation .07 repealed and new Regulation .07 adopted effective February 27, 2006 (33:4 Md. R. 352)

Regulation .07 amended effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .08A amended effective May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673)

Regulation .08-1 adopted effective February 25, 2019 (46:4 Md. R. 191)

Regulation .09D amended effective May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673)

Regulation .10A amended effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728)

Regulation .11A amended effective May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673); October 4, 2010 (37:20 Md. R. 1395)

Regulation .11D amended effective February 27, 2006 (33:4 Md. R. 352)

Regulation .12A, B amended effective February 26, 2007 (34:4 Md. R. 401)

Regulation .13 amended effective July 21, 2003 (30:14 Md. R. 937); December 19, 2005 (32:25 Md. R. 1943); October 6, 2008 (35:20 Md. R. 1776)

Regulation .13B amended effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728)

Regulation .14C adopted as an emergency provision effective May 26,2020 (47:13 Md. R. 639); adopted permanently effective October 19, 2020 (47:21 Md. R. 904)

Regulations .01—.14 repealed under Subtitle 12 Certification Chapter 01 General Provisions and new Regulations .01—.06 adopted under Subtitle 12 Educator Licensure Chapter 01 General Provisions effective April 1, 2024 (51:5 Md R. 231)

Regulation .04E amended effective October 27, 2025 (52:25 Md. R. 1025)

Regulation .05 adopted effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 220)

Regulation .05 recodified to Regulation .06 effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 220)

Regulation .06 recodified to Regulation .07 effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 220)