1. A. Application of Regulation.

   1. (1) This regulation applies to obtaining licensure as an Administrator.
   2. (2) If a principal transfers to become a principal in a special education school, the principal shall hold a Supervisor of Special Education license as set forth in Regulation .10 of this chapter.

2. B. Administrator Requirements.

   1. (1) This license qualifies an individual to be assigned as a supervisor of instruction, assistant principal, or principal.

   2. (2) The applicant shall have:

      1. (a) A master’s degree, or higher, from an accredited institution of higher education;
      2. (b) Twenty-seven months of effective teaching performance or effective performance as a specialist as defined in COMAR 13A.12.04;
      3. (c) Three semester hours or State-approved CPD credits in special education coursework; and

   3. (3) The applicant shall meet one of the following pathways:

      1. (a) A Department-approved program which leads to licensure as a supervisor of instruction, assistant principal, or principal;
      2. (b) An approved out-of-State program that leads to licensure as a supervisor of instruction, assistant principal, or principal and includes a supervised clinical practicum;

      3. (c) Eighteen semester hours of graduate coursework taken at an institution of higher education, to include coursework in the following categories:

         1. (i) Curriculum, instruction, and assessment;
         2. (ii) Supervision, evaluation, and supporting instructional improvement;
         3. (iii) Legal issues and ethical decision-making;
         4. (iv) Program/school administration;
         5. (v) Culturally responsive leadership and/or equity in leadership; and
         6. (vi) Supervised clinical practicum that is a minimum of 240 clock hours; or
      4. (d) Holds a valid professional state license in administration from another state or country and has verification of 5 years of effective performance as an administrator in a PK-12 school setting.
   4. (4) Applicants who qualify based on §3(b) or (c) of this regulation must present a qualifying score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a school leader licensure assessment approved by the State Board of Education.

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

Effective date: January 1, 1989 (15:26 Md. R. 2998)

Regulation .01 amended effective December 25, 1989 (16:25 Md. R. 2714); September 17, 1990 (17:18 Md. R. 2201); January 6, 1992 (18:26 Md. R. 2831)

Regulation .02 amended effective December 25, 1989 (16:25 Md. R. 2714); January 6, 1992 (18:26 Md. R. 2831)

Regulation .08A amended effective December 25, 1989 (16:25 Md. R. 2714)

Regulations .01—.08 repealed and new Regulations .01—.08 adopted effective November 7, 1994 (21:22 Md. R. 1879)

Regulation .02B amended effective July 23, 2001 (28:14 Md. R. 1323); March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .02C, D amended effective September 23, 1996 (23:19 Md. R. 1376); January 20, 2003 (30:1 Md. R. 26)

Regulation .03A amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .08 amended effective August 27, 2007 (34:17 Md. R. 1509)

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

Regulations .01—.08 repealed under Subtitle 12 Certification Chapter 05 Suspensions and Revocations and new Regulations .01—.15 adopted under Subtitle 12 Educator Licensure Chapter 05 Administrators and Supervisors effective April 1, 2024 (51:5 Md R. 231)

Regulation .02A amended effective October 27, 2025 (52:21 Md. R. 1025)

Regulation .05 repealed and new Regulation .05 adopted effective September 15, 2025 (52:18 Md. R. 924)

Regulation .06B amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 220)

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

Regulation .08A amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 220)

Regulation .10A amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 220)

Regulation .15C amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 220)