Several changes have been made to the certification rules in Maine as the state works to maintain well-qualified educators for our students. The MEA went through the changes and compiled this simple outline to help you understand what you need to know in order to remain certified. If you have questions, please reach out to MEA’s Director of Instruction, Professional Development and Early Educator Engagement here.

*IMPORTANT NOTE:
MEA worked hard to advocate to allow teachers who are currently certified to renew under the old rules, as long as you don’t let your certification expire. If you renew before expiration, none of the new requirements apply. If you do not renew your certification before it lapses, you will be held to the new rules outlined below.

Summary of Changes Impacting ALL New Educators and Those Applying for a New Certification

Contact Hours Needed

Ed Techs

• 45 hours or 3 semester hours
• Teachers/Specialists/Administrators
• 90 semester hours

Praxis exams are no longer required.

Alternative options include:

• Passing a basic skills test in reading, writing, mathematics;
  OR
• Achieving at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses required for the certification;
  OR
• Achieving a successful portfolio review demonstrating competency in Maine’s Initial Teacher Standards (Evaluated by the Department of Education)

*New Coursework Required for Certification

• Three semester hours of diversity-centered content related to today’s classroom
• Three semester hours of human/child development or educational/developmental psychology

*Note: those who were certified before June 10, 2022 do not need to complete these courses to maintain their current certification.

Other Changes of Note for NEW certifications (does not not apply to those certified before June 10, 2022)

Elementary Teacher (020)

• Grade spans moved to K-6
• Additional literacy course, examples include teaching reading, teaching writing, children’s literature, writing process, foundations of literature, multicultural literature

Inclusion of Pre-K in many endorsements

• If your current certificate does not include PK but you are interested in teaching PK, you will need to meet the new course requirements.

While these are some of the changes, there are many others that may impact other certifications. For more information, please reach out to the MEA for a copy of our webinar with the DOE, or visit the DOE’s Certification page.

Questions about your certification?
Reach out to the DOE at [email protected] or (207) 624-6603