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Maryland Resident
Teacher Certification Program -
Frequently Asked Questions
The Resident Teacher Certification program, adopted by the Maryland State Board of Education (MSDE) on September 26, 1990, is one of several routes to teacher certification in Maryland.
2. What are the admission requirements?
In accordance with Maryland State Department of Education requirements, applicants entering UMUC’s RTC program will meet the following admission qualifications:- Possess a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the area of teaching assignment.
- Have a B-average or higher in the major area related to the teaching assignment
- Submit qualifying scores on teacher certification tests: PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II (Basic Skills)
3. Who is eligible to participate?
The RTC is designed for individuals with college degrees who have not been trained as teachers, but who want to pursue teaching as a career. A candidate must:- Have a bachelor’s degree at the time of admission. International degrees must be conferred by a country whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. (transcripts must be from AACRAO & IERF).
- Be a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident with a valid Green Card.
- Speak fluent English.
- Applicants who desire placement in secondary schools must have 36 credit hours in the subject area they will teach.
- Applicants who desire placement in elementary schools must have 36 credits in content with a minimum of 6 credits in math, 6 in social studies, and 6 in English.
- Applicants are required to pass all parts of PRAXIS I or meet the composite score of 527, with scores reported in writing before the beginning of the semester.
- Applicants are required to pass the PRAXIS II content examination in the area that they are eligible to teach with scores reported in writing before the beginning of the semester.
4. How long does it take to complete the program?
Standard Professional Certification can be obtained in a year and a half. That includes one fourteen-week semester, a summer residential experience, and one full year of teaching.
During the first year of teaching, RTC teachers are required, by MSDE to complete additional hours in reading (3 credit hours for secondary and 6 credit hours for elementary). During the first year of teaching, UMUC’s resident teachers also participate in an online forum that delves further into topics initially explored in the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment module during the summer. Contingent upon receiving a satisfactory teaching rating at the end of the year and passing the second part of the PRAXIS II examination, teachers will be eligible for standard professional teaching certification from MSDE.
5. When will the program begin?
The first cohort of RTC
candidates will begin coursework in January 2003.
6. What is the cost of the program?
UMUC’s current tuition rate for nine graduate semester hours, not including textbooks.
7. Which subject areas are offered in this program?
Certification is currently offered in English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, ESOL, social studies, foreign language, and elementary.
8. Which Maryland school districts participate in the program?
All school districts in Maryland are eligible for participation. UMUC currently has partnership arrangements with Baltimore City, Harford County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the nine school districts in the Eastern Shore Consortium.
UMUC currently has grant funding available for applicants who chose to teach in Prince George’s County Public Schools. Applicants may apply directly to the Prince George’s County Resident Teacher Program.
9. How is the program delivered?
Prior to entering the classroom, all RTC candidates will complete an intensive 14-week semester of online coursework followed by a summer residential experience that will prepare the candidate for full-time teaching in the fall. There is possible flexibility on the time and location of the residential experience. During the first-year of teaching, the candidate will receive full mentor support.
UMUC’s online capability provides opportunity for employment of international faculty. Adjunct faculty from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore City Public Schools, Howard County Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Dallas Public Schools, and other universities throughout the world have joined the collaborative time of instructors who deliver the training modules.
11. What are the special program features?
Admission to the RTC program guarantees acceptance into the Graduate School. Credits from the RTC program are applied in their entirety toward a master’s program in education at UMUC.
12. Is scholarship money available for the program?
For available scholarship money, contact the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
13. How does the program relate to Troops to Teachers?
RTC is a Maryland State Department of Education approved program offered through UMUC, and it operates separately from Troops to Teachers. Troops to Teachers is a U.S. Department of Education program managed by the Department of Defense. Troops to Teachers assists eligible military personnel when they transition to new careers as public school teachers in “high-need” schools. The assistance ranges from referral and placement advice to stipends that partially reimburse the cost of becoming certified. Military personnel may find more information about the program at Troops to Teachers.
14. How do I apply for the program?
Candidates may use UMUC’s graduate admissions process to apply to the program.
Call the UMUC Teacher Education Department at 301-985-7056 or email pmusick@umuc.edu.