Become a Teacher in Maine

Maine Highlights
Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $40,960
Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $41,960
Teacher Salary vs. State Average: 119%
Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15
Years to Tenure: 2

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To become a certified teacher in Maine, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.

Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.

Prerequisite Coursework

All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Maine, however, does not have any undergraduate credit hour requirements.

Teacher Preparation

Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.

Alternative Certification

Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification in Maine is coming soon!

Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.

Teacher Certification Reciprocity

Maine will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Maine Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

Alabama	Arizona	Arkansas	California
Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware	Florida
Georgia	Hawaii	Idaho	Illinois
Indiana	Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana
Maryland	Massachusetts	Michigan	Mississippi
Missouri	Montana	Nebraska	Nevada
New Hampshire	New Jersey	New Mexico	New York
North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio	Oklahoma
Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina
South Dakota	Tennessee	Texas	Utah
Vermont	Virginia	Washington	West Virginia
Wisconsin	Wyoming

Teacher Salary and Benefits

Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Maine provides no support for teachers teaching in high needs schools or teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Maine has limited to weak induction policies in place
Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Maine makes $44,090
Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Maine makes$43,130
Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Maine makes 129% of the salary of the average worker in Maine
Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Maine receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
Number of Years to Tenure: Maine requires 2 years of teaching before a teacher is eligible for tenure

Required Tests

In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skill Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction.