Become a Teacher in Maine

Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. CertificationMap.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. Last updated: 10/14/2016

This page is sponsored by our partner Rossier Online, a master level teaching degree program delivered online that enables you to earn a Master’s degree and teaching credential. Learn more about how the University of Southern California can help you become a transformative teacher in Maine.

To become a certified teacher in Maine, you will need to fulfill these requirements:

Step One: Complete a bachelor's degree and other prerequisite coursework required.
Step Two: Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program
Step Three: Pass required exams.
Step Four: Submit a Maine teaching credential application.

Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating CertificationMap.com with new information on a regular basis.

Step One: Maine Prerequisite Coursework

All states require that certified teachers have at least a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Visit the Maine Department of Education for additional details about certification requirements.

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Master’s Requirements

Many schools of education now offer online MAT programs that provide increased flexibility by allowing aspiring or working teachers to attend class and complete coursework from any location that has an Internet connection. Online MAT programs are a practical option for students who have professional and personal commitments that make it difficult to obtain teaching certification through a full-time program.

The best online programs offer the same curriculum as the school’s on-campus program and apply the same admission requirements. Providing students with the ability to communicate with instructors and classmates in a face-to-face online environment is another hallmark of a good online program. In addition, candidates in online MAT programs should be provided with the opportunity to complete student teaching fieldwork in the local community.

Click to learn more about getting your MAT online with our partner USC Rossier School of Education.

Step Two: Maine Teacher Preparation

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

While the involvement in an education program may seem financially daunting, a number of financial resources specifically for teachers exist around the country. For more information visit our page on scholarships for teachers. For more scholarships for teachers exclusive to Maine, visit our Maine Teacher Scholarships page.

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. Contact the Maine Department of Education for more information about alternative certification in Maine.

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Step Three: Maine Required Tests

Basic Skills Assessment

Maine does not require teaching candidates to complete a basic skills assessment test. However, all applicants are required to take the Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) Assessment and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT), regardless of licensure area.

Basic Skills Assessment
Qualifying Score	Required Test(s)	Assessment
156 162 150	CORE: Reading CORE: Writing CORE: Mathematics	Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE)
157	PLT: Grades 7-12	Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT), Grades 7-12
160 157	PLT: Grades K-6, or PLT: Grades 7-12	Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT), Grades K-12

Content Assessment(s)

Maine requires that teaching candidates successfully complete and pass content area test(s) in their area of certification.

Content Assessment(s)
Qualifying Score	Required Test(s)	Certification
160	Education of Young Children	Early Childhood (Birth-Age 5)
160 145 157 157 155 159 160	Education of Young Children and PLT: Early Childhood Elementary Education: Content Knowledge, or Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Reading/Lang. Arts Mathematics Social Studies Science and PLT: Grades K-5	Early Elementary (K-3) General Elementary (K-8)
164 165 150 153	Middle School English/Language Arts Middle School Mathematics Middle School Science Middle School Social Studies	Middle School Education: Middle School English (5-8) Middle School Math (5-8) Middle School Science Middle School Social Studies
167 150 160 147 157	English Language Arts: Content Knowledge Biology: Content Knowledge Mathematics: Content Knowledge Physical Science: Content Knowledge Social Studies: Content Knowledge	Secondary Education: English Science Mathematics Physical Science Social Studies
–	Visit Maine’s Praxis Requirements for a complete list of K-12 certification tests	All Grades (7-12)

Special Education
Qualifying Score	Required Test(s)	Special Education Certification
163	Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments	Blind/Visually Impaired (K-12)
160	Special Education: Education of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Students	Deaf/Hearing Impaired (K-12)
152	Special Education: Teaching Speech to Students with Language Impairments	Speech & Hearing Clinician (K-12)
158	Special Education: Teaching Students with Mental Retardation	Students with Severe Disabilities (K-12)
159	Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood	Teacher – Disabled Students (0-5)
151	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	Teacher – Disabled Students (K-8) or (7-12)

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Step Four: Maine Application Requirements

Candidates for teacher certification in Maine must:

Hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a state/regionally accredited institution.
Complete application
Pass Praxis II exams.
Submit all official college transcripts from both undergraduate and graduate degrees (if applicable).
Submit all additional documentation (out-of-state teaching license, etc.).
Non-refundable $100 Initial Teacher Certificate fee, made payable to “Treasurer, State of Maine.”

Background Check

To legally work with children, all teaching candidates must be fingerprinted and approved by the Maine Department of Education. Visit IdentoGO to schedule your fingerprint appointment.

The Maine Department of Education provides teaching candidates with a wide variety of online job resources for those pursuing a career in both classroom teaching and the education field in general. Visit Maine DOE’s job opportunities page for a comprehensive list of online job resources and vacancies.

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Maine Certification Reciprocity

Maine participates in teaching reciprocity with other states. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

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Maine Teacher Salary

Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Maine provides 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 teacher induction policies which include professional development, training and mentoring programs
Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $50, 870
Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $51,480
Average Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15

Teacher salaries were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2015 Occupational Employment Statistics report.

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