- Teacher Certification Map
- Become a Teacher in Maine
Certification Roadmap
Click buttons to jump to section Maine Certification Requirements Maine Prerequisite Coursework Maine Teacher Preparation Maine Required Tests Maine Certification Reciprocity Maine Teacher Salary Teacher Certification Information & Links
Maine Highlights
This page is sponsored by 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 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.
Certification Requirements
Important Note: Education licensure requirements and salary statistics (for teachers and administrators) 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: 1/06/2015
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.”
Master’s Requirements
Did you know that 33 states require teachers to have a master’s degree to stay certified in teaching?
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 USC Rossier School of Education.
Maine Teacher 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.
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 on this, visit our page on scholarships for teachers. For more scholarships for teachers exclusive to the State of 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. Information about alternative certification in Maine is coming soon!
Maine Required Tests
Basic Skills Assessment
Maine does not require teaching candidates to complete the 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.
Qualifying Score162
150
CORE: Writing
CORE: Mathematics
157
PLT: Grades 7-12
Content Assessment(s)
Maine requires that teaching candidates successfully complete and pass content area test(s) in their area of certification.
| Qualifying Score | Required Test(s) | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 166 | Education of Young Children | Early Childhood (Birth-Age 5) |
| 157 145 — 165 164 155 159 160 |
Education of Young Children and PLT: Early Childhood Elementary Education: Content Knowledge, or Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects
and |
Elementary Education: Early Elementary (K-3) General Elementary (K-8) |
| 164 165 142 153 |
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) |
| 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) |
| 140 | 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) |
Maine Certification Reciprocity
Maine will accept some teaching credentials from all but the following states: Alaska and Iowa. Contact the Maine Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
Maine Teacher Salary
- 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: $45,420
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $47,340
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Maine makes 129% of the salary of the average worker in Maine
- Average Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15
Applying for Certification
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.
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.
Maine Substitute Teacher Requirements
Please click here to learn more about how to become a substitute teacher in Maine.
Contact Information
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
207-624-6603 – Contact
Additional links
- Maine Department of Education
- Maine Teacher Tenure
- Teachers Test Prep: Free online Praxis Study Guides and Praxis Practice Tests, and a variety of preparation options to meet your individual needs, including prep classes, private tutoring, and online prep.
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