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Teaching License from Georgia to Maryland: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure) ↗

A teaching certificate transfers from Georgia to Maryland by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure), verify your Georgia license, and meet Maryland's endorsement requirements. Maryland does not require its own content-area licensure tests from applicants who hold a valid out-of-state professional license or completed an approved out-of-state preparation program; instead every such applicant must submit a passing score on a performance-based pedagogy assessment (edTPA or PPAT), which may be satisfied instead by a current National Board Certificate, two years of effective (or comparable) evaluations, or an effective rating on one Maryland local school system year-end evaluation. An approved reading instruction assessment (Pearson Foundations of Reading, passing score 240, or Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary 5205, passing score 159) is additionally required for early childhood, elementary, generic special education (any grade band), and ESOL PK-12.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Maryland reviews each out-of-state teaching credential individually, so what it asks of a Georgia teacher is settled by that review: it decides which Maryland credential you qualify for and what remains. Apply early and treat the review result as your real requirement list.

What changes, Georgia → Maryland

Side-by-side: Georgia vs Maryland (Teaching (K-12)), verified 2026-08-07
Georgia (current)Maryland (destination)
Application fee$0–$20 ($20 processing fee payable via MyPSC for all certification transactions; waived for an applicant's first Georgia certificate when the application is supported by an employing Georgia local unit of administration (LUA). GACE exam fees and fingerprinting costs are additional.)$10 ($10 processing fee for issuance of a license, paid through the TEACH Dashboard only after MSDE determines eligibility; Visa and Mastercard accepted)
Processing time2+ weeks (GaPSC publishes no fixed range; it posts a live queue date and asks applicants to 'wait at least two weeks after completing your application' before contacting the office. On 2026-08-07 the site stated it was processing complete application packages received on or before July 27, 2026.)up to 8 weeks (MSDE states it will process a licensure application within 8 weeks of submission if all required documents have been provided; service members, veterans, and their spouses are entitled to expedited processing)
Licensing authorityGeorgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Maryland sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Maryland's current requirements on the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Apply online through the Educator Application and Certification Hub (TEACH).
  5. Hold a bachelor's degree or higher plus either a valid out-of-state professional license or completion of an out-of-state approved preparation program including a clinical internship, in the license area sought.
  6. Submit a passing performance-based pedagogy assessment score, OR two years of effective evaluations, OR a current National Board Certificate, OR an effective Maryland year-end evaluation rating.
  7. Pass an approved reading instruction assessment when applying for early childhood, elementary, generic special education, or ESOL licensure.
  8. Submit official transcripts showing the degree conferred and the conferral date.
  9. Pay the fees ($10 ($10 processing fee for issuance of a license, paid through the TEACH Dashboard only after MSDE determines eligibility; Visa and Mastercard accepted)) and allow up to 8 weeks (MSDE states it will process a licensure application within 8 weeks of submission if all required documents have been provided; service members, veterans, and their spouses are entitled to expedited processing).

Official links

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure) ↗Maryland application ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Maryland → GeorgiaTeaching in GeorgiaTeaching in MarylandAll teaching states

Frequently asked questions

Does Maryland accept a Georgia teaching license?

A teaching certificate transfers from Georgia to Maryland by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure), verify your Georgia license, and meet Maryland's endorsement requirements. Maryland does not require its own content-area licensure tests from applicants who hold a valid out-of-state professional license or completed an approved out-of-state preparation program; instead every such applicant must submit a passing score on a performance-based pedagogy assessment (edTPA or PPAT), which may be satisfied instead by a current National Board Certificate, two years of effective (or comparable) evaluations, or an effective rating on one Maryland local school system year-end evaluation. An approved reading instruction assessment (Pearson Foundations of Reading, passing score 240, or Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary 5205, passing score 159) is additionally required for early childhood, elementary, generic special education (any grade band), and ESOL PK-12.

Will I have to retake tests moving from Georgia to Maryland?

Maryland does not require its own content-area licensure tests from applicants who hold a valid out-of-state professional license or completed an approved out-of-state preparation program; instead every such applicant must submit a passing score on a performance-based pedagogy assessment (edTPA or PPAT), which may be satisfied instead by a current National Board Certificate, two years of effective (or comparable) evaluations, or an effective rating on one Maryland local school system year-end evaluation. An approved reading instruction assessment (Pearson Foundations of Reading, passing score 240, or Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary 5205, passing score 159) is additionally required for early childhood, elementary, generic special education (any grade band), and ESOL PK-12.

Can I teach in Maryland right away?

That depends on Maryland's review: the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure) decides which credential you qualify for. Ask it whether you can start before anything outstanding is complete.

What does the Georgia-to-Maryland transfer cost and how long does it take?

$10 ($10 processing fee for issuance of a license, paid through the TEACH Dashboard only after MSDE determines eligibility; Visa and Mastercard accepted). Processing: up to 8 weeks (MSDE states it will process a licensure application within 8 weeks of submission if all required documents have been provided; service members, veterans, and their spouses are entitled to expedited processing).

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.

Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07

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