Teaching License from North Carolina to Maryland: Does It Transfer? (2026)
A teaching certificate transfers from North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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, North Carolina → Maryland
| North Carolina (current) | Maryland (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $30–$100 (NCDPI publishes only a range: 'Non-refundable service fees range from $30 - $100' for professional educator's licenses, with the exact amount set by application type under the State Board's Licensure Fees policy. No single out-of-state application figure is published.) | $10 ($10 processing fee for issuance of a license, paid through the TEACH Dashboard only after MSDE determines eligibility; Visa and Mastercard accepted) |
| Processing time | 8–12 weeks (NCDPI's licensure page states 'Processing of licensure applications is currently averaging 8-12 weeks.' This is a current-conditions figure, not a statutory service standard.) | 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 authority | North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) — Educator Licensure | 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
- Confirm Maryland's current requirements on the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Division of Educator Effectiveness (Educator Licensure) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Apply online through the Educator Application and Certification Hub (TEACH).
- 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.
- 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.
- Pass an approved reading instruction assessment when applying for early childhood, elementary, generic special education, or ESOL licensure.
- Submit official transcripts showing the degree conferred and the conferral date.
- 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
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Maryland accept a North Carolina teaching license?
A teaching certificate transfers from North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina-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.
- MSDE — Educator Licensure Frequently Asked Questions ($10 processing fee; 8-week processing commitment; TEACH application system) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- MSDE — Pathways to Initial Licensure (Out-of-State Teacher Preparation Program and Out-of-State Professional License routes) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- MSDE — Out-of-State Candidate Assessment Requirements (performance-based pedagogy assessment options and reading instruction assessment passing scores) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- NCDPI — Educator's Licensure (processing time) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- NCDPI — Further Educator License Information (out-of-state, CPL/IPL, exam comparability) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- NCDPI — Forms and FAQs (fee range, out-of-state applicant definition) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- NCDPI — Apply for a NC Educator License ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]