Teaching Certification Renewal

Once you receive your Maine Provisional Teaching Certificate, it is valid for two years. It is not renewable except under special circumstances. After two years, you must apply for a Professional Teaching Certificate. To receive this certificate, you must meet the standards for professional growth, entailing the following:

• Completing six semester credits of college study in each of your certification area(s)
• Having taught full-time in Maine for the past two years
• Completing the induction program for new teachers at your school
• Meeting the requirements of your individual Professional Certification Action Plan (PCAP)
• Receiving a positive recommendation for renewal from your school administrators.

A PCAP must be instituted every time you move from one level of certification to the other (i.e., from Provisional to Professional, or from Professional to Master). Under the terms of your PCAP, your needs and weaknesses are identified and targeted, your classroom performance is observed at least three times over two years (six times if you are applying for a Master Certificate).

To apply for renewal of a Professional Certificate after five years, you must prepare and implement a renewal plan for six credits of approved study in each of your certification area(s).

Reinstatement of Certification

If you held a Provisional or Professional Certificate that has expired, you will be issued a Provisional Certificate as long as you meet the requirements (i.e., you must submit a complete application package as you did when you applied for initial certification). Once you show that you have completed at least six credits in each of your certification area(s) and have met any additional educational requirements, you will be issued a Professional Certificate.