licensure Policy and Requirements
licensure Policy and Requirements
HR 10.1
Principals, assistant principals and teachers are required to have teacher licensure through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Purpose:
To ensure that Archdiocesan teachers and administrators maintain Maryland State licensure.
To ensure Archdiocesan teachers and administrators are well-qualified for their profession.
Commentary/Procedural Points:
Principals, assistant principals, and teachers maintain a copy of their current licensure with the Department of Human Resources via UKG.
Teachers maintain a copy of their current licensure with the principal.
Annual updates are to be provided as requested to the Department of Catholic Schools.
Archdiocese of Baltimore Department of Catholic Schools
Licensure Requirements (Revised 05/2026)
Archdiocesan High Schools, Middle Schools and Elementary Schools
Teachers
All teachers (Pre K 4 – 12) are to be Maryland State licensed as a teacher.
In addition, all Religion teachers are to be Catholic and catechist certified, as determined by the Department of Catholic Schools (DCS). For the 2026–2027 school year, the DCS is investigating possible catechetical certification pathways and options.
Teachers who are licensed but teaching in another area are to focus their professional development on the area in which they are working.
While licensure is preferred, PreK-3 teachers are required to have a minimum of 90-hour child care certification.
Part-time special area teachers (i.e. Art, P.E., Music, Computer, Library) are encouraged to seek a bachelor’s degree and MSDE licensure. Professional development is to be annual and ongoing in their specialty area or in education.
Please note: Part-time special teachers who work in one or more locations 25 hours per week or more are considered full time and are required to be licensed.
The following exceptions to teacher licensure apply:
Individuals with a doctorate degree who are teaching in their area of expertise.
Religion teachers who have a minimum of a Master’s degree in Theology/ Religious Studies are exempt from the MSDE licensure, if teaching Religion.
Senior Exemptions:
A teacher who will complete or has completed at least 25 years of public or nonpublic teaching with licensure in Maryland or any other state, or who is or will be at least 55 years of age any time within the validity dates of his/her current licensure, qualifies for a Senior Exemption from the Archdiocese of Baltimore Licensure Requirement. As of July 1, 2025, this is an Archdiocese of Baltimore internal process and will not be processed through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
If a teacher resigns or retires from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Archdiocese of Baltimore Senior Exemption allowance is not an option for renewing a Maryland license. In that instance, the teacher must submit the MSDE requirements along with a request to reinstate the license directly to MSDE.
Requirements for Non-Licensed Teachers
Updates as of 01/2026 are reflected in blue.
PATH A
Path A is to be followed by teachers who have never been licensed.
The teacher must complete a Maryland-approved traditional or alternative teacher preparation program.
Teachers must demonstrate progress toward MSDE licensure within two school years and achieve full licensure by the end of the fifth school year.
This requirement applies across all AOB schools and does not reset if a teacher transfers from one AOB school to another.
Failure to meet the requirements above is grounds for non-renewal of the contract.
The following procedures must be followed:
A signed Path A letter must be uploaded to UKG as documentation.
Communication between principal and teacher must happen on a bi-monthly basis on progress being made to meet the above requirements.
The principal will provide monthly updates to the Associate Superintendent.
No extension will be granted unless approved by the Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
PATH B
Path B is to be followed by an AOB teacher whose MSDE licensure has lapsed (expired):
A teacher currently employed by the AOB who allows his/her MSDE licensure to lapse must reinstate the license by the end of one (1) school year.
In this case, the teacher is required to reinstate through completion of the Individual Professional Development Plan and earn 90 points.
Failure to obtain reinstatement by the end of one school year is grounds for non-renewal of the contract.
**Applicants or individuals not yet employed by the AOB who hold an expired MSDE teaching license are permitted up to three (3) years to complete the reinstatement process of earning 90 points on an Individual Professional Development Plan. Once hired, teachers are expected to begin the process of earning the required reinstatement points.
The following procedures must be followed:
A signed Path B letter must be uploaded to UKG as documentation.
Communication between principal and teacher must happen on a bi-monthly basis on progress being made to meet the above requirements.
The principal will provide monthly updates to the Associate Superintendent.
The teacher candidate will be responsible for submission of all necessary documentation to MSDE.
No extension will be granted unless approved by the Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
References/Links:
Path A and B Requirements
Path A Letter (to upload to UKG)
Path B Letter (to upload to UKG)