Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an account with the State to renew my certification?

Yes, all holders of a Maine Certification need to have an account with the state to renew their certification. To start an account click on the link "USER ACCOUNT MAINE DOE" on the first page of this website and follow the directions.

How do I get a copy of my certification/certificate?

Click on the link "CERTIFICATE COPY" on the first page of this website and follow the directions. Hit "print screen" to print a copy of it.

THE STATE IS NO LONGER SENDING CERTIFCATIONS IN THE MAIL. THAT LINK IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU WILL GET A COPY THAT YOU MUST PRINT YOURSELF.

Will I get reminders that my certification is expiring?

No, it is your responsibility to keep track of your own expiration date and fulfill the requirements before that time.

Do I need to supply the State with my own documentation (ie. transcripts, certificates of attendance, etc.) to show that I have met my renewal requirements?

If you are a TEACHER or EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST that is renewing the certification you are working under in this district the answer is NO. As long as you have filled out a pink activity request form for each activity and they have been approved by the Professional Learning Community Support System Committee and fulfilled your required credits, hours, or CEUs, and sent copies of grade reports, certificates of completion, etc. to Amy Pelletier in Central Office, you will not need to submit your own documentation to the State.

If you are an ED TECH or ADMINISTRATOR or if you are renewing a certification that you are not working under in this district (and your certificate you are working under is NOT renewing), then YES, you will have to submit any required documentation directly to the State. The instructions will show up when you apply for renewal and can be submitted on line. If you have questions about this, you must contact the State directly.

Who do I need to send a copy of my certificate to?

Send a copy to both Amy Pelletier AND Martha Bilodeau in Central Office. You must send a HARD COPY to both of them. Please do not email it or send them an electronic copy. Also, please do not send the copy of your certification that shows up in your actual account because it has a lot of extra information that Central Office does not need.

How do I know if I have completed my requirements to renew my certificate if I am a TEACHER OR EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST (ie. counselor, librarian, nurse, etc.)?

You should keep a copy of all activities you have requested, been approved for and completed in a file of your own for your five year certification cycle. This is the most efficient way to know.

If you have not kept track, you may go to Central Office and look in your file that Amy Pelletier has in her office to check.

When do I renew my certification if I am a TEACHER or EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST (ie. counselor, librarian, nurse, etc.)?

You start the process to renew your certificate once you get an email from Kelly Bean (Certification Committee Chairperson) saying she has recommended you for renewal. The time that this will happen is TBD. It is most likely to happen one to three months before your certification expires.

How do I renew my certification if I am a TEACHER or EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST (ie. counselor, librarian, nurse, etc)?

Once you get the email saying Kelly Bean has recommended you for renewal you must go into your account that you created and there will be a link somewhere that says something like, "Renewing your credentials". Follow the instructions to apply for renewal and pay for renewal at that time. THIS MUST BE DONE BY THE DATE OF YOUR CERTIFICATE EXPIRATION DATE.

What happens once I apply and pay for my renewal?

If you are renewing a professional certificate, keep checking the link on the first page of this website to print your certification and it should renew to the new expiration date with a day or so. Once it has the new expiration date, then print that screen and send a hard copy to both Amy Pelletier and Martha Bilodeau in Central Office.

If you are renewing a transitional, conditional, targeted needs, or other than professional certification, please be aware that it can take up to 10 weeks for that certification to process and renew because it must be looked at by a certification specialist at the State.

What if I need fingerprinting or have questions about fingerprinting?

You must go to the Maine DOE website that is linked on the first page of this website and look for the box that says "Fingerprinting".

What if I am an ED TECH? How do I renew or what if I have questions?

You still have to open an account with the State. You still get a copy of your of your certification or authorization the same way as answered above. You do not get recommended by Kelly Bean (that committee only works with teacher and educational specialist certifications). You must renew directly through the State following their directions when you're ready to renew.

If you have questions, you must contact the State directly. Their contact information in on their website that is linked on the first page of this website.

What if I am an ADMINISTRATOR? How do I renew or what if I have questions?

You still have to open an account with the State. You still get a copy of your of your certification the same way as answered above. You do not get recommended by Kelly Bean (that committee only works with teacher and educational specialist certifications). You must renew directly through the State following their directions when you're ready to renew.

If you have questions, you must contact the State directly. Their contact information in on their website that is linked on the first page of this website.

What happens if I have a TEACHER OR EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST certification that is renewing that I am NOT currently working under in this district?

If the current certification you are working under in this district is also renewing at the same time, you will check off all of them when you apply for renewal for the certification you are working under in this district. The State will look at the other ones and renew those for themselves. Those renewals may take up to 10 weeks for the State to process.

If your current certification you are working under at this district is not renewing BUT you have other certifications renewing, you must apply through the State and upload any required documentation when you apply.

Kelly Bean, the Certification Chairperson, can only recommend renewal for the certification you are working under in this district. She cannot recommend renewals for certifications you are not working under in this district.

What is the difference between credits, CEUs and contact hours?

1 credit=15 contact hours

1 credit=1.5 CEUs

3 credits=45 contact hours

3 credits=4.5 CEUs

6 credits=90 contact hours

What if I have questions about Article 20C?

Please refer to your contract or ask your TTEA Representative. Contracts are on the msad52.org website under "staff links".

What if I have questions about Prepayment of courses and Reimbursement?

Please refer to your contract or ask Amy Pelletier in Central Office. Contracts are on the msad52.org website under "staff links".

What if I still have questions about certification and I am a TEACHER or EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST?

Please contact the PLCSS Committee Member from your school located on the first page of this website.

What if I still have questions about certification and I am an ED TECH or ADMINISTRATOR?

Please contact the State directly.

What if I have a CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION-WHAT DO I DO?

If you have questions about your conditional certification you must contact the State directly.

If you are ready to renew your CONDITIONAL CERTICATION to a PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION, you must do that through your account with the Maine DOE (see the first question in this FAQ section). If you have questions about this you must also contact the State directly.