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Post-Baccalaureate Coursework and Salary Advancement Process
The Certification Unit maintains an individual record of post-baccalaureate coursework that has been submitted by each professionally contracted educator. However, because of the large number of certificated educators in MCPS, these records are only updated periodically. Upon request from the individual professionally contracted educator, an updated Post-Baccalaureate Record (PBR) can be sent to you one time per year. If you are unsure about what completed coursework is in your certification file, please contact the Certification Unit to request a copy of your PBR.
What is on the Post-Baccalaureate Record (PBR)
Each PBR includes the date of your initial bachelor's degree conferral, SS#, and birthdate along with the following credit information:
- Credits in the “G” column are graduate credits from regionally accredited colleges/universities .
- Credits in the “CPD” column are the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approved continuing professional development (CPD) experiences.
- Credits in the “U” column are undergraduate credits from regionally accredited colleges/universities.
- Credits in the “EQIV” column are equivalent activities for Advanced Professional Certificate renewal purposes only.
Credits from Regionally Accredited Colleges and Universities
If you have additional post-baccalaureate credits from a regionally accredited college/university that are not included on the PBR, please submit an original, official transcript to the Certification Unit (photocopies, computer printouts, faxes and Professional Development Online (PDO) printouts are NOT acceptable) and the coursework will be added to your PBR.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits
If you have additional post-baccalaureate credits from MSDE approved CPD credits completed through MCPS, please note that copies of all MCPS CPD credit slips are automatically submitted to the Certification Unit for all professionally contracted educators and you do NOT need to submit your copy of MCPS CPD credit slips.
If you have additional post baccalaureate credits from MSDE approved CPD credits that have been issued on an MSDE CPD credit slip form, then those MSDE CPD credits taken elsewhere in Maryland must be submitted to Dr. Russ Fazio, MCPS Professional Development Liaison, in the Continuing Education team in the Department of Certification and Continuing Education, for his approval and distribution. Once approved, the coursework will be added to your PBR.
Placement on Advanced Salary Lanes
Placement on advanced salary lanes is not automatic. Once you qualify for the next salary lane, it is your responsibility to request advanced salary placement. Application is made by submitting a completed MCPS Form 475-1, Request for Advanced Salary Placement (PDF), to the Certification Unit (please download and print out form). Submit the original signed and dated Form 475-1 to the Certification Unit for review:
Via Interoffice Mail (pony): ATTN: Certification Unit
OHRD/DCCE
45 W. Gude, Suite 2300
or
Via Regular U.S. Mail to: ATTN: Certification Unit
MCPS - OHRD/Deptartment of Certification & Continuing Education
45 West Gude Drive, 2nd Floor, Suite 2300
Rockville, MD 20850-1159
We cannot accept faxed or emailed requests. The effective date of the approved salary advancement is based on the date that all official documentation, including request form, is received. This schedule can be accessed with the following link: Schedule of Due Dates and Paydays for MCEA Unit Member Salary Lane Change.
Please note that the master's equivalency to obtain an advanced professional certificate is not the same as the master's equivalency salary lane. To obtain an advanced professional certificate, you must complete 36 semester hours of post-baccalaureate credits, 21 of which must be graduate credits from a regionally accredited college or university. The remaining 15 can be graduate, undergraduate or CPD credits. However, only graduate and CPD credits count toward advanced salary placement.
You should use the following guidelines to calculate how close you are to the next salary lane:
Placement on the Master's and Master's Equivalent Salary Lane (M/MEQ)
A master's equivalency is earned by completing 30 semester hours of post-baccalaureate graduate credit from a regionally accredited college/university and Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits. A maximum of 15 CPD credits can be used, while a minimum of 15 graduate credits is required. Undergraduate credits do not count towards salary advancement.
Placement on the Master's Plus Thirty/Master's Equivalent Plus Thirty Salary Lane (M/MEQ +30)
In addition to the credit needed to qualify for the Master's and Master's Equivalent salary lane, 30 graduate credits from a regionally accredited college/university and/or CPD credits must be earned to qualify for the M/MEQ+30 salary lane. In general, to qualify for this placement, a teacher must earn 60 semester hours of acceptable post-baccalaureate credit. If a master's degree includes more than 30 semester hours of graduate credit, those additional graduate credits are creditable toward the 60 semester hours of acceptable post-baccalaureate credits required for the M+30 salary level.
Placement on the Master's Plus Sixty/Master's Equivalent Plus Sixty Salary Lane (M/MEQ+60)
In addition to the credit needed to qualify for the Master's and Master's Equivalent salary lane, 60 graduate credits from a regionally accredited college/university and/or CPD's must be earned to qualify for the M/MEQ+60 salary lane. In general, to qualify for this placement, a teacher must earn 90 semester hours of acceptable post-baccalaureate credit. If a master's degree includes more than 30 semester hours of graduate credit, those additional graduate credits are creditable toward the 90 semester hours of acceptable post-baccalaureate credits required for the M+60 salary level.
Important Notes
- Acceptable courses (grade “C” or better) and degrees are those that are relevant to the professional assignment and/or to the anticipated professional responsibility and are taken beyond the normal workday.
- Only graduate and CPD credits count toward advanced salary placement. Undergraduate and equivalent credits are not applicable toward advanced salary placement.
- Graduate credits earned prior to the granting of a bachelor's degree, even though not required for the undergraduate degree, will not be accepted as graduate credit unless an advanced degree has been granted and the credit was part of the advanced degree program (not a prerequisite).
- Trades & Industry employees should contact the Certification Unit regarding salary advancement.
- An employee who has earned a second bachelor's degree after the granting of the first bachelor's degree should contact the Certification Unit for additional information and clarification.
We hope this information helps you determine your salary status. Please contact us if you see any discrepancies in your PBR. Please retain a copy of all post-baccalaureate course work in your personal records and refer questions to the Certification Unit.
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