Human Resources → Educator Certification Information → New Educators → Employment Requirements and Contingencies (Form 440-24)
Employment Requirements and Contingencies (Form 440-24)
For the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
General Form Information
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information page will only be helpful to you once you’ve received your specific Form 440-24. New hire file reviews for certification requirements are completed during the first semester for educators hired prior to January 1 and during the second semester for educators hired after January 1. After the file review is completed, an Outlook email is sent to you with accompanying certification information and instructions on next steps.
The Form 440-24, Requirements and Contingencies for The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), includes information regarding your initial Maryland certification requirements and local contingencies.
MSDE certification requirements are not the same as MCPS local requirements. You are responsible for compliance of both. Please click on the title of the Form 440-24 that you received from the choices below for information about your particular form.
A Maryland teaching certificate is your license to teach in an accredited public school in the state of Maryland. All teachers, specialists, and administrators or supervisors in a position directly related to the instructional program in the state are required to hold a Maryland certificate. Maryland teaching certificates have an issuance date of either January 1 or July 1. Professionals who begin service between January 1 and June 30 will be issued a certificate valid January 1. Those who begin service between July and December 31 will be issued a certificate valid July 1.
As with all licenses, it should be treated as an important document. It is recommended that your certificate be kept in a personal certification file so that you can refer to it for information. As stated on the actual license, “It is the responsibility of the holder of this document to know the current regulations and to renew this certificate prior to the expiration date.”
IMPORTANT: Keep a copy of your Form 440-24 for your personal certification folder for future reference. Options include keeping a hard copy, saving a copy to your computer, or saving a copy to a digital savings device (memory stick, CD, etc.).
Information About The Different Types of 440-24 Forms
Refer to the top right hand information box of your Form 440 for the form number (e.g., MCPS Form 440-24, 440-24A or 440-24B) and click on the appropriate form listed below for detailed information about that particular form.
- For educators who have never held a Maryland professional certificate.
- For educators who hold an expired provisional certificate (no longer issued by MSDE).
- For educators who currently hold a Maryland professional certificate.
- For educators who have a lapsed Maryland standard or advanced professional certificate.
- For specialists who must have a valid Maryland State Board of Examiners license.
Still Have Questions?
After you have reviewed your Form 440-24 and the information on these web pages, should you still have questions or concerns about your requirements or local contingencies, please contact the person in the Certification Unit whose name is referenced in the body of the email you received with your Form 440-24 via Outlook email.
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