Human Resources → Educator Certification Information → MSDE Certificate → Senior Status
Senior Status Qualification Information
Do You Have Senior Status?
If you will complete or have completed at least 25 years of public or non-public professional school service, in Maryland or any other state, or you are or will be at least 55 years of age any time within the validity dates of your current license, you qualify for senior status for MCPS. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) allows school systems to use this option to request the license renewal of its professionally contracted educators who are eligible. Any coursework on file will be added to your State records. You will continue to hold a professional Maryland license and there is no indication on the license that it was renewed using this allowance/option.
If you resign or retire from MCPS before your certificate expires, you will no longer be contracted; therefore, the senior status allowance is not an option for renewing your Maryland license. In that instance, you must submit renewal requirements along with your request to renew your license directly to MSDE.
What Senior Status Does NOT Mean
PLEASE NOTE: Senior status is only for certificate renewal and does NOT exempt an educator from meeting the MSDE Lauryn's Law requirement if the educator holds the School Counselor endorsement area on their Maryland Educator Certificate at time of renewal.