Human Resources → Educator Certification Information → MSDE Certificate → Standard Professional Certificate 2 (SPC2)
Valid 5 Years
Issued to an applicant who previously held the SPC1 and does not yet qualify for the Advanced Professional Certificate (APC), is employed by a Maryland local school system or an accredited non-public school, and completed 3 years of satisfactory school related experience and 6 semester hours of acceptable credit.
Prior to the expiration of the SPC2 and in order to obtain the APC, you must:
A certificate renewal plan is required by MSDE in order to obtain the APC and subsequent APC renewals, unless the certificate holder qualifies for senior status. The APC renewal plan must indicate what six acceptable credits or the equivalent the professional plans to complete in order to obtain the subsequent APC. The types of acceptable equivalent activities and the requirements are listed on MCPS Form 440-37, Five-year Certificate Renewal Plan for the Renewal of the Advanced Professional Certificate (APC) (PDF).
All official transcripts and equivalent activities being used for the renewal cycle must be received by the Certification Unit by the certificate expiration date of December 31st or June 30th.
A $10 fee is charged by MSDE for issuance of an initial certificate/license and for each renewal. An email alerting the educator to pay the invoiced fee will be sent via TEACH for the educator to pay via their TEACH dashboard. Note – the new or renewed certificate will remain in a pending status until payment has been submitted by the educator. Paid = Active Certificate = Certified.
At the discretion of the local school system, professionals who fail to meet professional certificate renewal requirements are issued a Class II Conditional Certificate valid for two years. They will receive a provisional contract and will lose tenure. Experience completed under a Class II certificate may not apply toward salary advancement. For example, future step increases may be delayed based on the length of time the professional was on the Class II certificate. Failure to meet the remaining credits by the expiration of the Conditional Certificate will result in termination of employment.
Please note that COMAR 13A.12.01.11A(3) states that “the local school system may request a conditional certificate…for an employee who fails to meet the renewal requirements of the professional certificate.”
Certificates are rated Class II because of failure to meet renewal requirements. In each case, the professional whose certificate is rated Class II will be notified of the change. All other certificates are rated Class I.