Teaching Certificate Reading Requirements

​Required Reading Course Work

In July 1998, the State Board of Education increased the number of reading credits for teachers at all educational levels.  

Certificate holders with certification in early childhood education, elementary education, and special education Infant-3 and 1-8 are required to complete 12 semester hours in reading, which shall include:

  • Processes and acquisition of reading skills

  • Methods of teaching reading

  • Reading assessment

  • Materials for teaching reading 


Certificate holders with certification in a secondary content area, special education 6- Adult, PreK-12 disciplines and library media specialist are required to complete 6 semester hours in reading, which shall include:

  • Types of reading

  • Reading assessment

  • Reading instruction

  • Strategies for intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for reading

  • Teaching students to learn from text

  • Processing multimedia information and strategies to connect reading with study skills

  • Integrating content area goals with reading goals


These courses are typically titled "Literacy in the Content Area" or "Reading in the Content Area."

Looking for a reading course in Maryland?  Please view our list of approved reading coursework.


When do I need to complete these courses?

Outstanding reading coursework is due at the renewal of the professional certificate.  At the time of initial certification, the MSDE will provide you with a Reading Summary outlining what courses are required.


Alternative to Completing Course Work

Professional certificate holders with certification in early childhood, elementary, or special education at the early childhood and elementary levels may test out of the reading coursework requirement (12 semester hours) by meeting the qualifying score on the Praxis Teaching Reading : Elementary 5205.

Required reading course work is documented on an educator's certificate under Ancillary Credits.