EPT
One Degree printing error later, one electronic transferring error later, and half a year later, there was still no progress on my application. Keep in mind this involved me calling their help line and waiting on hold for minimum 30 minutes several times a month. Then, by some miracle, a few minutes ago, I received an e-mail:
Dear MR <excluded>:
We are pleased to inform you that you are eligible for Maryland professional certification in the following area(s):
Physics 7-12
R6 / S
Certificate Type: Professional Eligibility
Basis for Initial Certification: Maryland Approved Program
To maintain your eligibility, go online at www.mdcert.org and complete/submit the electronic application (transcripts are currently on file). You may also pay via credit card or forward the $10 certificate processing fee (money order, cashier's check, or certified check made payable to MSDE, 200 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201) within one year from the date of this correspondence. Personal checks are not accepted. Contact information for Maryland public schools is also available at this site.
Maryland welcomes your interest regarding certification. Our state is dedicated to ensuring success for every child in every school. Qualified, competent, and caring educators are vital to the attainment of this goal.
Sincerely,
Certification Branch
Hm, so I'm not certified yet, it seems. Well this is much better than the usual exchange:
Me: Hi, what's the status of my application?
Them: Our records indicate that we are waiting for you to send us a valid college transcript.
Me: I already sent it three times, and you've confirmed receiving it the last two times I called.
Them: Oh, my mistake. Ah yes, sorry, I couldn't read my computer monitor. In that case, the progress of your application shows that it is currently in with an evaluator.
Me: But it's been with an evaluator for months.
Them: The evaluation progress typically takes 14-16 weeks. But don't worry, your application is in with a fast evaluator.
So I went online and filled out the online application. I received the following verification:
Dear <excluded>: The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has received your initial application request. If you are employed in a local public school system, your local public school system will review the application. If MSDE reviews your application, we will notify you by email after eligibility has been determined. You will be able to check your current status when you log in to our website at www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/certification/certification_branch/ . Maryland welcomes your interest in obtaining professional certification. We are dedicated to ensuring success for every child in every school. Qualified, competent, and caring educators are vital to the attainment of this goal. Sincerely, This is a notification only; please do not respond to this email. Certification Branch
Okay. Now I just want to pay the 10 dollar fee via credit card and I should be good to go.
No applications or requests on your educator record currently require a fee.
Okay... I guess I just have to do what they like making me do... wait.
