Follow us on TwitterMCPS Careers: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Under the Certificate License section of the job description for which I want to apply it reads "Completion of the MCPS (specific test) at the required score."? Where do I go to take these specific MCPS tests?
MCPS tests are administered at the Office of Human Resources by appointment only, Monday through Friday: 8 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 3 pm. Please call 301-279-3291 to schedule appointments for testing. More information on testing.
How do I indicate interest in a position when a vacancy does not exist?
If you are a current MCPS employee, log in to the system and click on the "Access your Profile" link. You will be able to update your profile and indicate any career preferences. If you are a potential employee, create a profile and update your career preferences. By creating a profile, a staff member will have access to your information and may contact you if your profile matches a particular position.
I have not received a call or e-mail from anyone at MCPS since I submitted my application. How do I know where I am in the hiring process?
By using the ViewMyJobs section of MCPS Careers, you will be able to review your status within the hiring process for each job to which you have applied. You can log on to your profile and see the status as well as any e-mail messages sent to you via MCPS Careers.
How do I get assistance if I don't understand the profile and application process?
Watch our tutorial, which provides a click by click demonstration of how to create your profile and apply to a position. Additional in-person assistance is available by visiting the Office of Human Resources at 45 West Gude Drive, Rockville, MD, or by calling 301-279-3278.
How do I find out when a new vacancy is advertised?
There are a variety of ways to search for jobs within MCPS Careers. By logging into the system, you have the ability to save frequent searches you perform on a regular basis.
If I am not a certified teacher, where can I get information about the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) certification requirements?
Information regarding Maryland certification requirements can be found by visiting the Maryland State Department of Education's website.
Where do I see the closing date for a position vacancy?
Within the job description at the very end of the text is the Posting Date. If the wording used is Ongoing, that indicates that the position is posted until it is filled or possibly cancelled.
How do I know that a position I applied for was filled by someone else?
If you have applied to a position and are not the selected candidate, you will be sent an e-mail notifying you that the position has been filled.
How do I know how many hours the position requires?
The Schedule on the job description provides this information.
How long do my jobs stay in my job cart?
If there is a posting close date for the position, you will not be able apply after that date even if the job is in your job cart. For ongoing positions please be aware that the position is open until filled and could close at any point. It is recommended that you apply to positions in which you are interested as soon as possible.
Should I send my résumé to the Office of Human Resources or to the school where I want to work?
No, all résumés should be included electronically as an attachment on your MCPS Careers profile. MCPS Careers is the only way to apply for jobs within MCPS.
What if I need help filling out my profile and applying for a specific job vacancy?
The Office of Human Resources has computers available and can provide assistance. You can also access MCPS Careers from any computer with an internet connection. Home computers and public library computers can be used. Videos that demonstrate how to search and apply for jobs will be available on the MCPS Careers website.
Potential Candidate Questions
What if I don't have an e-mail account?
You will need to have access to an e-mail account prior to applying for a job. E-mail is the primary method MCPS will use to communicate with you. There are several websites that offer free e-mail accounts, including Gmail and Hotmail.
How do I apply to a teaching position?
Applying to a teaching position in MCPS Careers is simple. Depending upon your education and experience, you will apply to one of the four teaching pool positions, which appear at the top of the jobs listings page.
- Elementary school teaching positions
- Middle and high school teaching positions
- Special education teaching positions and other related services (speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists)
- K-12 subject area teaching positions (art, choral/general music, ESOL, physical education, school counselor)
I am a student teacher and would like a teaching job. How do I apply?
You will apply to jobs in the same way other candidates apply for teaching positions. Be sure to indicate that you are an MCPS student teacher when asked during the creation of your profile. Applying to a teaching position in MCPS Careers is simple. Depending upon your education and experience, you will apply to one of the four teaching pool positions, which appear at the top of the jobs listings page.
- Elementary school teaching positions
- Middle and high school teaching positions
- Special education teaching positions and other related services (speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists)
- K-12 subject area teaching positions (art, choral/general music, ESOL, physical education, school counselor)
Why can't I see teaching positions at specific schools?
MCPS is committed to ensuring we hire the best and brightest teachers to work with our students. We want to ensure that all of our potential teachers will be a strong match for MCPS prior to applying to vacancies at specific school locations. It is very important to us that we find those candidates who will be able to ensure the success of all students. Therefore, before we invite you to apply to specific vacancies we need to ensure that your experience and qualifications will be a match with MCPS.
How long does the hiring process typically take?
This depends on a variety of factors, including time of year, position type, etc. If invited for an interview, please talk with your staffer to determine the hiring timeline for the position for which you are interviewed. Throughout the process, you can check the status of your application by logging in to MCPS Careers and clicking the "View My Job Submissions" link.
How do I know what the salary is for a position you have advertised?
Salary varies depending upon the position to which you are applying. See more information about salary schedules for the four different unions.
I am interested in substitute work only. How do I find out what positions you have available?
Specific substitute positions will not be posted. The only substitute positions posted will be substitute teaching positions. If you are interested in substitute work, please indicate this by responding to the question when you fill out your candidate profile.
Is a background check required in order for me to be hired?
In order to be employed with MCPS, a background check is required. Prior to starting your position, you will need to be fingerprinted. If an employment offer is made, you will receive additional information about scheduling fingerprinting via e-mail.
I don't have an e-mail account but it is a requirement to create an MCPS Careers profile. What can I do?
You will need to have access to an e-mail account prior to applying for a job. E-mail is the primary method MCPS will use to communicate with you. There are several websites that offer free e-mail accounts, including Gmail and Hotmail.
What do I do if I don't have the phone numbers and contact information for all of my references?
Reference information is not required at the time of application. You can apply to the position and then update your profile as soon as you are able to obtain the additional information for your references.
I have heard that MCPS has employee unions. Will I be required to join?
MCPS employees are divided into three units which are represented by four different employee unions. Depending on the job position, you are represented by one of the following units.
- Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) represents all teacher certificated jobs that are not supervisory. This includes classroom teachers, media specialists, and counselors to name a few. Union membership offers many benefits. If you choose not to join, you will pay an agency fee which covers the cost of the work that is done for all teacher employees.
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500 represents supporting services which includes non-teacher certificated jobs such as secretaries, paraeducators, bus operators, and building service workers to name a few. Union membership offers many benefits. If you choose not to join, you will pay an agency fee which covers the cost of the work that is done for all supporting services employees.
- Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP) and Montgomery County Business and Operations Administrators (MCBOA) represents all employees with administration certification and supervisors of office operations. Jobs included in this unit are principals, assistant principals, and central services supervisors.
What jobs are classified into what unions?
MCEA: Teachers, Instructional Specialists, Student Services
SEIU: Building Services / Custodial, Bus Operator, Clerical/Secretary, Energy Management, Facilities/Construction, Finance, Fleet Automotive Mechanics, Food Nutrition Services, Technology
MCAAP: Administrators, Assistant Principal / Assistant School Administrator, Business Managers
MCBOA: Business / Operations Management
Current MCPS Employee Questions
How will this affect the teacher / paraeducator transfer season?
The transfer process will be very similar to prior years. The main difference is that instead of using the Vacancy Database to search for jobs, MCPS employees will use MCPS Careers to search for positions. In order to be considered for a position, you will need to apply to the job. Principals will then be able to review your profile and contact you if they would like to schedule an interview. Job fairs will not be affected by the change.
I am a current MCPS substitute teacher, how does this affect me?
If you are a current MCPS substitute teacher you will continue to use the MCPS Substitute Calling System for coordinating daily job assignments. If you are interested in another position within MCPS, you would use your MCPS login and password to search and apply for jobs within MCPS Careers.
I am a current MCPS employee and I want to use a personal e-mail account rather than my MCPS e-mail account. I never log on to my MCPS e-mail account so even if I get an e-mail about a job being posted, I would not know about it.
You cannot change your e-mail address in your profile if you are an MCPS employee. You can update your Outlook e-mail options to create a new rule so that your e-mails can be forwarded to your personal account.
I have never used my MCPS e-mail account. I don't remember the account name or the password. How do I get this information?
The MCPS Help Desk can provide you with this information. You can reach the Help Desk by calling 301-517-5800.
Why do I have to use MCPS Careers if I am being involuntarily transferred?
MCPS Careers is your access to all job vacancies. As an involuntary transfer you have the opportunity to find a job that best meets your needs. If you do not find one then you will be placed in a position for which you are qualified. More information on transfers.
Why do current MCPS employees have a different job search link than potential employees?
There are some job vacancies which are advertised only to current employees. In these cases, a non-MCPS employee would not be eligible to apply.
As a current MCPS employee, why do I need to log in to search for job vacancies?
All current employees will have a default profile created, which will be populated with existing employment data. In order to access that profile, your Outlook user account name and password are required. Also when you are a current employee, the required information for employment is different.
Will my existing manager be notified if I apply to a job?
MCPS Careers will not notify your current manager that you have applied to a position. However, as you move through the hiring process, it is possible that your current supervisor may be contacted for reference information.
Who will be able to access the information I enter in my profile?
The Office of Human Resource will be able to view this data, as well as the manager of any specific job vacancy to which you apply.