Skip to main content

Human Resources → Educator Certification → Current Educators → Salary Advancement Information

Salary Advancement Information


All GRADUATE credits taken through a regionally accredited college/university and MSDE approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits earned after the completion of the bachelor's degree are acceptable toward advanced salary placement.   

Icon - star blueVIEW THIS Power Point presentation (PDF) about understanding salary advancement.   

Icon - star blueVIEW THIS Optional Guide that you can use to help you track applicable credits toward salary advancement. 

Procedure for Requesting Advanced Salary Placement

PLEASE NOTE:  Placement on advanced salary lanes is not automatic. It is the professional's responsibility to request advanced salary placement.
 
We will replace this information with the updated process when that has been finalized. In the meantime, this is the current process.
 
Salary advancement is requested by submitting the original OR digitally signed and dated Form 475-1, Request for Advanced Salary Placement to the Certification Unit. Please review and follow the instructions on page 2 of Form 475-1 in order to ensure acceptable submission and choose ONLY ONE of the following submission options:

Via Email:  certification@mcpsmd.org

Via Interoffice Mail (pony):   ATTN: Certification Unit, OHRD/DHCM, 45 W. Gude, Suite 2300

Via Regular U.S. Mail to:   ATTN: Certification Unit, MCPS–OHRD/DHCM, 45 West Gude Drive, Suite 2300, Rockville, MD  20850-1159 

See instructions for submitting official documentation. The request will be processed only when successful completion of all coursework has been verified by the certification unit. The unit has a two week period after the Last Date for Human Resources to Receive All Official Documentation to process and notify the educator. See Important Notes below for more information. 

Qualifying for Advanced Salary Placement

Salary lane changes will occur no later than the second pay period after all required and verified official documentation of eligibility is submitted to the Certification Unit. Yearly "salary schedules" can be accessed on the ERSC Web site. 

Here is an Optional Guide you can use to help you track applicable credits toward salary advancement.

Overview of Salary Lanes

The following chart reflects an overview of the salary lanes. Click on the applicable salary lane for more information related to that salary lane.  Again, view this Power Point presentation (PDF) about understanding salary advancement.  

Bachelor’s Master’s or
Master’s Equivalent
Bachelor’s degree or non-degree T & I (Trades and Industry) or non-degree PTE (Professional & Technical Education)*

A minimum of 30 post-baccalaureate credits, 15 of which must be graduate; the remaining 15 may be graduate or CPD; or

Two bachelor’s degree conferrals with a minimum of 30 credits in the second degree or a total of 150 credits earned with both bachelor's degrees
Master’s+30 or
Master’s Equivalent+30 		 Master’s+60 or
Master’s Equivalent+60
A minimum of 60 post-baccalaureate credits, 15 of which must be graduate; the remaining 45 may be graduate or CPD  A minimum of 90 post-baccalaureate credits, 15 of which must be graduate; the remaining 75 may be graduate or CPD 

 Important Notes

  • The terms "credit" refers to semester hours. Quarter hour credits are converted to semester hour credits with three quarter hours equaling two semester hours.
  • Acceptable courses must earn a grade "C" or better or the equivalent  
  • Make sure you are do not take coursework that you have previously taken.  Duplicate coursework is not acceptable. 
  • CPD credits are only courses approved by MSDE for CPD (continuing professional development) credits. MCPS does not determine what receives CPD credit.
  • *Non-degree Trades & Industry employees should contact the Certification Unit regarding salary advancement.
  • An employee who has earned a second bachelor's degree after the granting of the first bachelor's degree should refer to the information on the MEQ salary lane. and contact the Certification Unit for additional information and clarification.