Accelerated Certification in Teaching
Certification
The Accelerated Certification in Teaching Program (ACT) is designed to prepare women and men with non-teaching degrees for teaching careers. It is a non-degree, graduate-level, state-approved teacher education program.
Program Location
Maryland Educator Certification Areas
- Art (PreK-12)
- Music (PreK-12)
- World Languages (PreK-12)
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (PreK-12)
- Early Childhood Education (PreK-3)
- Elementary Education (1-6)
- Special Education (1-8)
- Special Education (6-Adult)
- Secondary Education (7-12) in the following content areas:
- Business Education
- Computer Science
- English
- History
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Theater
State Certification Requirements
In order to meet state certification requirements, you must successfully complete the coursework, internship, ePortfolio and Praxis II exams in the area of certification. During the internship semester, you will also complete an edTPA portfolio to be submitted for national scoring.
Anyone with a Bachelor's degree or above may apply to the ACT program. As part of the admissions process, your transcripts will be reviewed, and your academic advisor will create a custom program of study for you to follow so you will know what courses you need to take to ensure you meet the Maryland State Department of Education’s requirements.
Dual Certifications
Unlike many other teacher preparation programs, many of our program completers are certified in multiple content areas.
Dual or multiple certifications also increase the marketability of our graduates, furthering opportunities for meaningful employment.
Types of Dual Certifications Available
- Art/Music/World Languages and Special Education
- Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education
- Early Childhood Education and Special Education
- Elementary Education and Special Education
- Secondary Education and Special Education
Additional Study Options
- Cohort Programs
- Credits earned in the ACT program can be transferred to NDMU's MA in Leadership in Teaching program.
http://catalog.ndm.edu/graduate-catalog/school-of-education/accelerated-certification-for-teaching
What to Expect Studying at º£½ÇÉçÇø
As a nationally recognized NCATE-accredited teacher preparation program and the #1 private institution in Maryland for initial teacher certification, you can expect to benefit from small class sizes, expert faculty, and practical field experiences.
Flexible Class Schedules
Work with an advisor to develop a personalized program plan:
- Courses offered in the evenings at times convenient for working adults.
- Occasional courses available on Saturdays or online.
High Quality Programs
All of NDMU's award-winning teacher certification programs are nationally recognized by the and by the individual specialized professional associations; e.g., the .
Internship Opportunities
As part of the program requirements, you will complete a full-time internship semester with the support of a mentor teacher and an internship supervisor.
Internship Semester Features
- Speak to human resources representatives from local school systems.
- Get insight into the application and interview process.
- Find out what qualifications and content areas are most desired in local schools.
- Participate in on-campus interviews.
Candidates who already have a full-time teaching position in their intended certification area may use their current teaching job to satisfy the internship requirement.
Teaching Positions
Graduates of NDMU are highly recruited for employment; we partner with local school systems to help our students navigate the hiring process.
See Our Award-Winning Teachers
Maryland Teacher Shortage Areas
º£½ÇÉçÇø offers more programs in than any other institution in Maryland. By providing programs in these much-needed areas, we help our local schools systems find new teachers and our graduates find teaching jobs.
For the 2025-2026 school year, the declared critical shortage areas are:
- Family and Consumer Sciences, Technology Education (not offered at NDMU)
- Computer Science (Grades 7–12)
- English (Grades 7–12)
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (Pre-K–Grade 12)
- Mathematics (Grades 7–12)
- Middle School Education in English, Math, Science and Social Studies (Grades 4-9)
- Science Areas (Grades 7–12) Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space Science, Physical Science, Physics
- Special Education Areas Generic: Elementary (Grades 1-8) and Secondary/Adult (Grade 6–Adult)
- World Language Areas (Pre-K–Grade 12) French, Spanish
- Art (Pre-K–Grade 12)
- Dance (not offered at NDMU)