Instructions on how to apply

Please send an email to cert.doe@maine.gov with your new name and we will make the change for you. 

Please upload a copy of your social security card and we will fix your account information. 

Please contact us by emailing cert.doe@maine.gov detailing your issue. 

Please click here to login to your MEIS account. 

Anyone who works in a school is considered to be an "educator" in our system. 

Please contact us by emailing cert.doe@maine.gov detailing your issue. 

Work history is reported to us by the schools and may not cover all of your years of experience. Please know this is not related to MainePERS. 

Often times degrees are not listed because we have not received an official transcript with the conferred degree yet or your file was created prior to our new online system. Please send us an email and we will be happy to fix this. 

This means that your application has been completed and there is an evaluation letter available for you to view through your correspondence tab. 

Please contact us by emailing cert.doe@maine.gov detailing your issue. Please do not create another account as this will cause a number of issues.  

To print proof of certificate, you can print your profile page or you can use click here to view your certificate. When looking up in NEO you will only need to enter your last name and last 4 of SSN or your educator ID. 

Instructions on how to apply.

State approved programs are college teacher preparation program. If you have completed a state approved program, the college recommends you for certification.  

Some state approve program will make note of your recommendation on the transcript. If not, please submit an approve program verification form completed by the college. The form can be found on the Forms & Resources page. 

Yes, an application is not consider completed until we received your bachelors. 

We do not evaluate individuals without an application. You will need to apply for certification so we can review your transcripts. Please know your application does not expire therefore you can continue to work towards your certification goal. 

Yes, we will not accept coursework on unofficial transcripts. A transcript is considered official when submitted with the college seal and registrar's signature. Please know we will accept a scanned copy of your official transcript. 

We do not accept experience in place of coursework. 

No, if you have submitted transcripts or test scores prior to us you do not need to resubmit. 

You can upload transcripts into your MEIS account. Once received, we will re-review your application. 

You can submit course descriptions for us to re-review courses. Course descriptions can be uploaded into your account. 

All foreign transcript must be submitted with a course by course analysis completed by a NACES member organization. 

You can email course descriptions to us to ensure they are acceptable. Please be sure to include the school offering the course along with the course description. 

Unfortunately, no. Please ensure your application is for what you need and the fee is what you are expecting before submitting. If you are unsure, please contact us. 

Instructions on how to renew. 

If you hold multiple credentials you will be given the option to renew all your credentials during the renewal process. You will still need to meet the renewal requirements within the lifespan of each certificate. You cannot align conditional expiration dates. 

Along with the renewal application, teachers, administrators and educational specialist will need to submit 6 college credits or 90 contact hours. Ed Tech will need to submit 3 college credits or 45 contact hours. Feel free to email us to check if you need fingerprints. 

The renewal button does not appear until 6 months prior to your expiration date. 

Please submit an initial application by clicking the 'Apply for a New Maine Credential' button on your account homepage. Feel free to email us to check with if you need to new fingerprints. 

For contact hours we are looking for professional development hours. These can be trainings done in school or out of the school. Contact hours must related to development of your profession. 

Yes, as long as they were completed during the lifespan of the certificate. 

Individuals may receive a reciprocal professional certificate if they have submitted a criminal history background check and they hold a comparable certificate in another state, the District of Columbia, a United States territory, or another country only to address the identified staffing shortage (Shortage area list).

Please submit official transcripts with all of your degrees, any valid teaching certificate, and a detailed teaching resume. 

If there is a note on your transcript stating you graduated from an approved program, all we need is your transcripts. If you do not see anything on the transcript regarding this, please submit an approve program verification form completed by the college. The form can be found on the Forms & Resources page. 

IdentoGo has an out-of-state mail in option. You will want to register with that option and follow the instructions provided. 

Yes, an application is not considered complete until we receive your bachelor's degree. 

No, we do not accept experience in place of the coursework requirement. 

If you are looking for a CHRC only, you will need to complete two steps. 

Step 1:

Create a MEIS account and please sure to select that you want to be a Maine Educator. Submit a new application for CHRC. Instructions on how to submit an application for CHRC only. 

The application fee will be $15

Step 2:

Register with our Fingerprinting Partner,  IdentoGO.  They have a processing fee of $55.

Every 5 years, unless you have been continuously employed for the last 5 years by a Maine school district. If your certificate has lapsed (more than 6 months expired), you will need to be fingerprinted.  **Coaches and Substitute Teachers must be fingerprinted every 5 years, regardless of continuous employment

To renew a CHRC only, you will need to click the button apply for a new Maine Credential on your profile and select 'non- teaching endorsement'. If you hold a valid certificate already, you do not need to renew your CHRC. Your CHRC has part of your certificate now. 

If you have been employed in at Maine school for 5 years continuously, often times this is due to an error in work history. Please submit a verification of employment to resolve. 

This is a document created by the school detailing the position you have held and for how long. 

Find Approved IdentoGo Locations . When registering you will want to select 'new hire' even if you've been employed prior. 

No, we cannot accept fingerprints results from another state or department. You must be fingerprinted for the Maine DOE specifically. Please be sure to select Department of Education when registering. 

Receiving a CHRC is a two step process. If you have not submitted an application, we will not process your fingerprints. The application includes a $15 fee. Instructions on how to apply for CHRC only. 

You will still register through IdentoGo and select 'out of state applicant'. Then you will want to follow the instructions provided by IdentoGo. You will still need to pay the $55 IdentoGo fee. 

To print proof of CHRC, you can print your profile page or you can use click here to view your certificate. When looking up in NEO you will only need to enter your last name and last 4 of SSN or your educator ID. 

If you were issued a certificate, the CHRC is a pre-requisite therefore you will not have that separate line.