Certification Frequently Asked Questions

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Important Certification Links
Account Questions

How do I create an account?

Instructions on how to apply

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. 

How do I print my certificate? 

I have forgotten my username and password. What do I do? 

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.  

Why does my account say there is a deficiency letter present? 

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

My degree is not listed on my account. How do I fix this? 

Degrees are often 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 help. 

My work history on my account is not right, how do I fix this? 

The schools report work history to us, which may not cover all of your years of experience. Please know that this is not related to MainePERS. 

I am locked out of my account. What do I do? 

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

I am not an educator, why does my account say I am?

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

Where do I log in to my MEIS account?

Please click here to log in to your MEIS account. 

I am not associated with any accounts. What do I do?

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

My SSN is wrong, what do I do?

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

I have changed my name. How do I change it for my credential? 

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

How do I apply? 

Instructions on how to apply

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

Can I request a refund? 

I want to take courses to count towards my endorsement, how will I know if they are acceptable?

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. 

My degree was received outside of the United States. Will you accept it? 

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

I received my evaluation letter and think a course was missed. What do I do? 

You can submit course descriptions so we can re-review courses. Course descriptions can be uploaded to your account. 

I received my evaluation letter and have new coursework to submit, how do I? 

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

I am applying for a second endorsement, do I need to resubmit documents? 

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

Can I use experience for coursework requirements? 

We do not accept experience in place of coursework. 

Do I need to submit official transcripts?

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. 

I am wondering if I have met the certification requirements. Can you tell me? 

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. 

I hold a master's degree, so do I need to submit my bachelor's degree? 

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

I went to a state approve program, what do I need to submit? 

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

What is a state-approved program? 

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

How do I renew my credentials? 

Instructions on how to renew.

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

I have multiple certificates, can I use the same contact hours for all of them? 

What is accepted for contact hours?

For contact hours, we are looking for professional development hours. These can be training done in school or outside of school. Contact hours must relate to the development of your profession. 

My credential is lapsed, what do I do? 

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 if you need new fingerprints. 

I can't find the renewal button, what do I do?

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

I am not employed at a school, how do I renew? 

Teachers, administrators, and educational specialists must submit 6 college credits or 90 contact hours along with the renewal application. Ed Tech must submit 3 college credits or 45 contact hours. Feel free to email us to check if you need fingerprints. 

Can I align the renewal dates of my credentials? 

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

I am a certified teacher in another state. Can I be certified in Maine? 

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.

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

Can I use my experience to meet any course requirements?

If I have my master's degree, do I still need to submit my bachelor's degree? 

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

How do I complete the fingerprint requirement while out of state?

IdentoGo has an out-of-state mail-in option. To use that option, register and follow the instructions provided. 

I completed a state-approved teacher program; what do I need to submit? 

If your transcripts include a note 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 approved program verification form completed by the college. The form can be found on the Forms & Resources page. 

What do I need to submit with my application as an out-of-state teacher?

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

I just need to apply for fingerprint clearance, what do I need to do? 

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

Step 1:

Create a MEIS account, and please be 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

 

Where is my CHRC line? 

If you were issued a certificate, the CHRC is a prerequisite; therefore, you will not have that separate line. 

How do I print my CHRC certificate? 

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

How do I complete the fingerprint requirement while living out of state? 

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. 

I had my fingerprints taken. Where is my CHRC clearance? 

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.

I had my fingerprints taken for another job. Can I use those? 

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

Where do I get my fingerprints taken? 

Find Approved IdentoGo Locations. When registering, you should select 'new hire' even if you've been employed previously. 

What is a verification of employment?

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

Why am I being told I don't have fingerprints on file when I know I do? 

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

I need to renew my CHRC. What should I do?

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

How often do I need to have my fingerprints taken?

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.

Step 2:

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

 

Contact

Certification Team
Phone: 207-624-6603
Email: cert.doe@maine.gov
When emailing, please provide:

  • Your full name
  • Your Educator ID/date of birth
  • A detailed description of what you need assistance with

Please note: We recommend you send an email due to an extremely high call volume. Multiple phone calls and emails can delay a response.