Maine's 1984 Teacher Certification Law provides opportunity for local career ladders, a larger participatory role for local teachers in the certification process, and mandated professional assistance for new teachers in their beginning years. A target date of 1988 has been set for full implementation of all components of the legislation. Key elements of the legislation are: (1) most teachers will have a strong liberal arts and science background with a major field of study in the subject area to be taught; (2) provisional certification of beginning teachers for a two-year period; (3) professional certification for teachers who have demonstrated teaching competencies, issued for five years; (4) master teacher certification to a professional certification holder; (5) pilot projects to identify procedures for training and certifying teachers and test other components of the law, to be developed in consultation with local school units; and (6) report on results of the pilot projects with recommendations for funding. (JD)