Questions and Answers about Educator Licensure
Q: What is an Educator's License, and how do I get one?
An Educator license is a credential issued by the Massachusetts Department
of Education. An Educator license is required for teaching and other professional
roles in public schools. Licenses are issued for specific roles and levels
(e.g., elementary teacher, secondary mathematic teacher, reading specialist);
there is no "general teaching license " issued in Massachusetts. Most individuals
become licensed to teach in Massachusetts by completing approved programs as
undergraduates, post-baccalaureate, or graduate students through four-year
colleges or universities; however, there are actually five routes to obtaining
An Educator license:
- Route One is the approved undergraduate program for prospective
teachers.
- Route Two includes approved one- or two-year post-baccalaureate
programs as well as approved alternative programs.
- Route Three is for Educator candidates who will receive their preparation
in school district-based approved preparation programs. This route is for
prospective Educators who have not completed a practicum and related pedagogical
coursework who seek an apprenticeship in a classroom under the direct supervision
of a teacher and/or Administrator who holds a Professional License.
- Route Four is for Educator candidates who receive their preparation
in district-based, approved preparation programs. This route is designed
for prospective Educators who have not completed a practicum and related
pedagogical study, are hired as teachers of record, and are assigned to a
mentor.
- Route Five is for candidates who have completed an educator preparation
program outside Massachusetts.
Most individuals seeking licensure through the University of Massachusetts
Amherst Educator Licensure Advisory Council (ELAC) approved programs will be
enrolled in programs that meet Route One or Two requirements. If you think
you may be eligible for licensure under one of the other routes, you should
refer to the Massachusetts Department of Education website: www.doe.mass.edu
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Are there different levels of Licensure?
Yes. The Massachusetts Department of Education grants licensure at the Preliminary,
Initial, and Professional levels. The State also issues a Temporary License.
Preliminary License: An Educator license issued to a person who holds
a bachelor's degree and has passed the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure
(MTEL) and met other eligibility requirements established by the Massachusetts
Board of Higher Education. The Preliminary License is valid for five years
of employment. During the five years of employment, the candidate must complete
an approved program in order to be granted an Initial License.
Initial License: An educator license issued to a person who has completed
a bachelor's degree, passed the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure,
completed a professional preparation program approved by the Commissioner,
and met other eligibility requirements established by the Massachusetts Board
of Education. The Initial License is valid for five years of employment and
may be renewed at the discretion of the Commissioner for an additional five
years.
Professional License: An educator's license issued to a person who
has met the requirements for an Initial License, completed a Performance Assessment
Program or an approved Master's degree program, and met other requirements
established by the Massachusetts Board of Education. The Professional License
is valid for five years and renewable for an additional five years.
Temporary License: An educator's license issued to a person who holds
a valid license or certificate of a type comparable to at least an Initial
License in Massachusetts from another state or jurisdiction, and who has been
employed under such license for a minimum of three years but who have not yet
satisfied the testing requirements in Massachusetts. This license is valid
for one year and is nonrenewable.
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Q: What are the minimum requirements for licensure?
For a classroom teaching license, the minimum requirement is a Bachelor's
degree in arts or sciences appropriate to the instructional field or an interdisciplinary
major from an accredited college or university, and passing scores on the appropriate
subtests of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure. These requirements
only fulfill the most basic requirements for Preliminary License. There
are other requirements for school guidance counselors, school administrators,
speech therapists, school psychologists, and reading teachers.
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Q: Is there a test for licensure?
Yes. Individuals seeking Licensure in Massachusetts are required to take and
pass a two- or three-part test that includes a test of communication and literacy
skills, a subject matter test and, in some instances, a reading test. More
information about these tests can be obtained in the Educator Licensure Office,
School of Education, Room 130, Furcolo Hall, (413) 545-2701; or at the Massachusetts
Department of Education, (781) 388-3300, x253.
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Q: If I have a Bachelor's degree, can I receive Initial
Licensure without seeking a Master's degree?
Yes. The Division of Continuing Education on the University of Massachusetts
Amherst campus, in cooperation with some programs, offers a route of
admission for those who already have an appropriate bachelor's degree to work
toward licensure without having to earn a Master's degree. These candidates
are post-baccalaureate candidates. For more information, please contact the Division
of Continuing Education at (413) 545-0530.
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Q: If I graduate from a Educator Licensure
Advisory Council (ELAC) approved program, will I get licensed?
Graduates from an Educator Licensure Advisory Council (ELAC) approved program
submit an application for Massachusetts Licensure to the Massachusetts Department
of Education through the Educator Licensure Office. If you have completed all
program requirements and are recommended by the program director, the Educator
Licensure Officer will recommend you for the appropriate license. However,
you must also pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure in order
to obtain licensure from the State.
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Q: I'm not from Massachusetts and want to get licensed
in my home state. Can I do this if I complete a program at the University
of Massachusetts Amherst?
The Massachusetts Department of Education has signed the Interstate Certification
Compact (ICC) agreement with 44 states and the District of Columbia. A list
of these states is as follows: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. This means
that if you complete a program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and
then pass whatever test is required in a state listed above, that state will
accept your credentials for the appropriate certificate. In addition, other
states will recognize graduates of our NCATE-approved institution. Reciprocity
will usually be only for the initial level of certification in each state.
Other states may review your records on a course-by-course basis once you apply.
See the Licensure Interstate Agreement for
more details.
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Q: To be licensed as a reading specialist, do I need
a classroom teaching certificate?
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires a classroom license and at least
one year of experience at that level for Reading Licensure. However, please
note that the Reading Licensure Program at the University of Massachusetts
Amherst requires a classroom license and a minimum of three years teaching
experience before admission to the program. For more information about reading
specialist licensure, contact Professor
Jerri Willett.
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Q: To be licensed as a school guidance counselor,
do I need a classroom teaching license?
You do not need to hold a regular teaching license in order to hold a school
counselor license. You do, however, need to fulfill the requirements for school
counseling. For more information about the school guidance counselor program,
contact Professor John C. Carey at
(413) 545-3619.
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Q: To be licensed as a school administrator,
do I need a classroom teaching license?
Individuals seeking school administrator licensure have two options. Under
Option I, they are required to hold a Professional license in another educational
role and completion of three years teaching/supervisory experience in the role
which they hold a license. Alternatively, under Option II, the candidate must
have three years of employment in an executive management/leadership role in
a non-educational setting. For more information about school administration
licensure, contact Matthew Militello.
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Q: Who is the best person to answer my questions about
licensure?
If you know the subject and/or grade level you want to teach, you should contact
the individual program. See the directory for
representative contact information. If you have general questions, contact
the University Licensure Officer, in Room 130, Furcolo Hall (School of Education)
at (413) 545-2701.
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Q: Where can I find additional information on licensure
in Massachusetts?
Please click
here for more information.
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