The "Nuts and Bolts" of Applying for an Educator's License in Massachusetts

(For candidates who have completed an approved educators program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Created by the Educator Licensure Office
School of Education
UMass Amherst
Room 130 Furcolo Hall
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-2701

Apply for your license online at http://www.doe.mass.edu/educators/ . The following directions may assist you in the process.

 

	1. Access the on-line Educator Services Go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/educators/ to access the new on-line educator services. From this page you can locate many on-line resources. Some are secure and require you to login for your personal information. Click on the “ELAR” button -- toward the top right of the page -- to access your personal profile.
	2. Login If you know your user ID and password then login. If you are new to this system then click on the link under the login box (“Create ELAR Profile”).
	3. Access the Application From the welcome page you can access the on-line functions. Some points of interest: · Check license status and history – enables you to view the status of your license requests and the licenses you hold. Also, if you need to pay for a license you can pay on-line from this selection. · Update your professional development plan –allows you to maintain your plan as you receive training. This plan will automatically be used when you renew your license on-line. · Apply on-line – The two apply functions enable you to apply for a new license and renew your licenses. · Licensure help (upper right of screen) – Will help explain the requirements to receive a license.
	4. Access the Application To complete the online application, click on “Apply for a new license, or advance to the next level license”.
	5. Read the Brief Set of Licensing Directions When you click “NEXT” you will be asked to verify the profile that you created for yourself. Check your profile and make edits if necessary. Upon verification of your profile, you will then be able to move on to applying for the appropriate license.
	6. Select the License You are Seeking You must select the · FIELD · LEVEL, and · TYPE of license Then click the “ADD” button and complete a few more items (including signing an “electronic” affidavit, making payments, etc.).

FAQ: What is a Recommendation for Licensure Statement? This statement appears at the end of your transcript after final grades and degree statements have been posted by the Registrar's Office. A sample: “This individual has completed a State, ICC, & NASDTEC approved program in Elementary Education, Grades 1-6, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is institutionally recommended for Initial Licensure in this field. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).”

Information on transcript requests can be found at: http://www.umass.edu/registrar/html/transcripts.htm

1. Applicants for Initial licensure must submit a $100.00 license fee. This is payable by VISA or MasterCard during the online application process. (The option of mail-in payments is still available for candidates who do not possess a credit card. The mail-in payment must be a certified bank check payable to The Commonwealth of Massachusetts .)
   
2. Applicants for Teaching Licenses are responsible for ensuring that their Preservice Performance Assessment Form(s) (PPA) have been submitted to Room 130 Furcolo. Applicants for School Guidance, School Psychology, Speech-Hearing-Language, and Administrative licenses are responsible for ensuring that their Practicum/Internship Report has been submitted to 130 Furcolo Hall.
   
3. Along with your licensure paperwork, please attach a copy of your score report for the MTEL (a) Communication & Literacy Skills Test, and (b) Subject Matter Test(s), if one is offered in your area.
   
4. Employment Verification (for specific licenses):

• Applicants for administrative licenses must submit an experience letter verifying that they have been employed under a valid Massachusetts teaching license for at least three years.
• Applicants for the Reading Specialist License must submit a letter verifying that they have been employed under a valid MA teaching license for at least one year.

(Letters typically come from a building principal or a Human Resources official in your school.)

Other FAQ's:

I received my Bachelor's degree outside of the United States. Will my transcript be acceptable for licensure purposes? No, for licensure purposes, the MA D.O.E. will not accept a degree from outside of the U.S. if it has not been reviewed by an approved agency. Transcripts from colleges/universities outside of the United States must be evaluated by an approved agency in order to determine their U.S. equivalency. A list of approved transcript evaluation agencies can be viewed at:

List of approved agencies

(This evaluation will serve as the official verification of your Bachelor's degree. Please have an official copy of the evaluation sent to Room 130 Furcolo Hall.)

I'd like to add another classroom teaching license. How can I do this? Please visit

https://www4.doemass.org/elar/licensurehelp/IntroductionPageControl.ser

(Choose from the menu on the left side of this page.)

I am currently completing my Master's degree here at UMass Amherst. I also completed my Bachelor's degree here. Do I need to request two separate transcripts? No, one transcript printed by the Graduate Records Office will indicate that you completed your Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, and licensure requirements.

Now that I will have my Initial license, what are the benefits of earning my Professional license? Your Initial license is valid for five years of employment. During this five-year period, you will need to advance your license from Initial to Professional. There are a number of ways to do this. Please see https://www4.doemass.org/elar/licensurehelp/IntroductionPageControl.ser

(Choose from the menu on the left side of this page.) Please note that PDP's (or Professional Development Points) play no role in the process of advancing your license from the Initial to Professional stage.

How can the Educator Licensure Office help me with the licensing process?

The Educator Licensure Office (Room 130 Furcolo Hall) provides the service of collecting and mailing all licensure documents to the MA Department of Education. These documents include transcripts, copies of test scores, Practicum reports, etc. Office staff carefully reviews all files before they are mailed to the Department of Education.

In order to help you receive your license in as timely a fashion as possible, please take note of the following:

1. TRANSCRIPTS: All individuals applying for their first (Initial) license in Massachusetts MUST submit an official copy of their Bachelor's Degree transcript (request that the transcript be sent to Room 130 Furcolo Hall).
   
   
2. TRANSCRIPTS: All applicants must, in their final semester, request from the appropriate licensure transcript office, that an official transcript showing your degree be sent to the Licensure Office (Room 130 Furcolo) as soon as the Recommendation for Licensure Statement is recorded on the transcript. Please note that statements do not appear on transcripts until after the close of final grades and degrees have been conferred. (Note: You can check SPIRE to see when this is complete.)