About Bilingual & Dual Language Education Endorsement and Graduate Certificate

Licensure & Endorsement

This BDL Endorsement course of study meets the Bilingual Education Endorsement & Graduate Certificate requirements established by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This BDL Endorsement course of study does not meet any licensure or endorsement requirements for any other U.S. state or territory.  

If you are a PK-12 teacher in Massachusetts, working in a bilingual or dual language program and instructing in a language different from English, also known as partner language, you must have a Bilingual Education Endorsement (see the DESE Bilingual Education Endorsement page). This program will support this new initiative. If you complete the Endorsement you will also, automatically, qualify for the Graduate Certificate. If you are a PK-12 teacher in Massachusetts, working in a bilingual or dual language program and instructing in English, you can apply for the Graduate Certificate only.

It is recommended to complete this certificate in under 2 years.  Most participants complete between 12 -18 months.

Contact Marialuisa Di Stefano, marialuisadi [at] umass [dot] edu (marialuisadi[at]umass[dot]edu), for more information about how to determine whether this program will be appropriate for you.  Access to your state’s licensing agency is available on the Teacher Licensure Agency Directory.

Tuition and Fees

University Without Walls (UWW/CPE) at UMass Amherst administers registration and payments for the graduate certificate.  Courses are listed as "Univ+ (UWW)" courses on SPIRE. 

Further information about tuition can be found on the "Online Program Tuition and Fees" page or through the Bursars Office at bursar [at] admin [dot] umass [dot] edu (bursar[at]admin[dot]umass[dot]edu) or call 413-545-0337.

Financial Aid is not accepted for Online Courses.

All Educator Licensure programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to meet licensure requirements in the state of Massachusetts ONLY.  

Many US states are signatories to the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement which facilitates the mobility of educators among the states that are members of NASDTEC. This agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program and/or who holds a certificate or license in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction, with possible additional requirements.  

If you are seeking licensure in another state, here is a Teacher Licensure Agency Directory for you to contact other states.