How to Become a Teacher in Massachusetts

Massachusetts certification requirements, step by step

Each requirement below is stated as Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) publishes it, with the governing source cited.

1. 1

   Earn a bachelor's degree through an approved preparation program

   Complete a DESE-approved educator preparation program (Route One) including required field-based experience. Route One is the standard university-based pathway for candidates who enroll in preparation as part of or after their bachelor's degree.

   Source: doe.mass.edu

2. 2

   Pass required MTEL assessments

   Pass the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills test (Reading and Writing subtests) and the subject matter test(s) for your license area. Approved alternative assessments may substitute for specific MTEL exams where listed by DESE.

   Source: doe.mass.edu

3. 3

   Obtain the SEI endorsement for core academic teachers

   Core academic teachers, principals, and supervisors must hold the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) endorsement. Most approved preparation programs integrate SEI requirements before recommending candidates for licensure.

   Source: doe.mass.edu

4. 4

   Receive an Initial license

   Upon program completion and passing all required MTEL tests, DESE issues an Initial license valid for five years of employment. Initial licenses may be extended once and must be advanced to Professional status.

   Source: doe.mass.edu

5. 5

   Advance to a Professional license

   After three years of employment under an Initial license and completion of an induction program, advance to a Professional license valid for five calendar years, renewable with 150 professional development points (PDPs).

   Source: doe.mass.edu

Massachusetts licenses educators on an employment-year clock that differs materially from calendar-year validity used elsewhere. Initial licenses measure validity in years of employment—not calendar time—meaning educators who substitute, leave the profession temporarily, or work part-time may consume fewer validity years than the calendar suggests. Professional licenses shift to five calendar years, and renewal requires 150 PDPs with mandated content areas including SEI, disability strategies, and bullying prevention.

MTEL remains the statutory assessment backbone even as DESE expands approved alternative assessments for Communication and Literacy Skills and select subject areas. The Communication and Literacy combined administration costs $112 for both subtests on the MTEL vendor site, with individual subtests at $69.50 each. Praxis and other alternatives may substitute only where DESE has explicitly approved comparability; subject matter tests generally have no waiver pathway.

The SEI endorsement requirement embeds English learner instruction expectations into core academic licensing from the start. Route One completers typically satisfy SEI through their approved preparation program, but out-of-state applicants on Temporary or Provisional pathways must verify SEI status before advancing to Initial or Professional licenses. That requirement distinguishes Massachusetts from states where ESL endorsements remain optional add-ons.

603 CMR 7.04 structures license types—Temporary, Provisional, Initial, Professional, Military Spouse—with distinct advancement rules. Out-of-state teachers with three years of experience may enter on Temporary licenses valid one year, while others may receive Provisional or Initial licenses after ELAR review. First-time ELAR applications cost $100 with $25 for each additional license field or grade level.

Required exams and fees

Massachusetts uses Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL); approved Praxis alternatives for Communication and Literacy Skills only. Fees and cut scores appear only when published by the cited source (as of August 2026).

Full Massachusetts exam requirements →

Moving a license to Massachusetts

Out-of-state educators may qualify for Temporary (one year, three years OOS experience), Provisional (five years), or Initial licenses depending on credentials and experience. DESE reviews each application through ELAR; testing waivers may apply for approved alternative assessments or military spouse licenses.

Official Massachusetts reciprocity guidance