Massachusetts Teacher Licensure Guide for Online Master's Students

Who Licenses Teachers in Massachusetts, and Which Exams Does It Use?

Massachusetts licenses teachers through Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Educator Licensure, and the exams it requires are the MTEL, the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure.

For the programs themselves, the online master's in education programs at universities in Massachusetts are ranked at the in-state price, and the national and specialty lists cover schools in other states.

How Do I Get a Massachusetts Teaching License With an Online Master's?

Getting a Massachusetts teaching license with an online master's depends on completing a program the state accepts, passing the MTEL and, for core academic teachers, holding the SEI endorsement, rather than on the degree level. The Initial license asks for a bachelor's degree, every required MTEL test, and an approved Massachusetts program, the PRPIL performance review route or comparable out-of-state credentials.

The master's matters one tier up. The page says the Professional license follows three years of work under an Initial license, an induction and mentoring program, and one of three routes: an approved Professional program, a master teacher program such as National Board, or an advanced graduate program with at least 12 graduate credits tied to the license field. An online master's in elementary education or secondary education can supply those credits, but our rankings do not record whether a program leads to a Massachusetts license.

Which Exams Does Massachusetts Require for Teacher Licensure?

Massachusetts requires the MTEL for teacher licensure, a testing program the department started in 1998. The MTEL includes a communication and literacy skills test as well as subject matter knowledge tests for the license field.

The endorsement is a separate gate. A teacher can earn the SEI endorsement by completing an approved course of study, passing an approved assessment, or holding an English as a second language license or an equivalent from a state that has an interstate agreement with Massachusetts. Administrators hold the teacher endorsement or take a course for administrators, and candidates apply in the ELAR system.

Can I Transfer a Teaching License to Massachusetts From Another State?

A teaching license from another state can lead to a Massachusetts license through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, though the agreement does not exempt a candidate from the degree, testing or prerequisite requirements of the license sought. Qualifying credentials include a traditional approved program, a valid license elsewhere, an alternative program plus an equivalent license, and a program from a college accredited by CAEP, NCATE or TEAC.

On its out-of-state page the department says it applies the agreement with every state and the District of Columbia. A Temporary license covers one year of employment while the MTEL is finished, and a Provisional license suits a candidate lacking only the SEI.

The 2020 comparison by the Education Commission of the States found no full reciprocity and extra coursework and assessments for some out-of-state teachers.

Does NC-SARA Membership Cover Teacher Licensure for Massachusetts Online Master's Students?

Massachusetts joined NC-SARA in June 2018 through the New England Board of Higher Education, and that membership does not cover teacher licensure for its online master's students. NC-SARA says plainly that it leaves licensing board approval of teacher education programs outside its reach.

What a participating school owes you is notification: it must tell you whether a program meets professional licensure requirements in the state where you are located. The Massachusetts department alone decides whether a license is issued.

What Should I Ask an Online Program Before Enrolling From Massachusetts?

Before enrolling from Massachusetts, ask an online program for its written finding on whether its curriculum meets Massachusetts requirements. 34 CFR 668.43 obliges a school that promotes licensure preparation to publish a state-by-state list of where the program does and does not qualify, and to warn you before you enroll if it falls short or was never assessed.

Then ask these. Does the program lead to a license where the school sits, since the interstate agreement starts there? Does it include the SEI course? Which MTEL subject test does it align with? Does a leadership or counseling practicum meet the hours below?

Which License Do Massachusetts Principals and School Counselors Need?

Massachusetts principals and school counselors each work toward an Initial license by different routes. A principal needs three full years in a supervisory, teaching or administrative role, the Performance Assessment for Initial License, an approved post-baccalaureate program with a 500-hour practicum, a 500-hour apprenticeship or a Panel Review, the Communication and Literacy Skills test and the SEI endorsement.

A school counselor needs a master's degree with a major in counseling, a 450-hour practicum in an educational setting and the same literacy test. Advancing to Professional takes three years as a counselor plus 60 graduate credits or national certification. Weigh an online master's in educational leadership or school counseling against those hours.