Frequently Asked Questions
For L&L Reading Licensure Students
1. Do I have to complete my prerequisite teaching experience in a public school?
2. Do I have to complete my prerequisite teaching experience in Massachusetts?
4. Does my prerequisite license need to be valid at this time?
9. How should I document my prerequisite experience?
10. What is the difference between Certification and Licensure?
11. Can I become licensed in additional subject areas and grade levels?
12. Where can I see a list of the educator licenses that are offered in Massachusetts?
13. How and when do I submit my application for a Massachusetts Educator's License?
14. How much is the fee to apply for licensure?
15. When will I receive my Massachusetts license?
16. How do I check the status of my licensure application?
17. How can I request a duplicate copy of my license?
18. How long is my license valid?
20. What do I have to do to renew my Massachusetts license?
22. Can I become eligible for the Professional stage of licensure by completing a program at HGSE?
23. Will I get paid more if I have a higher-level license?
24. What are the average salaries for public school teachers in different states?
26. What test do I have to take to obtain the Massachusetts Reading Specialist license?
27. Where can I find out more information about the MTEL?
28. Does Harvard offer MTEL preparation workshops?
32. Who can I speak with at HGSE regarding my individual licensure concerns?
33. How can I obtain more information about the L&L Program?
1. Do I have to complete my prerequisite teaching experience in a public school?
No. Your prerequisite teaching experience can be done in public schools, private schools, or independent schools. However, at least one year of the teaching experience must be completed under the appropriate prerequisite teaching license.
2. Do I have to complete my prerequisite teaching experience in Massachusetts?
No. Your prerequisite teaching experience can be done out-of-state or out-of-country. However, at least one year of the teaching experience must be completed under the teaching license in the state in which the license was issued.
3. Can an Emergency license be used to meet the prerequisite requirement for the Reading Specialist License?
No, an Emergency license cannot be used to meet the prerequisite license requirement for the Initial Reading Specialist license. A license that is equivalent to a MA license at the Initial stage will meet the prerequisite license requirement. (Please see Section 7.04 for the requirements of a Massachusetts license at the Initial stage.)
4. Does my prerequisite license need to be valid at this time?
No. As long as you held your prerequisite license at one time and it has not been revoked, it may be used to meet the prerequisite license requirement for the Reading Specialist license. However, your license must have been valid during the one year you taught under it.
5. I have a license, but I have not taught under my license. Can I still meet the prerequisite for the Reading Specialist license?
No. You must have taught under your prerequisite teacher license for at least one year in the state in which your license was issued.
6. Do I have to complete my prerequisite teaching experience after I receive my prerequisite license?
Yes. You must have taught under your prerequisite license for at least one year in the state in which your license was issued.
7. My teaching experience has taken place outside of the United States. How can I meet the prerequisite for the Reading Specialist license?
At least one full year of your teaching experience in that country must have been completed under a license issued by that country. Additionally, that country's license would need to be equivalent to an Initial Massachusetts teaching license. This equivalency is assessed by the Massachusetts DOE on a case-by-case basis.
8. I have been in the Teach for America Program. Am I qualified to apply for the L&L Reading Licensure Program?
You can meet qualifications for the Language and Literacy Reading Licensure Program if you completed a state-approved program for licensure while you were in Teach for America, hold a license as a result of that program, and have taught for at least one full year under that license in the state in which your license was issued.
9. How should I document my prerequisite experience?
Prerequisite experience for the Reading Specialist license should be documented in a letter from the Principal of the school where you were employed. For all of the components needed in this letter, please see the letter template for those who have completed at least one full year of employment (pdf) and, for those who have not yet completed one full year of employment (pdf).
10. What is the difference between Certification and Licensure?
They have essentially the same definition. "Certification" or "Certificate" were terms used in Massachusetts under the old regulations and "Licensure" or "License" are the terms now used under the new regulations.
11. Can I become licensed in additional subject areas and grade levels?
Yes, you can. In general, if you already hold a Massachusetts teacher license, you need to take the MTEL Subject-Matter Test(s) required for the additional field (subject) in which you wish to be licensed and have your prerequisite license validated in MA. (For specific information on which Subject-Matter Test(s) are required for the additional license you wish to seek, please see the DOE's MTEL website.) Additional requirements apply for Early Childhood, Elementary, Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities, Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Teacher of the Visually Impaired licenses. (See Section 7.14 General Provisions/Additional Licenses for more information.) You will not need to meet any additional requirements to obtain licenses at different grade levels.
If you do not already have a Massachusetts teacher license, you will first need to have your Out-of-State Teacher license validated in MA through the reciprocity process (See Section 7.05/5), which includes passing the appropriate Subject-Matter MTEL Exam. Then, you would need to follow the instructions stated above. Note: The Massachusetts DOE does not accept completion of an out-of-state district-based licensure program as meeting requirements for reciprocity.
12. Where can I see a list of the educator licenses that are offered in Massachusetts?
To see a list of the licenses that are offered in Massachusetts, and to learn about the requirements for these licenses, please go to the MA DOE's Section 7.04 Types of Licenses, Requirements for Licensure, Licenses Issued, and Requirements for Field-Based Experience and Licensure Help On-line website.
13. How and when do I submit my application for a Massachusetts Educator's License?
Denise Bowman, Licensure Officer, will meet with the L&L cohort at the beginning of the spring semester to instruct you on how and when you should apply for your license. All L&L students will apply during the same time. You should not submit your licensure application until you have received instructions from Denise Bowman.
14. How much is the fee to apply for licensure?
The first Massachusetts license that you apply for costs $100. Each additional license costs $25.
15. When will I receive my Massachusetts license?
Generally, you will receive your license from the MA DOE in July or August. However, the DOE does not guarantee that licenses will be processed and sent out by that time.
16. How do I check the status of my licensure application?
Once you have applied for licensure, you can check the status of your application through the DOE's on-line system. To do this, go to the DOE's Licensure website and click on "Check Status."
17. How can I request a duplicate copy of my license?
You can request a duplicate copy of your license through the DOE's on-line system. To do this, go to the DOE's Licensure website and click on "Request Duplicate."
18. How long is my license valid?
Initial licenses are valid for five years of employment and are renewable once upon the Commissioner's approval. Professional licenses are valid for five calendar years and are to be renewed every five years.
19. How does teaching out-of-state or out of the country affect the validity of my Initial Massachusetts license?
The Initial license is valid for five years of employment in Massachusetts. If you teach out-of-state or out of the country while holding the Initial license, that experience does not count against the five years of validity that are allotted.
20. What do I have to do to renew my Massachusetts license?
The Initial License is renewable once for an additional five years of employment upon approval of the Commissioner. To be eligible, five years of teaching experience are required and you will need to indicate how you plan to fulfill the requirements for Professional licensure. (See Section 7.14 General Provisions/Renewal of an Initial License for explicit eligibility requirements). The Professional License is to be renewed every five years by accumulating 150 professional development points. (See Recertification for detailed information).
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21. I will be obtaining an Initial
Massachusetts license through the L&L Reading Licensure Program. What
will I need to do after I complete the program to meet requirements for
the Professional license?
To be eligible for the Professional license, you must teach under your Initial license for three full years. In the first of these three years, you are to complete an Induction Program that will be provided for you by the school district in which you work. You will need to complete a 50-hour mentored experience beyond the induction year and required coursework. See Section 7.04 Types of Licenses, Requirements for Licensure, Licenses Issued, and Requirements for Field-Based Experience to obtain information as to how you can meet the coursework requirement for Professional licensure.
If you already possess at least one Professional license, you only need to complete three years of employment as a Reading Specialist to upgrade your license to the Professional stage.
22. Can I become eligible for the Professional stage of licensure by completing a program at HGSE?
No. There is not currently a program at HGSE that is state-approved for the Professional stage of licensure. To be eligible for the Professional license, you must teach under your Initial license for three full years. In the first of these three years, you are to complete an Induction Program that will be provided for you by the school district in which you work. You will need to complete a 50-hour mentored experience beyond the induction year and required coursework. See Section 7.04 Types of Licenses, Requirements for Licensure, Licenses Issued, and Requirements for Field-Based Experience to obtain information as to how you can meet the coursework requirement for Professional licensure. To find programs that are state-approved for Professional licensure, please see the DOE's Educator Preparation Programs Directory.
23. Will I get paid more if I have a higher-level license?
Yes. However, the pay scale differs from district to district. You will be able to obtain this information from the individual district office in which you plan to work.
24. What are the average salaries for public school teachers in different states?
To see statistics on average salaries for public school teachers, please see the National Education Association's Rankings and Estimates.
25. Do I need to be a United States citizen or to have received a bachelor's degree from a United States postsecondary institution in order to be eligible for licensure in Massachusetts?
Citizens of all countries are eligible for licensure in Massachusetts. However, all applicants for Massachusetts licensure must have a bachelor's degree from a United States institution of higher learning, or its equivalent. Students interested in licensure who do not have a United States bachelor's degree should seek determination of their eligibility by submitting their undergraduate transcripts for equivalency assessment to one of several agencies. Please visit the DOE website for complete information on agencies that offer this service. For example, students can contact the Center for Educational Evaluation at (617) 338-7171 or access the Center's user-friendly website for specifics regarding how to get their transcripts assessed. Students affected by this regulation should seek equivalency assessment early in their first semester of study.
Once the determination of equivalency is made, the assessment documents will become part of your permanent file and you will follow the same process to Initial licensure as those with United States bachelor's degrees. This requirement of a United States bachelor's degree equivalency is a Massachusetts DOE regulation and cannot be waived. The English language proficiency of all applicants is tested via the required Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL exam.
26. What test do I have to take to obtain the Massachusetts Reading Specialist license?
The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication and Literacy Skills and Reading Specialist exams are required for Reading Specialist licensure in Massachusetts.
27. Where can I find out more information about the MTEL?
Please visit our MTEL page, or the official MTEL website for more information and to download free Study Guides. You are always welcome to drop by 025 Longfellow Hall to pick up a registration bulletin and to peruse our test-prep materials.
28. Does Harvard offer MTEL preparation workshops?
We offer MTEL preparation workshops at various times throughout the year for members of the HGSE community. The schedule is forwarded to current students via e-mail. HGSE alumni who are interested in attending a workshop should contact Kim Nguyen at kim_nguyen@gse.harvard.edu.
29. I have a license from another state. What do I need to do to validate that license in Massachusetts (Reciprocity)?
You will simply need to apply online and pass the MTEL exam(s) in the area of your license. Paperwork associated with applying for MA licensure through reciprocity will be processed through the Licensure Unit. For more detailed information, please see Section 7.05, Route 5. (Please note that the Massachusetts DOE does not accept out-of-state district-based licensure programs as meeting requirements for reciprocity.) Denise Bowman, Licensure Officer, will inform you in September when you should begin the process.
30. Where can I find information on licensure requirements and procedures for states other than Massachusetts (Reciprocity)?
Massachusetts has reciprocity with 46 states for Teacher licensure. Please see our Reciprocity and Links to State Licensure Offices web page and the NASDTEC web page for the specific states and other details. Books on licensure requirements in other states are available for you to review and photocopy in the Career Services Office - Licensure Unit, 025 Longfellow Hall. Please see Kim Nguyen, Licensure Staff Assistant, for access to these books.
31. Where can I find preparation materials for tests required in other states (e.g., PRAXIS, CBEST, CSET, NYSTCE)?
Registration information flyers and test preparation materials are available in 025 Longfellow Hall. You may stop by and pick up a registration information flyer or access the registration bulletins online for the PRAXIS, CBEST, CSET, or NYSTCE exams. Test preparation materials for teacher tests are available for you to peruse and photocopy in 025 Longfellow Hall. Additionally, you can download preparation and registration materials from the PRAXIS website, the CBEST website, the CSET website, and the NYSTCE website.
32. Who can I speak with at HGSE regarding my individual licensure concerns?
To speak with someone in the Licensure Unit at HGSE, please contact Kim Nguyen at kim_nguyen@gse.harvard.edu or see our HGSE Licensure Contact page for additional names and contact information.
33. How can I obtain more information about the L&L Program?
Please visit the Language & Literacy website or e-mail Pamela Mason at pamela_mason@gse.harvard.edu to obtain more information about the L&L Program.
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