Frequently Asked Questions
For PLS Students
Please scroll down or click link below.
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?
3. How should I document my prerequisite experience?
6. Can I become licensed as a Principal at an additional grade level?
7. How can I receive additional administrator licenses?
8. Where can I see a list of the educator licenses that are offered in Massachusetts?
9. What is the difference between Certification and Licensure?
10. How and when do I submit my application for a Massachusetts Educator's License?
11. How much is the fee to apply for licensure?
12. When will I receive my Massachusetts license?
13. How do I check the status of my licensure application?
14. How can I request a duplicate copy of my license?
15. How long is my license valid?
17. What do I have to do to renew my Massachusetts license?
19. Can I become eligible for the Professional stage of licensure by completing a program at HGSE?
20. Will I get paid more if I have a higher-level license?
21. 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?
23. What test do I have to take to obtain the Massachusetts Principal's license?
24. Where can I find out more information about the MTEL?
25. Where can I attend an MTEL preparation workshop?
29. Who can I speak with at HGSE regarding my individual licensure concerns?
30. How can I obtain more information about the PLS 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.
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.
3. How should I document my prerequisite experience?
Prerequisite experience for the Principal's 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 (pdf).
4. Do I have to complete my prerequisite teaching experience after I receive my prerequisite license?
No. All or part of your teaching experience may be done before you receive your prerequisite license.
5. Does the grade level of my Principal license have to be the same grade level as my teacher license?
Yes, the grade level of your Principal license does have to be the same grade level as your Teacher license.
6. Can I become licensed as a Principal at an additional grade level?
Yes, you can. As stated in the MA Licensure Regulations, you will meet the requirements for an additional Principal license at a new level by completing one of the following:
a) A seminar or institute approved by the DOE, addressing the curriculum and developmental characteristics of the age group appropriate to the license sought
OR
b) A practicum or practicum equivalent of 300 hours at the appropriate level.
Please see Section 7.14 for more detailed information.
7. How can I receive additional administrator licenses?
Licensed administrators who complete a state-approved program may earn an additional Superintendent license by simply completing three full years of employment under a valid administrator license and completing a Performance Assessment. For more details, please see Section 7.14 (3) Additional Licenses for Experienced Administrators.
8. Where can I see a list of the educator licenses that are offered in Massachusetts?
To see 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.
9. 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.
10. How and when do I submit my application for a Massachusetts Educator's License?
The HGSE Licensure Office will meet with the PLS cohort at the beginning of the spring semester to instruct you on how and when you should apply for your license. All PLS students will apply during the same time.
11. How much is the fee to apply for licensure?
The first Massachusetts license that you apply for costs $100. Each additional license costs $25.
12. 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.
13. 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."
14. 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."
15. 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.
16. How does employment 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 work 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.
17. 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).
18. I will be obtaining an Initial Massachusetts license through the PLS 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 be employed 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.
19. 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 be employed 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. To find programs that are state-approved for Professional licensure, please see the DOE's Educator Preparation Programs Directory.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. I am a non-U.S. student and do not have a social security number. How do I sign up for the MTEL and my ELAR account?
Contact the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Helpdesk at 781-338-6600. A Helpdesk representative will assign you a temporary ID number to use when registering for the MTEL and signing up for your ELAR account. Please note that it is important that you use the same temporary ID number for both the MTEL and ELAR account.
23. What test do I have to take to obtain the Massachusetts Principal's license?
The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication and Literacy Skills exam is required for Principal licensure in Massachusetts.
24. 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 and photocopy test-prep materials at Gutman Library.
25. Where can I attend an MTEL preparation workshop?
MTEL preparation workshops are offered at various times throughout the year by the DOE. Please visit the DOE website for complete information.
26. 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.)
27. Where can I find information on licensure requirements and procedures for states other than Massachusetts (Reciprocity)?
Massachusetts has reciprocity with 28 states for Administrator 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.
28. Where can I find preparation materials for tests required in other states (e.g., PRAXIS, CBEST, CSET, NYSTCE)?
Registration information and test preparation materials are available online for the PRAXIS, CBEST, CSET, or NYSTCE exams. Test preparation materials for teacher tests are available for you to peruse and photocopy in Gutman Library. Additionally, you can download preparation and registration materials from the PRAXIS website, the CBEST website, the CSET website, and the NYSTCE website.
29. Who can I speak with at HGSE regarding my individual licensure concerns?
To speak with someone in Licensure at HGSE, please contact Roger Dempsey at licensure@gse.harvard.edu or see our HGSE Licensure Contact page for additional information.
30. How can I obtain more information about the PLS Program?
Please visit the PLS website for additional information about the PLS Program.
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