Licensure and Testing Guide

Curry College developed this guide to answer your questions regarding the Massachusetts teacher requirements and how to obtain licensure.

What is required to teach in a school in the state of Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts Department of Education requires that teachers who work within public (and many private) school settings have an Initial license in the subject area in which they are teaching.

What are the levels of teacher licensure in Massachusetts? What are the requirements to achieve each level?

Currently, there are three levels of licensure for teachers in the state of Massachusetts.

• Preliminary: A license issued to a person who has
  - completed a bachelor's degree
  - passed the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) in specific subject areas
  - has met other eligibility requirements as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
  This license is valid for a period of five years, however few school districts will offer permanent job placements to candidates who hold only a Preliminary license.

• Initial: A license issued to a person who has
  - completed a bachelor's degree
  - passed MTEL tests in specific required subject areas
  - completed a state-approved educator preparation program
  - has met other eligibility requirements as determined by DESE
  This license is valid for a period of five years.

• Professional: A license issued to a person who has met the requirements for an Initial license in that field and has met additional eligibility requirements as determined by the DESE.
  This license is valid for a period of five years and is renewable for additional five year terms. (This license is typically applied for after three years of employment as a teacher with an Initial license.)

Does Curry College's Master of Education Program offer Massachusetts state-approved programs?

Yes, Curry College offers three state-approved Initial licensure programs within the Master of Education program. These programs are offered in the following areas of concentration:

• Teacher: Elementary Education, Grades 1-6
• Teacher: Moderate Disabilities, PreK-8
• Reading Specialist*: All Levels (K-12)

*Note: Students seeking a Reading Specialist license are required to already have an active Initial license in the state of Massachusetts and have been a teacher of record (meaning that you have taught in the state of Massachusetts under that license) for at least one year. Students will be required to submit verification of employment upon admission into the reading specialist program.

What is the Massachusetts Test for Educator License (MTEL)?

(Please note the following information is subject to change)
The MTEL are the tests that the Massachusetts Department of Education requires teacher candidates to take in order to be awarded a teaching license.

As a part of Curry College's M.Ed. licensure program, students must take and pass required MTEL examinations specific to their chosen program concentration.

• Individuals seeking an Initial License in Elementary Education are required to pass the following MTEL tests:
  - Communication & Literacy Test
  - Foundations of Reading Test
  - General Curriculum Test* (Both Multi-Subject and Mathematics Portions)Individuals seeking an Initial License as a teacher of Moderate Disabilities are required to pass the following MTEL tests:
  - Communication and Literacy Test
  - Foundations of Reading Test
  - General Curriculum Test* (Both Multi-Subject and Mathematics Portions)
• Individuals seeking an Initial License as a Reading Specialist are required to pass the following MTEL tests:
  - Communication & Literacy Test
  - Reading Specialist Test

*As of March 2009, the General Curriculum Examination will include a separately scored 45 question mathematics examination.

When should I take the MTEL Tests?

• Communications and Literacy Skills Test (CLST)
  The Communications and Literacy Skills test is a two-part test covering basic reading and writing skills. The test does not cover material that specifically relates to teaching, but measures general reading and writing skills. Students must pass this test before formally enrolling in the Master's program. (Students may take up to two M.Ed. classes before applying/formally enrolling in the program.) The test is administered frequently at various sites across the state. The two parts of this test may be taken together, in one four-hour block, or may be divided into two separate blocks.
• Foundations of Reading Test (FOR)
  The Foundations of Reading test addresses the components of reading and methodologies for teaching reading. Most students will not have the knowledge required to succeed on this test until they have taken reading courses, therefore it is recommended that students wait to take this test until after they have taken MED 6040 - Literacy and Language Arts. Students must pass this test before entering the practicum portion of the M.Ed. program. Curry College offers a review course each semester.
• General Curriculum Test (GC)
  The General Curriculum test addresses subject matter addressed in the state's curricular frameworks at the elementary level, including language arts, math, social studies, science, health and various other topics. As of March 2009, a separately scored subtest of Mathematics was added to the General Curriculum test. Students may take the multi-subject test and the mathematics tests on the same day or in two separate blocks. Students should take this test after completing the Curry College M.Ed. program's Integrated Curriculum courses. Students must pass this test before entering the practicum portion of the M.Ed. program.

How do I register for an MTEL test?

MTEL tests are administered several times during the year at various locations throughout Massachusetts. Students can view upcoming test dates and register on-line for the MTEL at www.mtel.nesinc.com. Payment is due at the time of registration and may be made using a credit card. Deadlines for test dates vary. Register early to avoid late charges and penalties.

Does Curry's M.Ed. program offer preparation and support for the MTEL examinations?

The Curry College Master of Education program also offers a preparation workshop for the mathematics subtest of the General Curriculum test, This workshop is offered at various times during the year. The cost of the workshop is $195 and includes preparation materials. Click here to view the upcoming MTEL examination schedule and preparation workshops offered by Curry College.

Students seeking preparation and support for any MTEL tests including the Communication and Literacy Test (CLST), Foundations of Reading Test (FOR), and General Curriculum Test (GC) should consult the Massachusetts Department of Education website at (www.doe.mass.edu) or the MTEL website (www.mtel.nesinc.com) for listings of other support services offered in the region and links to practice tests.

What is an ELAR Account?

Individuals seeking a Massachusetts teacher license are required to set up an Educator Licensure and Recruitment (ELAR) account through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website. This free account will assist you in updating and maintaining pertinent information required for licensure and enables the DESE to communicate with you online. The account also maintains results for all tests that you have completed and information on licenses that you hold or have applied for. Set up your ELAR account through the DESE website.

Once I have completed a licensure program at Curry College, how do I obtain my Initial Teaching License?

Upon completion of all degree requirements from one of Curry's licensure concentration(s), Curry College will endorse students for licensure to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prior to graduation, students must request that an official transcript from the Registrar's office be sent to the Curry College Licensure Officer upon the student's completion of the final semester's coursework. After review and acceptance of a candidate's endorsement by Curry College, transcript, and application, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will send the teaching license to the candidate via the United States mail.

What if I have other questions about licensure?

Licensure requirements can be complicated. Links to state resources are provided below. At Curry, Michelle LeBlanc or Donald Gratz (contact information listed below) are very knowledgeable about licensure procedures and will be happy to assist you.

Links and Resources

Curry College Resources:

Michelle A. LeBlanc
M.Ed. Licensure Officer
617-333-2196
mleblanc0104@curry.edu

Donald B. Gratz, Ph.D
Director, Graduate Programs in Education
Chairperson, Education Department
617-333-2130
dbgratz0703@curry.edu

John Bresnahan
Director of Graduate Enrollment
Office of Graduate Studies
617-333-2243
jbresnah0104@curry.edu

State Resources

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant St.
Malden, MA. 02148
www.doe.mass.edu

MA DESE Licensure Help Call Center
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
781-338-6600

MA DESE Licensure Help website
www.doe.mass.edu/licensurehelp

Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure
www.doe.mass.edu/mtel

ELAR Account
https://www4.doemass.org/elar/userregistration/RegistrationPageControl.ser

MTEL Program and Registration (Including Practice Tests, Score Report Explanations, Test Objectives)
www.mtel.nesinc.com

Current MTEL preparation workshops offered by Curry College