How to Apply for Massachusetts Initial or Professional Educator License

Overview

A Preliminary license is not required by the state, and is optional. Lesley does not endorse for the Preliminary license, so if you want to obtain one, you may apply on your own. Follow Steps 1 (except apply for a Preliminary license), 2 and 3 below. You must have a Bachelor's degree, successful completion of required MTELs, and for some licenses, such as Early Childhood or Elementary Education, you must have additional coursework, or for Moderate or Severe Disabilities, you must meet competencies through coursework or documented experience. See Licensure-Help for preliminary license requirements.

Checklist

Please review the checklist below to be sure that you have taken all necessary steps. Remember to be accurate and consistent with your personal information so that your name, date of birth, and social security number are accurate and identical in your ELAR, MTEL registrations, etc.

1. Apply for your Initial license and pay application fee online at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), where you should have set up your Educator Licensure and Recruitment account (ELAR).  This can be done early in your program because it will allow you to electronically check your MTEL results. If you have not set it up yet, please do so. There is no charge to establish an ELAR account but there are fees for license applications.
   * Only you know the User ID, password, and security question/answer—this
      is confidential information that you should remember.
   * Check MTEL Pass results on your ELAR account
   * Check application progress/licensure status on your ELAR account
2. For graduate students: Submit your official undergraduate degree transcript(s) with the Registrar's signature to the Mass ESE, Office of Certification, 75 Pleasant St, Malden, MA 02148-5023. Lesley University's official transcripts have the Registrar's signature; make certain official transcripts from other institutions have the Registrar's signature on the transcript.
   * If your undergraduate degree was issued under a different name, submit a copy of either your marriage license or social security card showing the name change to the  Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) (address above).
   * If your undergraduate degree was from a country outside of the US, you must have the coursework/diploma evaluated by a nationally accredited agency listed with the ESE, and sent to the ESE.
3. Pass all required MTEL tests.
4. Complete all requirements of licensure program at Lesley. Undergraduates must have completed all requirements for the bachelor's degree (including filing an intent to graduate if not already graduated). Graduate students in School Guidance and School Adjustment Counselor program must have completed their Master's degree. Professional licensure candidates must have completed the Master's degree.
5. Be sure all grades and credits are posted with the Registrar's Office and in myLesley/LOIS (including practicum).
6. Complete and submit the Endorsed Transcript Request Form online. This form gives the University permission to audit your program of study, and if it's complete, the endorsement language is placed on your transcript, and the endorsed transcript is then mailed to the ESE in a batch. The endorsement language remains on your transcript and becomes part of your permanent Lesley University Official Transcript. The Certification and Educator License Office also now submits an electronic endorsement to the ESE.
7. You will be notified by e-mail or phone if there are questions or missing requirements from your program of study. After you have applied for the Endorsed Transcript, check your email frequently to learn the status of your endorsed transcript request. You can also track the transcript request by logging onto your LOIS account, and clicking on "transcript request status," to see whether a transcript has been requested by Rita Sugarman or Sharyn Boornazian in the Certification Office.
8. Within 7-10 working days of Lesley University's receipt of your request, assuming all requirements are met, you will receive an email letter from the Certification Office stating when your Endorsed Transcript was mailed to the ESE and when you were electronically endorsed. While waiting for the ESE to process your license (which takes anywhere from 4 weeks to 4 months, depending on the time of year), you can use the email letter (PDF) to show employers that your licensure requirements have been completed.

Contact the Lesley Certification and Educator License Office if you have questions.

Print version of How to Apply for MA or Professional License.