Obtaining Initial or Professional Licenses
Teaching Under an Initial License
Renewing, Reactivating and Adding Other Licenses
Obtaining Initial or Professional Licenses
What is the difference between Preliminary, Initial, Temporary and Professional licenses and which license should I apply for?
Please review Lesley's chart that explains licensure levels, or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) diagram of the types of licenses. Licensure programs at Lesley lead to the INITIAL license (preferred by school districts for beginning teachers) or PROFESSIONAL license for experienced teachers. Candidates can apply on their own for the Preliminary License, which is an optional license. Lesley does not endorse for Preliminary Licenses. Requirements for all levels and field of license are found at the ESE Licensure-help online.
What is the first step to apply for my Initial or Professional license license?
You should have set up an Educator Licensure and Recruitment account (ELAR), at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and then apply for and pay for the license through ELAR. You must also request an Endorsed Transcript through the Certification website. Please review the "How to Apply for a License" webpage for complete details.
What is an endorsed transcript?
An endorsed transcript, which you must request from the Certification Office upon program completion, is required by the Massachusetts ESE because it certifies to the state that you completed an approved program. Educator licensure language is placed on your Lesley University transcript and remains there and becomes part of your Official Transcript. Below is a sample of the endorsement language, modified for each student according to state, license, program and required state licensure language.
Certification(s): Completed
MAT1EP002B Teacher, Elementary Education
This student has completed a State approved and NASDTEC recognized program for licensure in Elementary Education (1-6) and is recommended for licensure in this field.
Date of Recommendation: 05/12
Certification Officer ______________________
Once your transcript is endorsed, the Certification Office also sends an electronic endorsement to the Department through ELAR.
When should I apply for an endorsed transcript?
- Undergraduates: When you have completed all requirements for the Bachelor's degree and have officially graduated you can apply for endorsement.
- Graduate students applying for Initial teaching license: You must have completed the licensure program with grades and credits from the all courses including the practicum posted to myLesley/LOIS. Master's degree conferral is not required for the Initial license, but is required for the Professional license.
- Graduate students applying for School Guidance, School Adjustment Counselor, or Professional endorsement in teaching: You must have completed your Master's degree requirements and have the conferral on your transcript. If you wish to apply for a license prior to degree conferral you must request a requirements-completed transcript from the Registrar in addition to requesting the Endorsed Transcript from Certification.
Endorsed Transcript RequestHow long does it take for my endorsed transcript to be sent to the Department and for me to get my license?
The endorsed transcript is usually processed within 7 to 10 business days after receiving your request. A confirmation email is sent to you when the endorsed transcript has been mailed to the ESE, along with an attached PDF of a letter confirming completion of your program, the date it was sent to the Department, and the date that your endorsement information was electronically submitted to the Department. You can use that letter to show employers that your license will be forthcoming. We also send an electronic endorsement to the Department at the same time as mailing the hard copy. The amount of time it takes for ESE to issue the license varies according to the date your application is received, the volume of applications being processed at the time, and the completeness and accuracy of your application.
Do I send my undergraduate transcripts to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or does Lesley University?
Graduate students are responsible for having an official undergraduate transcript(s) with the registrar's seal showing conferral of degree sent to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant St, Malden, MA 02148. If you completed your undergraduate program in another country, you must have an evaluation of the transcript done by a nationally recognized agency and sent to the Department. If you have already applied for and received a preliminary license, then the Department already has a copy of your undergraduate transcript.
Teaching Under an Initial License
I have taught three years in a private school. Does this count on my license? Can I use the experience for moving an Initial to Professional?
You don't have to count the three years on the license clock. You still have 5 years on your license to teach in a public school. However, if you prefer, you may count those years in private school experience if you prefer to use them towards your Professional license.
If I teach three years and then take two years off is my license expired?
No, your license is valid for a total of 5 teaching (on the clock) years. In this case, you will have two years left on your license.
My Initial license is going to expire and I have not earned the Professional license yet. What can I do?
You would need to apply to the ESE for the Initial Extension and submit a plan on how you are going to obtain a Professional license along with a letter of employment indicating that you have completed five years of employment or are in the fifth year of employment, as well as a $25 fee. Your district can request an expedited review of your application.
After I have taught three years and completed the Reading Specialist (All levels) Initial approved licensure program at Lesley University can I use course credits to upgrade my Initial to Professional status?
You can use 12 content course credits from Lesley's Reading Specialist (All levels) Initial license program to advance the following Initial licenses to Professional license: Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Moderate Disabilities, Severe Disabilities.
Renewing, Reactivating and Adding Other Licenses
I received my elementary teaching certificate in 1985 and then worked in corporate settings. What would I need to do to go back to teaching?
You will need to reactivate your license according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Recertification Guidelines. The License Renewal (recertification) webpage also explains this. You will need to earn 150 Professional Development Points (PDPs) through coursework and other professional development activities described in the Recertification Guidelines. One 3-credit graduate course will earn 67.5 PDPs. Visit Lesley's Events Page to find out more about PDP opportunities available at Lesley.
I have a Master's in Elementary Education and would like to add a license in Moderate Disabilities or Reading Specialist. Do I need to complete an additional Master's degree?
No, Lesley offers variable credit Licensure-Only programs in Moderate Disabilities and Reading Specialist. Keep in mind that coursework from either of those programs can be used to advance the Elementary Education and Early Childhood Initial licenses to Professional.
I already have an Initial Elementary license. What do I need to do to add an Initial Early Childhood license?
Go to Licensure-Help Online, fill in the drop-down menus, hit "next," and look for the most recent entry. It is sometimes necessary to scroll down the whole screen in order to locate the most current and appropriate entry for your situation. To add the Early Childhood license to an existing Initial Elementary license you are adding a license in a new field and new grade level.
"2005: Educators in Massachusetts earning an additional license in a new field at a new level." You will see the following:
- Pass the Early Childhood subject matter test and the Foundations of Reading or Reading Specialist
- A practicum or practicum equivalent of 150 hours in the role of the license in an appropriate classroom test
You can click on each requirement to get more details and information.
How can I become certified in another state?
Candidates with Massachusetts certification may be eligible for a comparable license in 48 states within the Interstate Agreement. Please check the
National Association of State Directory of Teacher Education and Certification web site and review the other state's education department website for requirements. Candidates usually have to pass the applicable state tests and submit a verification form (form V) that Lesley's Certification office fills out indicating you completed an approved education program. Course requirements vary from state to state and states may impose additional requirements for licensure.
I have an educator license from another state. Can I teach in Massachusetts? You can apply to the Mass ESE for a temporary license in your field, which is valid for one year, giving you time to complete
required MTELs and/or other requirements. You are not required to pass the MTEL to obtain the temporary license; however, it will not be granted if you have failed any MTEL. Please review the
Massachusetts Department of Education Out of State Applicant page.
What tests are required for licensure in Massachusetts?
The Communication and Literacy Skills test is needed for all types of license (teachers, specialist teachers, support personnel and administrators). In addition, a Subject Matter test is required for all teaching and specialist teaching subject areas. All candidates for licenses in Early Childhood, Elementary Education and Moderate Special Needs programs must also pass the Foundations of Reading test. Questions regarding the MTEL test can be found on the MTEL FAQ page of our website or our MTEL Student Guide.
Although the Lesley Certification Office has attempted to ensure that the information contained on the website is accurate and complete at the time of posting, the contents are subject to change at any time.