Code of Massachusetts Regulations
603 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Title 603 CMR 7.00 - Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval
Section 7.04 - Types of Educator Licenses, Requirements for Licensure, Licenses Issued, and Requirements for Field based Experience

Universal Citation: 603 MA Code of Regs 603.7

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(1) Types of Licenses.

(a) Provisional;

(b) Initial;

(c) Professional;

(d) Temporary;

(e) Military Spouse.

(2) Requirements for Teacher Licensure.

(a) Provisional. This is available only for licenses under 603 CMR 7.04(3)(a).
1. Possession of a bachelor's degree.

2. Passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test.

3. Passing score on the subject matter knowledge test(s) appropriate to the license sought, based on the subject matter knowledge requirements set forth in 603 CMR 7.06, where available.

4. Competency Review for candidates seeking the following licenses:
a. 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.

b. Fields for which there is no subject matter knowledge test available.

5. Additional requirements for the early childhood, elementary, teacher of students with moderate disabilities, teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing (Oral/Aural) and teacher of the visually impaired licenses:
a. Seminars or courses on, or demonstrated knowledge of, ways to prepare and maintain students with disabilities for general classrooms; for example, use of strategies for learning and of behavioral management principles.

b. Passing score on the Foundations of Reading test.

6. Additional requirements for the teacher of students with severe disabilities, and teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing (American Sign Language/Total Communication) licenses: Seminars or courses on, or demonstrated knowledge of, ways to prepare and maintain students with disabilities for general classrooms; for example, use of strategies for learning and of behavioral management principles.

7. Evidence of sound moral character.

(b) Initial.
1. Possession of a bachelor's degree.

2. Passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test.

3. Passing score on the subject matter knowledge test(s) appropriate to the license sought, based on the subject matter knowledge requirements set forth in the Subject Matter Knowledge Guidelines. Where no test has been established, completion of an approved program will satisfy this requirement.

4. Completion of route program for the Initial License sought as set forth in 603 CMR 7.05.

5. For core academic teachers, possession of an SEI Teacher Endorsement.

6. Evidence of sound moral character.

(c) Professional.
1. Possession of an Initial License in the same field as the Professional license sought.

2. Completion of a one-year induction program with a mentor and at least 50 hours of a mentored experience beyond the induction year.

3. At least three full years of employment under the Initial License.

4. Completion of one of the following:
a. An approved licensure program for the Professional License sought as set forth in the Guidelines for Program Approval.

b. A program leading to eligibility for master teacher status, such as those sponsored by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and others accepted by the Commissioner.

c. For those who have completed any master's or higher degree or other advanced graduate program in an accredited college or university, at least 12 credits of graduate level courses each of which includes subject matter knowledge or pedagogy based on the subject matter knowledge of the Professional License sought; these may include credits earned prior to application for the license.

5. Additional requirement for the teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing license (American Sign Language/Total Communication): Passing score on a test of sign language proficiency approved by the Department.

(d) Temporary.
1. Possession of a bachelor's degree.

2. Possession of a valid educator license or certificate from another state or jurisdiction.

3. At least three years of employment under such valid license or certificate.

4. Has not failed any part of the applicable licensure tests required by 603 CMR 7.04(2)(a)2. and 3.

5. Evidence of sound moral character.

(e) Military Spouse.
1. Possession of a bachelor's degree

2. Military Spouse as defined in 603 CMR 7.02.

3. Possession of a valid educator license/certificate issued by a state.

4. Testing requirements for the license sought not yet satisfied.

5. Evidence of a sound moral character.

(f) Alternative Assessment Pilot. The Department may conduct a pilot of alternative assessments identified or developed to satisfy the requirements of 603 CMR 7.04(2)(a)2. and 3., and 603 CMR 7.04(2)(b)2. and 3., and 603 CMR 1.06 (4 (a). Any alternative assessment identified or developed for this purpose shall be determined by the Commissioner to be comparable to the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills test or subject matter knowledge test. The alternative assessment pilot period shall continue through June 30, 2025. Any candidate who passes an alternative assessment taken prior to July 1, 2025 will be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of 603 CMR 7.04(2)(a)2., or 3., or 603 CMR 7.04(2)(b)2. or 3., or 603 CMR 1.06(4) (a), as applicable. During the period of the alternative assessment pilot, the Commissioner will report to the Board at least annually on any alternative assessments, including the number of candidates taking the alternative assessments, any evaluative information regarding these candidates, patterns of employment, and feedback from school districts and educator preparation programs. Prior to making any recommendations following the conclusion of the pilot, the Commissioner shall conduct or contract for an evaluation of the alternative assessment pilot.

(3) Licenses Issued. The following licenses will be issued and will be valid for employment at the grade levels indicated:

(a) Teacher Licenses and Levels.

1. Biology

8-12

2. Business

5-12

3. Chemistry

8-12

4. Dance

All

5. Digital Literacy/Computer Science

PreK-6; 5-12

6. Early Childhood

PreK-2

7. Earth and Space Science

8-12

8. Elementary

1-6

9. English

5-12

10. English as a Second Language (ESL)

PreK-6; 5-12

11. General Science

1-6; 5-8

12. Health/Family and Consumer Sciences

All

13. History

1-6; 5-12

14. Latin and Classical Humanities

5-12

15. Library

All

16. Mathematics

1-6; 5-8; 8-12

17. Middle School: Humanities

5-8

18. Middle School: Mathematics/Science

5-8

19. Music: Vocal/Instrumental/General

All

20. Physical Education

PreK-8; 5-12

21. Physics

8-12

22. Speech

All

23. Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities

PreK-2; PreK-8; 5-12

24. Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities

PreK-2; All

25. Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing

All

26. Teacher of the Visually Impaired

All

27. Technology/Engineering

5-12

28. Theater

All

29. Visual Art

PreK-8; 5-12

30. World Language

PreK-6; 5-12

(b) Specialist Teacher Licenses and Levels.

1. Instructional Technology Specialist

All

2. Reading

All

3. Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders

All

(c) Administrator Licenses and Levels.

1. Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent

All

2. School Principal/Assistant School Principal

PreK-8; 5-12

3. Supervisor/Director

Dependent on Prerequisite License

4. Special Education Administrator

All

5. School Business Administrator

All

(d) Professional Support Personnel Licenses and Levels.

1. School Counselor

All

2. School Nurse

All

3. School Psychologist

All

4. School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor

All

(4) Requirements for Field-based Experience for the Initial License. Field-based experiences are an integral component of any program for the preparation of educators.

Pre-practicum. They must begin early in the preparation program (pre-practicum) and be integrated into the courses or seminars that address Professional Standards for Teachers or Professional Standards for Administrators, in accordance with Pre-practicum Guidelines.

Practicum. A Practicum/Practicum Equivalent must be supervised jointly by the supervisor from the preparation program in which the candidate is enrolled and the supervising practitioner. The supervising practitioner responsible for the larger portion of the Practicum/Practicum Equivalent and the program supervisor will together evaluate the candidate on the basis of the appropriate standards. Disagreement between the supervising practitioner and the program supervisor will be resolved by the decision of a third person chosen jointly by them.

All individuals in educator preparation programs shall assume full responsibility in the licensure role for a minimum of 100 hours.

All Practicum/Practicum Equivalents shall be completed within a Massachusetts public school, approved private special education school, Massachusetts Department of Early Education Care approved preschool, educational collaborative, or a school that requires Massachusetts educator licensure.

Practicum/Practicum Equivalent Requirements are as follows:

(a) Early Childhood:

(100 hours in Grades PreK-K, 200 hours in Grades 1 and 2; at least one setting must include children with disabilities)

300 hours

(b) Teacher, Grades 1-6

300 hours

(c) Teacher, Grades 5-8

300 hours

(d) Teacher, Grades 8-12

300 hours

(e) Teacher, Grades PreK-6 or PreK-8

300 hours

(f) Teacher, Grades 5-12

300 hours

(g) Teacher, All

(150 hours at each of any two of the following Grade levels PreK-6, 5-8, 8-12)

300 hours

(h) Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (for PreK-8, 300 hours in an inclusive general education setting or 75 hours in an inclusive general education setting and 225 hours in a separate or substantially separate setting for students with moderate disabilities; for Grades 5-12, 300 hours in an inclusive general education classroom or 150 hours in an inclusive general education classroom and 150 hours in a separate or substantially separate setting for students with moderate disabilities)

*300 hours

(i) Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (at least 75 hours in an inclusive general education classroom at any level, and at least 150 hours in a setting with students with severe disabilities; the remaining 75 hours may be in either setting)

*300 hours

(j) Specialist (unless otherwise indicated)

150 hours

(k) Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent

500 hours

(l) Principal/Assistant Principal

500 hours

(m) Supervisor/Director

300 hours

(n) Special Education Administrator

500 hours

(o) School Business Administrator

300 hours

(p) Professional Support Personnel

**(See individual license requirements)**

(5) Endorsements Issued:

(a) Sheltered English Immersion Teacher;

(b) Sheltered English Immersion Administrator;

(c) Bilingual Education;

(d) Transition Specialist;

(e) Autism; and

(f) Academically Advanced.

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