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Teacher Licensure

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that candidates for Initial Licensure as a teacher pass the Communication and Literacy Skills Test as well as different subject tests.

  • Students who want to be licensed to teach in Massachusetts must pass a Massachusetts Communication and Literacy Skills Test, and demonstrate subject matter knowledge in a General Curriculum (formerly Elementary) test. In addition, candidates for elementary certification must pass the Foundations of Reading Test.

  • Of the Brandeis students who took these tests in 2003-2004 and completed the Education Program, 100% passed the Communication and Literacy Skills Test and 100% passed the Subject Matter Tests.

If you want to become an elementary teacher, the State requires that you have a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences or an interdisciplinary major from an accredited college or university with an arts or sciences major appropriate to the instructional field. Those applying for a Mass. Initial License as an Elementary Teacher need to have subject knowledge in American and World Literature, U.S. and World History, geography, economics, child development, science and mathematics. (603 CMR 7.00 Mass. DOE) Please contact the Education Program Office or check the Massachusetts Department of Education for information about how to prepare and register for the Massachusetts tests in Communication and Literacy Skills, Foundations of Reading, and General Curriculum.

Massachusetts is part of the NASDTEC 2005-2010 Interstate Agreement, so that Massachusetts teacher licensure is recognized by 42 other states and the District of Columbia.