Teacher Licensure
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires candidates for Initial Licensure as an Academic Teacher to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with an arts and sciences or interdisciplinary major appropriate to the instructional field.
Elementary teachers are required to have subject matter knowledge in American and world literature, U.S. and world history, geography, economics, child development, science and mathematics.
In most cases, middle and high school teachers major in the subject area for which they will be licensed.
All candidates for licensure must pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) specific to their subject area and level.
Elementary Educator Candidates must take and pass:
|
Test Number/Name |
Content |
Take Test By |
|---|---|---|
|
Communications & Literacy |
Reading- passages and multiple choice questions |
August 1 |
|
General Curriculum (03) |
Math- multiple choice and open response questions |
December 1 |
|
Foundations of Reading (90) |
Knowledge of reading/language arts required for Early Childhood, Elementary and Moderate Disabilities licenses |
December 1 |
Secondary Educator Candidates must take and pass the subject matter test in the content area they plan to teach:
|
Test Number/Name |
Content |
Take Test By |
|---|---|---|
|
Communications & Literacy |
Reading- passages and multiple choice questions |
August 1 |
|
Subject & Level Specific |
Depending on the content area and/or level of teaching certification sought will determine MTELs to be taken. |
December 1 |
Preparing for MTELs
Teacher candidates study on their own or with cohort members for all MTELs, however, the Education Program offers some optional support. In the fall, Brandeis Elementary Teacher Candidates are offered a free math MTEL preparation course led by a Brandeis faculty leader. MTEL offers study materials online; those same materials can be borrowed from the Education Program. Lesley University and Simmons College offer MTEL preparation courses for a fee.