Massachusetts Teacher Certification

How to Become a Teacher in Massachusetts

There are several different paths to Massachusetts teacher certification for starting a career in the classroom. The traditional path for becoming a teacher requires the completion of an educator preparation program at a state-approved institute of higher learning whereas the alternative path requires a bachelor’s degree, a passing score on the Massachusetts Test(s) for Educator Licensure (MTEL), and a willingness to complete the requirements for an initial teaching license while teaching full-time. Moreover, Massachusetts participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement which allows teachers who are certified to teach in other states the opportunity to receive a Massachusetts teaching license as well.

Spotlight School

Kaplan University

Popular Programs:

• MS in Education (for Existing Teachers Grades K-12)
• MA in Teaching (for Aspiring Teachers Grades 5-12)

Massachusetts Teacher Education Requirements

Massachusetts requires that successful teaching candidates who are pursuing a traditional, initial teaching certificate complete an educator preparation program which results in a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at an approved post-secondary institute. In order for beginning teachers to progress from an initial license to a professional license, a teacher induction program must also be completed successfully. This program is designed to allow new teachers to benefit from the experience and knowledge of seasoned and successful educators who act as mentors and support teams during the first year of the individual’s teaching career. Upon the culmination of the teacher induction program, the individual may apply for a professional license. Once an educator receives a professional license, they must continue attending workshops and taking courses to earn the professional development points (PDPs) necessary for their certificate to be renewed.

Profiles of Well Known Schools

Harvard University: Even the name Harvard University offers a sense of prestige like no other school in the world, and its College of Education is no different. The department is prestigious, well respected and often recognized as one of the leaders in the industry. The Graduate School of Education at Harvard confers a number of program offerings within the master of education degree (Ed.M.) including such areas of study as Higher Education, School Leadership and Teacher Education Program. Doctoral degrees include the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree and the Doctor of Educational Leadership (Ed.L.D.) degree. 21st century leaders in education are prepared at Harvard through the integration of intellectual studies and professional resources that only the top Ivy League school can offer. Classes are taught by world-renowned research faculty that authored books, conducted high level speeches and been showcased in documentaries and movies.

Massachusetts Teacher Testing Requirements

The state of Massachusetts requires that prospective teaching candidates take and pass the appropriate Massachusetts Test(s) for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Although the exact examinations required for individual candidates will vary depending on the grade level and subject area they plan to teach, generally speaking, prospective teachers will need to pass the Communication and Literacy Skills Test as well as a Subject test designed to assess the candidate’s expertise in their specific content area.

Massachusetts Teacher Salary and Jobs

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Massachusetts

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

California University of Pennsylvania

Popular Programs:

• Early Childhood Education (Certification Only)
• Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
• MA in Teaching: Advanced Studies in Secondary Education- National Board Preparation
• Superintendent Letter of Eligibility (SLE)
• And more...

University of Phoenix

Popular Programs:

• M.A. in Education/Early Childhood Ed.
• M.A. in Education/Secondary Teacher Education
• B.S. in Education / Elementary Education
• A.A. in Elementary Education
• And more...

Penn Foster Schools

Popular Programs:

• Teacher Aide

Hesser College

Popular Programs:

• Associate: Early Childhood Education

Locations: Manchester

Colorado Technical University Online

Popular Programs:

• Doctor of Management - Graduate Level Instructional Practices
• Doctor of Management - Private Sector Higher Education Leadership

Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Teacher in Massachusetts

Question: How do I become a substitute teacher in Massachusetts?

Answer: To be a substitute teacher in Massachusetts, you need to apply to individual districts. Some districts require that you have a teaching license through the state, but you must at least have a high school diploma. You also need to be fingerprinted and pass a criminal background check. http://stedi.org/subs/resources/how-to-become-a-substitute-teacher/requirements-for-substitute-teachers-by-state/

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Massachusetts

American International College
1000 State Street
Springfield, MA 1109
(413) 737-7000
www.aic.edu/admissions

Anna Maria College
50 Sunset Lane
Paxton, MA 01612-1198
(508) 849-3300
www.annamaria.edu/?controller=admissions

Atlantic Union College
338 Main St
South Lancaster, MA 01561-1000
(978) 368-2000

Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston St
Boston, MA 2215
(617) 747-2222

Berkshire Community College
1350 West Street,
Pittsfield, MA
www.berkshirecc.edu/

Student Review: “Berkshire Community College’s Early Childhood Education program has been great. The campus may look like a bomb shelter, but within those thick cement walls is the most under appreciated faculty west of Boston. Many of my professors formally worked at Boston universities and are providing the same curriculum at a quarter of the price and a quarter of the class size. The greatest experience, however, has been hands-on. Within the campus is a preschool that I get to work with three days a week and has provided me with so much more knowledge than any book or speaker could have. Another wonderful aspect of the program is that the professors, because they are virtually retirees, are willing to work so much more with us one on one at almost any time regardless of any set office hours. I think that the most important part of a teaching program is human interaction with young and old and BCC has provided the perfect balance of the two.” -James H., student at Berkshire Community College

Boston College
140 Commonwealth Ave
Chestnut Hill, MA 2467
(617) 552-8000
www.bc.edu/admission/

Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 2215
(617) 353-2000
www.bu.edu/admissions

Student Review: “Attending Boston University has been an okay experience for me. I like that there are so many different course options. But there are also so many students at the school that a lot of the times courses are full before the underclassmen even get a chance to register. I really dislike that there are so many students at the school. It’s way too big for my taste. Also I dislike the physical layout of the school. It doesn’t have a campus feel to it because it’s basically just located in the middle of the city. There really is no distinctive Boston University campus in that regard. This was a major downside for me. The dorm rooms are also not that great. I feel like if I pay more than 50,000 dollars a year to attend a school they could at least make the effort to offer nice housing. One thing that I do like about BU is that there are a lot of resources for students on campus. They really do try to help you out a lot with things like financial aid and finding a job during the school year.” -Shacoria R., student at Boston University

Brandeis University
415 South St
Waltham, MA 02454-9110
(781) 736-2000
www.brandeis.edu/admissions/

Student Review: “I had an overall good experience at Brandeis. It was the perfect place for me right out of high school and it was easy to feel comfortable. Unfortunately, sometimes the ‘Brandeis Bubble’ feels stifling. Fortunately, Brandeis offers free buses on the weekends and there’s a Brandeis University commuter rail stop. While Waltham is close to Boston, it’s sometimes difficult to get into the city during the weekdays without a car. Brandeis has some of the best professors in existence. It’s lacking a bit on the quality of food on campus and the dorms though.” -Tatiana T., student at Brandeis University

Student Review: “Brandeis was not the best experience for me. I thought it was going to be a very nice place to be, but unfortunately it was not. The people there in general are nerds. If you want a social life, Brandeis really is not the place for you. Most people stay in even on the weekends to study. Also, there is a general aura of rudeness in the air. The students, especially the wealthy ones (which is most) are very degrading and condescending. I made a few good friends don’t get me wrong, but in general the people were very disagreeable. Other than that, I did really enjoy the professors at the University. The classes were very academically challenging, but the professor’s passion for their subjects really shone through all of the work. Overall, I am deciding to transfer from Brandeis because I hated it so much. You definitely have to be a very specific type of person to thrive there.” -Vanessa B., student at Brandeis University

Bridgewater State College
131 Summer Street
Bridgewater, MA 2325
(508) 531-1000
www.bridgew.edu/Admission/

Bristol Community College
777 Elsbree St
Fall River, MA 02720-7395
(508) 678-2811
www.bristolcc.edu/Enrollment_Center/admissions/

Eastern Nazarene College
23 E Elm Ave
Quincy, MA 02170-2999
(617) 745-3000
enc.edu/undergrad/

Emerson College
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116-4624
(617) 824-8500
www.emerson.edu/admission

Endicott College
376 Hale St
Beverly, MA 1915
(978) 927-0585

Student Review: “Endicott College is a great community. The professors are very involved with all of their students and can always be found for extra help outside of class. The school also has many great events hosted by the Campus Activity Board (CAB). The President of the school is also extremely involved with many of the events and even hosts several at his home every year. The education received at Endicott really prepares you for your future through the multiple internships that are a requirement for graduation. Endicott promotes individual growth for its students, but also creates a family atmosphere in the classrooms. One of the drawbacks from the school is that the Internet is inconsistent. Also, there are more students with cars on campus than there are parking spaces, so it is very difficult to find a place to park.” -Christopher J., student at Endicott College

Fitchburg State College
160 Pearl St
Fitchburg, MA 01420-2697
(978) 345-2151
www.fsc.edu/admissions

Student Review: “My experience with the Fitchburg State University teaching program were overwhelmingly positive. All of the teachers in the program were approachable and understood my special needs, and assisted me in passing my courses. The work they supplied me with was challenging, but fitting. The material was broad and varied, allowing me the option of focusing on many aspects of literature. I found it a little disheartening, though, that the university took very little advantage of the McKay school, which is just on campus, in its curriculum. Perhaps it was only my interest in secondary education, but regardless, it would have been better to use it than have to send students down to the high school, which is in an out of the way location. Overall, it was a wonderful time.” -Shannon G., student at Fitchburg State College

Framingham State College
100 State Street
Framingham, MA 01701-9101
(508) 620-1220

Gordon College-Wenham
255 Grapevine Rd
Wenham, MA 1984
(978) 927-2300
www.gordon.edu/admissions

Greenfield Community College
One College Dr
Greenfield, MA 01301-9739
(413) 775-1000
www.gcc.mass.edu/admissions

Hebrew College
160 Herrick Road
Newton Centre, MA 02459-2237
(617) 559-8600
www.hebrewcollege.edu/html/g_admissions/admissions.htm

Lesley University
29 Everett St
Cambridge, MA 02138-2790
(617) 868-9600

Massachusetts College of Art and Design
621 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115-5882
(617) 879-7000

Massasoit Community College
One Massasoit Boulevard
Brockton, MA 02302-3996
(508) 588-9100

Middlesex Community College-Bedford
Springs Rd
Bedford, MA 01730-9124
(978) 656-3200
www.middlesex.mass.edu

Nichols College
Center Rd
Dudley, MA 01571-5000
(508) 213-1560
www.nichols.edu/highschool/

North Shore Community College
1 Ferncroft Rd
Danvers, MA 01923-0840
(508) 762-4000

Northeastern University
360 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115-5000
(617) 373-2000
www.northeastern.edu/admissions/

Student Review: “Northeastern University has been an amazing experience for me. From an academic perspective, there is a huge variety of classes available ranging over hundreds of diverse majors. Class sizes tend to be smaller once you get past the normal freshman requirements, which there aren’t too many of anyways. In two years I’ve only ever had one truly bad professor, the rest have ranged from decent to superb. All of them are very friendly and approachable, and more than willing to discuss material both class related and not at their office hours, which are usually convenient. I’ve never had a problem with unreasonable professors demanding too much or thinking their students have nothing to do all day but type papers. Co-op is great; you’ll love earning money, and there are lots of options to pick from. You don’t need to limit yourself to jobs traditionally in your major, you can reach out and try different things to find what you like. The campus is absolutely beautiful, with many new buildings. Older buildings are being constantly renovated (that’s your high tuition bill at work). Freshman dorms are alright, amazing if you can get into International Village, and once you’re an upperclassman you have so many superb options to pick from. The food is excellent for college food, and there’s enough variety that you won’t get tired of what you’re eating. All in all, definitely consider NU.” -Justin K., student at Northeastern University

Northern Essex Community College
100 Elliott Street
Haverhill, MA 01830-2399
(978) 556-3000
www.necc.mass.edu/gettingstarted/becomestudent.php

Regis College
235 Wellesley St
Weston, MA 02493-1571
(781) 768-7000
www.regiscollege.edu/AdmissionandFinancialAid/Admission/Default.aspx

Salem State College
352 Lafayette St
Salem, MA 1970
(978) 542-6000

School of the Museum of Fine Arts-Boston
230 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-5596
(617) 267-6100

Simmons College
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-5898
(617) 521-2000

Springfield College
263 Alden St
Springfield, MA 01109-3797
(413) 748-3116
www.spfldcol.edu/home.nsf/admissions

Suffolk University
8 Ashburton Pl Beacon Hill
Boston, MA 02108-2770
(617) 573-8000

Student Review: “The education department at Suffolk University is one with very high esteem. It is a very organized department with teachers holding degrees from all over the country. The professors mostly hold masters degrees and many with doctoral degrees as well. They are very engaging and will help their students with anything they need. I found myself visiting their office hours many times per week with help with some of the work that I was facing difficulty with in class. One thing that stands out at this program is the fact that they bring in many guest speakers to the classroom experience. The beauty of it is that the guest speakers are usually graduates from this program that can bring a lot of great ideas to their students and real life experience to students who are somewhat afraid of what they will be encountering in their career. The one thing that I wish the university had more of is fellowship. The program should have meetings outside of the classroom with all students that are studying education to learn and grow from each other. Otherwise, I am very glad that I chose this path to study on.” -George M., student at Suffolk University

The New England Conservatory of Music
290 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115-5018
(617) 585-1100
www.newenglandconservatory.edu/apply/index.html

Tufts University
Medford, MA 02155-5555
(617) 628-5000
admissions.tufts.edu/

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 1003
(413) 545-0111
umass.edu/umhome/admissions.html

Student Review: “Umass has been one of the best experiences of my life. Professors are easy to approach in and out of class. I’ve experienced working directly with professors and they work very hard to give a student every advantage possible but they are demanding. Umass is filled with hidden gems like corner shops, restaurants, a beautiful pond and surrounded by mountains. The weather can make it difficult to walk to class but it is worth it to be at such a huge school that always has something going on. I’ve been involved in several clubs and have found online communities of students to learn about new activities and clubs that are just starting (I’m excited for Archery club). The food served in the dining halls is award winning. I’ve been visited by friends who go to other schools and they rave about the food. Anyone considering Umass as their school should visit and eat at Berkshire dining hall. Umass has a nice balance of academic and party culture. You can always find a party but they are hidden out of view. The library is the second tallest in the United States and has every book you could ask for. My major focuses on research and I’ve spent plenty of time digging though the stacks and never come out disappointed. Umass is awesome.” -Peter M., student at University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Massachusetts-Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125-3393
(617) 287-5000

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Rd
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
(508) 999-8000
www.umassd.edu/admissions/

University of Massachusetts-Lowell
1 University Ave
Lowell, MA 01854-5104
(978) 934-4000

Western New England University
1215 Wilbraham Rd
Springfield, MA 01119-2684
(413) 782-3111
www1.wnec.edu/admissions

Westfield State College
577 Western Ave
Westfield, MA 01086-1630
(413) 572-5300
www.wsc.ma.edu/Admissions/

Wheelock College
200 the Riverway
Boston, MA 02215-4176
(617) 879-2000
www.wheelock.edu/admissions/index.asp

Worcester State College
486 Chandler St
Worcester, MA 01602-2597
(508) 929-8000
www.worcester.edu/admissions

Page edited by Charles Sipe.