How to Become a Teacher in Massachusetts 2026
Here's how to become a teacher in Massachusetts: earn a bachelor's degree, complete a state-approved teacher preparation program, and meet applicable assessment requirements before you can hold an Initial license. New teachers without a completed prep program can start under a Preliminary license instead. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) issues all licenses through its online ELAR portal.
Figuring out how to become a teacher in Massachusetts starts with knowing which of three main licensure stages you're aiming for: Preliminary, Initial, and Professional. Which one you start with depends on whether you've already finished a state-approved teacher prep program, not on how long you've wanted to teach. If you're still comparing certification requirements by state, Massachusetts is one of the more structured processes, with a dedicated online portal for every step.
Choose What You Want to Teach
Grade band and subject decide almost everything else on this list, including which MTEL subject-matter test you'll sit and which coursework counts toward your degree. If you're not sure between elementary and secondary, spend a day observing a classroom at each level before you commit to a program. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website lists every license field and grade span the state issues, from PreK through grade 12.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree and Complete an Approved Preparation Program
For the standard academic PreK-12 teaching route, Massachusetts requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, plus completion of a DESE-approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) or another DESE-recognized route to an Initial license. The degree doesn't have to be in education itself, and most programs expect a minimum cumulative GPA around 3.0 for admission. Career and Technical Education licenses work differently: some CTE fields accept a high school diploma or associate degree plus documented occupational experience in place of a bachelor's degree, so check the specific license field on DESE's site before assuming the bachelor's requirement applies to you.
Most Massachusetts colleges run blended programs: you complete your degree coursework and your EPP requirements, including supervised student teaching, at the same time.
What the Preparation Program Covers
EPPs combine coursework in pedagogy and content-area methods with a fieldwork component that includes classroom observation and student teaching. Completing the EPP is what moves you from a Preliminary license toward an Initial one, and it's also where you build the SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) endorsement Massachusetts requires of every Initial license holder.
Massachusetts Licensure Levels
| License | Who It's For | Valid For |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | Bachelor's degree, Communication & Literacy requirement met, applicable subject-matter requirements, no completed EPP yet (not every license field is available at this level) | Up to 5 years, no renewal |
| Initial | Completed EPP, Communication & Literacy requirement met, applicable subject-matter requirements, SEI endorsement | 5 years, extendable once for 5 more |
| Professional | 3 years teaching under Initial license, completed induction and mentoring | 5 years, renewable |
Alternative and Out-of-State Routes
If you already hold a bachelor's degree but haven't finished a teacher prep program, the Preliminary license lets you start teaching while you complete one, usually under a mentor. You'll need to meet the Communication & Literacy requirement and any applicable subject-matter requirements first. Teachers moving from another state can apply for licensure through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which Massachusetts uses to evaluate comparable out-of-state licenses. Three years of prior teaching experience strengthens an application for licensure by reciprocity, and a comparable out-of-state license is also one of the qualifying paths for the Communication & Literacy waiver described below. If you're weighing a move within New England, the requirements shift at the border: see how the process compares in How to Become a Teacher in Connecticut, How to Become a Teacher in New Hampshire, and How to Become a Teacher in Vermont.
Meet the Testing and Assessment Requirements
Massachusetts changed how candidates satisfy the Communication and Literacy requirement in 2026. You can still take the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills test, but you can also meet the requirement through an approved alternative assessment, or through a waiver if you qualify. The waiver is available if you've completed a Massachusetts-approved preparation program, hold a qualifying graduate degree, hold a comparable out-of-state license, or have two years of qualifying Massachusetts district experience plus an administrator recommendation.
Beyond Communication and Literacy, every candidate still takes a subject-matter test in the specific field and grade level they're licensing for, and subject-matter requirements vary by license field. Subject-matter tests exist for dozens of fields, including:
- Elementary and Early Childhood
- English and English as a Second Language
- Mathematics and Middle School Mathematics/Science
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and General Science
- History, Political Science, and Middle School Humanities
- Special education (Moderate Disabilities, Severe Disabilities, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Visually Impaired)
- World languages, Latin and Classical Humanities
- Music, Theater, Dance, and Visual Art
- Technology/Engineering and Instructional Technology
- Health/Family and Consumer Science, Business, and Physical Education
Check the specific MTEL test list on the MTEL testing site before you register, since some fields require more than one subject-matter exam.
Apply Through DESE's ELAR System
Application Requirements
Massachusetts processes every license application through the Educator Licensure and Renewal (ELAR) portal, DESE's online system. A Preliminary license needs a bachelor's degree, the Communication & Literacy requirement met, and any applicable subject-matter requirements. An Initial license adds the completed EPP and SEI endorsement on top of that.
DESE doesn't run a statewide background check as part of licensure itself, but individual school districts almost always require one before hiring, so plan on a CORI/fingerprint check at the district level even though the state license application doesn't ask for it.
Contact Information
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, MA 02149
Find a Teaching Job in Massachusetts
Once your license clears ELAR, you're eligible to apply for teaching positions statewide. Massachusetts districts hire year-round, but the bulk of openings post between February and June for the following school year.
Massachusetts Teacher Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary school teachers in Massachusetts earned a median annual salary of $94,000 as of May 2025. Middle school teachers earned a median of $89,450, and secondary (high school) teachers earned $95,260. Kindergarten teachers earned a median of $84,100.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | Job Growth (2024-2034) |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $84,100 | +1.9% |
| Elementary School Teachers | $94,000 | +1.4% |
| Middle School Teachers | $89,450 | +1.6% |
| Secondary School Teachers | $95,260 | +2.0% |
Projections Central estimates Massachusetts will add roughly 2,140 elementary teaching openings a year through 2034, along with 1,840 secondary and 1,100 middle school openings annually. Unlike the national trend, where most core K-12 teaching roles are projected to decline, Massachusetts shows modest growth across every core grade band.
Special Education Salaries in Massachusetts
Special education teachers earned higher medians than general classroom teachers at the same grade level. BLS data shows special education teachers at the kindergarten and elementary level earned a median annual salary of $91,350 as of May 2025, while special education middle school teachers earned $84,550 and special education secondary teachers earned $83,890.
Continue Your Education and Renew Your License
Moving from Initial to Professional
After three years of employment under your Initial license, you can apply for a Professional license. The requirements include a one-year mentored induction program, at least 50 additional hours of mentored experience beyond that induction year, and one of the following: an approved licensure program tied to your field, National Board Certification, or a master's degree (or higher) with at least 12 graduate credits related to your subject area or pedagogy.
Renewing a Professional License
Once you hold a Professional license, DESE requires at least 150 professional development points (PDPs) every five years to renew it, including:
- At least 15 PDPs in content (subject-matter knowledge)
- At least 15 PDPs in pedagogy
- At least 15 PDPs related to Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) or ESL instruction
- At least 15 PDPs in strategies for students with disabilities and diverse learning styles
One semester of graduate coursework equals 22.5 PDPs, so seven graduate courses toward a master's degree can satisfy the entire five-year PDP requirement on their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a Preliminary and an Initial teaching license in Massachusetts?
A Preliminary license lets you start teaching with a bachelor's degree, the Communication & Literacy requirement met, and applicable subject-matter requirements, before you've finished a teacher prep program. An Initial license requires the completed program plus the SEI endorsement, and it's the credential most districts expect for a permanent hire.
Do I need a master's degree to teach in Massachusetts?
No. Massachusetts doesn't require a master's degree to earn or hold an Initial or Professional license. Many teachers pursue one anyway, since graduate coursework can satisfy the Professional license's PDP renewal requirement and often comes with a pay increase.
How long does it take to become a licensed teacher in Massachusetts?
Most candidates complete a bachelor's degree and EPP in four to five years, then meet the assessment requirements and apply for an Initial license through ELAR. Someone who already holds a bachelor's degree and meets the Communication & Literacy and subject-matter requirements can start teaching sooner under a Preliminary license while finishing the EPP. Candidates who qualify for the Communication & Literacy waiver - through a Massachusetts-approved prep program, a qualifying graduate degree, a comparable out-of-state license, or two years of qualifying district experience plus an administrator recommendation - can skip that particular test entirely.
Can I transfer a teaching license from another state to Massachusetts?
Yes, through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Massachusetts evaluates your out-of-state license against its own license fields and grade levels, and three years of prior teaching experience strengthens a reciprocity application.
Does Massachusetts require a background check for teacher licensure?
DESE's license application itself doesn't require a background check, but individual school districts do as a condition of hiring, typically a CORI and fingerprint-based check.
- Three license levels, not two - Preliminary lets you start teaching before finishing an EPP, Initial requires the completed EPP and SEI endorsement, and Professional comes after three years plus mentoring and one of several advancement paths.
- The MTEL isn't your only option since 2026 - you can meet the Communication & Literacy requirement through the MTEL, an approved alternative assessment, or a waiver if you qualify. A subject-matter test specific to your field and grade level is still required.
- DESE runs everything through ELAR - the Educator Licensure and Renewal portal is the state's online system for applying and tracking your license.
- The background check happens at the district, not the state - DESE's license application doesn't require one, but the school that hires you will.
- Job growth is modest but positive here - Massachusetts core K-12 roles are projected to grow 1.4-2.0% through 2034, unlike the national trend toward decline.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, and for Special Education Teachers. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.
Massachusetts runs its licensure through DESE and ELAR, but the program you choose still decides how fast you get there. The sponsored programs listed here include options built for career-changers who already hold a degree in another field.