Licensure of Educational Personnel

Many professions for which students prepare in the School of Education require licensure by the state, commonwealth, or district in which students wish to practice. The University licensure officer is prepared to assist students seeking licensure.

Appropriate course selection, under the guidance of faculty advisors, will be made to meet licensure standards. It is important that a student discuss his or her professional goals with an advisor at the initial conference and throughout the course of his or her academic program. For each program offered leading to a specific license or level of licensure in Massachusetts, a specific sequence of courses is required. A description of each sequence and information about program requirements are available from the appropriate program director.

Any additional Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements and the collection and submission of documents necessary to meet licensure requirements are the responsibility of the student. To obtain licensure in Massachusetts, one must pass the required Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), but passing the MTELs is not a condition of admission nor a requirement for graduation.

Students completing a Massachusetts-approved educator licensure program may also be eligible for licensure in most other states through NASDTEC interstate reciprocity agreements. It is critical that students keep abreast of requirements in other states where they wish to seek licensure.

Note that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time.

For additional information, please email Jo-Anne Richard, licensure officer, at jrichard@bu.edu or call 617-353-3239.