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Educator Licensure

All of the Northeastern University School of Education programs are approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education for initial educator licensure.

Licensure Process

After completing all applicable requirements, students apply for licensure. Angela Irving is the university's educator licensure officer and is responsible for providing institutional endorsement to the state for each candidate after they have completed their particular program of study. When a student has completed a state approved program, his/her name, address, social security number, date of birth, and documentation of completion of practicum requirements will be forwarded by the appropriate program contact person to Ms. Irving for review and endorsement.

We strongly encourage students to apply through ELAR on the Massachusetts Department of Education website rather than via mail. This process will significantly expedite the turnaround time for their application.

Students will need to submit an official copy of their undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts directly to the state Department of Education but can apply online via the Massachusetts Educator Licensure and Recruitment system ELAR.

For more information on licensure including regulations and on-line licensure, please visit the Massachusetts Department of Education.

Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure

Candidates seeking educator licensure in Massachusetts are tested through the MTEL program. They must pass both the tests of Communication and Literacy Skills and the Subject Test, where available, for the license they are seeking. This requirement holds for all candidates for licensure, including classroom teachers, district and school administrators, and district and school support-service personnel. The purpose of the MTEL is to help identify candidates for licensure who have demonstrated the knowledge required for entry-level educators in Massachusetts public schools.

At Northeastern University, passing the MTEL tests in Communication and Literacy Skills and the applicable subject area is required prior to entering into a student teaching practicum / internship which is required for educator licensure. Students must pass the teacher test the academic term prior to student teaching.

Information on the tests, including an online registration, downloadable test information booklets, and test objectives, can be found at the Massachusetts Department of Education (http://www.doe.mass.edu/mtel/) web site. This information is also available in the School of Education student lounge, 001 Nightingale Hall.

Additionally, Northeastern University offers workshops on the Communication and Literacy Skills test prior to each test administration. Please contact Nicolette Aduama, 617-373-4216, for more information.

In addition to the graduate and undergraduate programs offered through the School of Education, Northeastern also offers graduate programs to prepare other school personnel through the Bouvé College of Health Sciences. These programs are: