General Information
Subject Matter Test Requirements
The chart below provides some general information on subject matter test requirements. Additional requirements, such as passing the Communication and Literacy Skills test, may need to be met for a particular license. In order to receive full and accurate information on the license requirements you need to meet for a particular license, including which tests to take, please submit a license application to the Licensure Office at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. If you are enrolled in a Massachusetts educator preparation program, please contact the licensure officer at your college/ university or other preparatory organization for program completion requirements. Please note that license requirements are subject to change.
For further general information regarding:
- which test(s) to take for a PreK-12, Vocational Technical, or Adult Basic Education license, as well as other licensing requirements, please go to www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_license.html; then select the appropriate license category for the license you wish to pursue;
- test content, please refer to the Test Objectives in the relevant Test Information Booklets at www.doe.mass.edu/mtel/faq/tprep_lst.html.
| Teacher License | Level | Subject Matter Test1 | Test Code |
|---|
| Adult Basic Education (ABE) | N/A | Adult Basic Education (first administration 11/20/04) | 55 |
| Biology | 5-8, 8-12 | Biology | 13 |
| Business | 5-12 | Business | 19 |
| Chemistry | 5-8, 8-12 | Chemistry | 12 |
| Dance | All | Dance | 46 |
| Early Childhood | PreK-2 | Early Childhood + Foundations of Reading2 | 02 + 90 |
| Earth Science | 5-8, 8-12 | Earth Science | 14 |
| Elementary | 1-6 | General Curriculum3 + Foundations of Reading2 | 03 + 90 |
| English | 5-8, 8-12 | English | 07 |
| English as a Second Language (formerly English Language Learners) |
PreK-6, 5-12 |
English as a Second Language | 54 |
| Transitional Bilingual Learning endorsement (only available for holders of an ELL license) | PreK-6, 5-12 | Exam in the relevant foreign language | |
Foreign Language
A Competency Review4 is required for languages where a test is not offered. | PreK-6,5-12 | Chinese (Mandarin) | 29 |
| French | 26 |
| German | 27 |
| Italian | 30 |
| Portugese | 32 |
| Russian | 31 |
| Spanish | 28 |
| General Science | 1-6 | Competency Review.4 General Science (10) will also meet this requirement. | - |
| 5-8 | General Science | 10 |
| Health/Family and Consumer Sciences | All | Health Education | 21 |
| History | 1-6 | Competency Review.4 History (06) will also meet this requirement. | - |
| 5-8, 8-12 | History | 06 |
| Home Economics | | License no longer issued | |
| Instructional Technology | All | Competency Review4 | N/A |
| Latin & Classical Humanities | 5-12 | Latin and Classical Humanities | 15 |
| Library | All | Competency Review4 | N/A |
| Mathematics | 1-6 | Elementary Mathematics. Middle School Mathematics (47) OR Mathematics (09) will also meet this requirement. | 53 |
| 5-8 | Middle School Mathematics, OR Mathematics. | 47 or 09 |
| 8-12 | Mathematics | 09 |
| Middle School: Humanities(English/History) | 5-8 | Middle School Humanities. The English (07) + History (06) test will also meet this requirement. | 50 |
| Middle School: Mathematics/Science | 5-8 | Middle School Mathematics/Science. Middle School Mathematics (47) + General Science (10) OR Mathematics (09) + General Science (10) will also meet this requirement. | 51 |
| Music: Vocal/Instrumental/General | All | Music | 16 |
| Physical Education | PreK-8, 5-12 | Physical Education | 22 |
| Physics | 5-8, 8-12 | Physics | 11 |
| Political Science/Political Philosophy | 5-8, 8-12 | Political Science/Political Philosophy | 48 |
| Social Studies | | License no longer issued. | |
| Speech | All | Speech | 44 |
| Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities | PreK-8 | General Curriculum 3 + Foundations of Reading2. In addition, a Competency Review4 is required for a Preliminary license. | 03 + 90 |
| 5-12 | General Curriculum3 + Foundations of Reading,2 OR one of the following MTEL subject matter tests at the 5-8 or 8-12 grade level: English, History, Mathematics (47 or 09 only), Middle School Humanities, Middle School Mathematics/Science, science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science, Physics), or Political Science/Political Philosophy + Foundations of Reading2 In addition, a Competency Review4 is required. | 03 + 90 OR subject matter test + 90 |
| Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities | All | General Curriculum3. In addition, a Competency Review4 is required. | 03 |
| Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing:American Sign Language/Total Communication orOral/Aural Levels | All | ASL/Total Communication: General Curriculum3 + test of ASL approved by the Department (to be identified) + EITHER Foundations of Reading2, OR ESE approved test of teaching of reading to deaf and hard of hearing students (to be identified). In addition, a Competency Review4 is required.
Oral/Aural Levels: All of the above EXCEPT FOR ASL test | 03 + 90 OR03 + other Tests |
| Teacher of the Visually Impaired | All | General Curriculum3 + Foundations of Reading.2 In addition, a Competency Review4 is required. | 03 + 90 |
| Technology/ Engineering | 5-12 | Technology/Engineering (formerly Technology Education) | 33 |
| Theater | All | Theater | 45 |
| Visual Art | PreK-8, 5-12 | Visual Art | 17 |
| |
| Specialist Teacher License | Level | Subject Matter Test*1 | Testcode |
|---|
| Academically Advanced | PreK-8 | Academically Advanced. | 52 |
| Reading Specialist | All | Reading Specialist | 08 |
| Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders | All | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| Transitional Bilingual Education | | License no longer issued.
(See English Language Learner) | |
| |
| Administrator License | Level | Subject Matter Test
(See Communication & Literacy Skills Test Requirements) | Test Code |
|---|
| Superintendent/Asst. Superintendent | All | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| School Principal/Asst. School Principal | PreK-65-89-12 | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| Supervisor/Director | Based on Pre- requisite License | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| Special Education Administrator | All | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| School Business Administrator | All | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| |
| Professional Support Personnel License | Level | Subject Matter Test
(See Communication & Literacy Skills Test Requirements) | Test Code |
|---|
| School Guidance Counselor | PreK-85-12 | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| School Nurse | All | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| School Psychologist | All | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
| School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor | All | Subject matter test not required | N/A |
1 Subject Matter Test
If a candidate already holds a Preliminary or Initial Massachusetts license and applies for the next type of the same license, the MTEL subject matter test is not required.. (For example, if a candidate holds a Massachusetts Preliminary Elementary license and applies for an Initial Elementary license, the candidate is not required to take the MTEL subject matter tests (Foundations of Reading and General Curriculum) for the Initial Elementary license.)
2 Foundations of Reading Test
Do I have to take this test?
You do not have to take this test, IF YOU EITHER:
- applied for the license by 10/1/01 and completed all requirements (including receiving a passing score on all other required tests) by 10/1/03; or
- enrolled in a Massachusetts approved program for this license and applied for and completed all licensure requirements (including receiving a passing score on all other required tests) by 10/1/03; or
- applied for and completed all requirements(including receiving a passing score on all other required tests) by the first administration on 9/14/02; or
- passed the Reading Specialist test.
Can I take the Reading Specialist test instead of the Foundations of Reading?
Yes. The Reading Specialist test is required for the Reading Specialist license, but will be accepted in lieu of the Foundations of Reading test for applicable licenses. A more in-depth reading content knowledge is required to receive a passing score on this specialist test than is required to pass the Foundations of Reading test, which is a test required for a teacher's license. If you know you will be seeking a license as a Reading Specialist, you may want to take this test instead of the Foundations of Reading.
3 General Curriculum Test (This is a new name, starting 9/13/03, for the revised Elementary test.)
Do I have to take this test?
You do not have to take this test, IF YOU EITHER:
- passed the Elementary test; or
- applied for this license by 10/1/01 and completed all requirements (including receiving a passing score on all other required tests) by 10/1/03; or
- enrolled in a Massachusetts state-approved program for this license, and applied for and completed all licensure requirements by 10/1/03.
- applied for a Moderate Disabilities, 5-12 license and passed one of the following MTEL subject matter tests: English, History, Mathematics (47 or 09 only), Middle School Humanities, Middle School Mathematics/Science, science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science, Physics), or Political Science/Political Philosophy.
4 Competency Review
What is a Competency Review and when is it required?
A Competency Review is an evaluation of a candidate's license application materials to determine if specified competencies are met.
last updated: February 22, 2008
|
State Government · State Services 
