Office of Educator Licensure

Applications for New Licenses & Requirements are Available

At the June 27, 2023 Board of Elementary and Secondary (Board) meeting, the Board approved changes to the Educator Licensure and Preparation Program approval (603 CMR 7.00) regulations. These changes permit the following:

1. Allow educators with Initial and Professional licenses to obtain Provisional licenses in certain fields;
2. Create a new grade span, PreK–2, for two licenses: teacher of students with moderate disabilities and teacher of students with severe disabilities;
3. Permit applicants for Provisional licenses to meet a requirement through demonstrating knowledge, as an alternative to meeting the requirement by taking a course or seminar; and;
4. Create a new Provisional license for school nurses.

As of Tuesday, July 11^th, the Department is able to accept applications for these new licenses. Changes noted in two, three and four are now available in ELAR and meaning that applicants will be able to apply online for the new PreK–2 license in moderate disabilities or severe disabilities or for a Provisional school nurse license.

In the case of number one (above), a teacher with an Initial or Professional license may apply for a Provisional license for English as a second language (ESL), moderate disabilities and/or severe disabilities. However, ELAR is not able to accept applications online at this time. As a result, individuals are encouraged to submit a hardcopy application . In addition, an individual can apply in ELAR for an Initial or Professional license in the desired field and upload a signed request to change their application to Provisional.

Questions about this or anything related to educator licensure can be directed to the Licensure Call Center at 781-338-6600. The Call Center is open each business day from 9–1 and 2–5 EST.