Office of Educator Licensure

School Nurse Change — Modification to Orientation Program

Effective July 1, 2026, all school nurse candidates for a Provisional and Initial license will need to complete the following course from Boston University SHIELD : An Introduction to Medication Administration and Delegation in MA Schools. Please note that this change is mandated by the Department of Public Health and impacts both new applicants for licensure as well as those that have a pending application on file with the Office of Educator Licensure.

As of July 1, 2026, the Medication Administration in a School Setting: School Nursing Practice in Massachusetts course certificates will no longer be accepted for school nurse licensure. Anyone that has already completed that course but has not yet satisfied the requirements for a Provisional or Initial license will need to complete the updated version of that course, An Introduction to Medication Administration and Delegation in MA Schools. In addition, an applicant that submits a certificate of completion for Medication Administration in a School Setting: School Nursing Practice in Massachusetts after July 1, 2026, will not be considered to have satisfied the requirement and they will need to complete the new course.