Family & Community Alternative Learning
Massachusetts Proprietary Schools

Teacher Approval Applications

Effective January 1, 2006, all private occupational schools are required to comply with 603 CMR 3.15(1) by submitting applications for teacher approval prior to hire. The Department is prepared to process teacher approvals in as little as 10 days as long as the applications are complete and all required documentation is attached (e.g., transcripts and proof of occupational experience). In emergency situations, schools are reminded of the Department's policy regarding substitute teachers. We would also like to remind schools that failure to obtain teacher approval prior to hire may be cause for suspension and/or revocation of the school's license and may impact complaints filed with the Department.

To further assist schools in submitting appropriate documentation, on January 1, 2005, the Department released Guidelines for Teacher Qualifications, which are intended to supplement the above regulations and specifically clarify the combination of skills and experience required by the Department. Please be sure to check the Department's web-site regularly as the Department will issue periodic updates via addendums.

Schools are reminded that teachers are approved by the Department to teach individual courses. Should a school want to hire an approved teacher to teach a course for which s/he is not approved, the school must obtain Department approval via a teacher approval application. In addition to requesting approval for the specific course or courses for which the teacher may be hired to teach, schools would be wise to request approval for all courses for which the teacher qualifies by virtue of his or her training and occupational experience, thus allowing schools flexibility with their staffing.