"This was the best year of my professional experience. I've learned so much about myself and serving the community. I love the team approach and all of the factors that relate to teaching and managing students. I would love to have an extension with my current license and status until I am able to pass the MTEL. I sincerely thank you for this process." — Emergency License Holder
"This was the best year of my professional experience. I've learned so much about myself and serving the community. I love the team approach and all of the factors that relate to teaching and managing students. I would love to have an extension with my current license and status until I am able to pass the MTEL. I sincerely thank you for this process."
— Emergency License Holder
If no, review this announcement that describes the Department's Reissuing of the Emergency License. It is likely easier than you think to obtain an Emergency License—just follow a few steps through our online application. For more information, this announcement describes the Department's Reissuing of the Emergency License.
If yes, review the following information as there are different processes depending on when you received your emergency license.
If you received your Emergency license on or after May 25, 2022, review the following information:
"Receiving my emergency license enabled me to begin my second career sooner than I imagined. I love my job and I'm so thankful that it was able to begin with the 2021-2022 school year." — Emergency License Holder
"Receiving my emergency license enabled me to begin my second career sooner than I imagined. I love my job and I'm so thankful that it was able to begin with the 2021-2022 school year."
Online resources such as the DESE Licensure Requirements Tool or the Massachusetts Educator Licensure Series can help you assess what you need to do to obtain your license. As you move towards advancing your license (see more for license types and requirements at How to Obtain an Academic PreK-12 License), additional information on the DESE website can assist in understanding more about the requirements for licensure.
Provisional: Bachelor's Degree, passing of MTEL(s) or Alternative Licensure Assessment(s), and for some licenses a competency review.
Initial: Bachelor's Degree, passing of MTEL(s) or Alternative Licensure Assessment(s), the SEI endorsement (for some licenses), and completion of one of the approved routes (preparation program or performance review program).
Time spent working under an emergency license can count towards Professional Teacher Status if you obtain a provisional or initial academic license or a preliminary vocational license within two years of the date of issuance of the Emergency license in the field and continue to work for the same employer under the newly acquired license.
DESE supports a variety of tools to locate approved educator preparation programs that will meet your specific needs:
Utilize the following MTEL resources to prepare for the required assessments:
"I graduated from college taking the long road, having come from a background of being financially incapable to attend college after high school. I worked very hard to support myself and take college courses over many years to earn a degree. I feel very proud that I have been able to pass on my first attempt the three MTEL exams I have taken by studying independently. I look forward to being given the opportunity to help nurture this love of independent learning in many students. I never would have tried to obtain this goal without the emergency license as a tool." — Emergency License Holder
"I graduated from college taking the long road, having come from a background of being financially incapable to attend college after high school. I worked very hard to support myself and take college courses over many years to earn a degree. I feel very proud that I have been able to pass on my first attempt the three MTEL exams I have taken by studying independently. I look forward to being given the opportunity to help nurture this love of independent learning in many students. I never would have tried to obtain this goal without the emergency license as a tool."
Last Updated: December 22, 2022
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.