Subject Matter Test Requirements

The chart that follows provides general information on the MTEL tests that are currently offered to meet the subject matter test requirement for each license. Additional requirements for a license, such as passing the Communication and Literacy Skills test or an approved alternative as part of the regulatory pilot, may need to be met. The Department has approved a limited number of subject matter knowledge alternative assessments for specific content areas as part of the regulatory pilot. Please know that candidates must meet specific requirements to be eligible for each of the available subject matter knowledge alternative assessments. Eligibility requirements are provided in the descriptions of each of the alternative assessments. For more information, please see the approved subject matter knowledge alternative assessments.

For a complete and accurate evaluation of the license requirements you need to meet, submit a license application to the Office of Educator Licensure.
For general license requirements, refer to Licensure Help.
License candidates enrolled in a Massachusetts educator preparation program or an alternative/practice-based program, should contact the Department liaison at their organization for program completion requirements.

Teacher License	Level	Subject Matter Test	Test Code
Adult Basic Education (ABE)	N/A	Adult Basic Education	55
Biology	8–12	Biology	66
Business	5–12	Business	19
Chemistry	8–12	Chemistry	67
Dance	All	Dance	46
Digital Literacy/Computer Science	1–6	Competency Review (Digital Literacy and Computer Science (71) will also meet this requirement.)	-
Digital Literacy/Computer Science	5–12	Digital Literacy and Computer Science	71
Early Childhood	PreK–2	Early Childhood + Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.)	72 + 190
Earth and Space Science	8–12	Earth and Space Science	74
Elementary	1–6	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) + Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.) Approved Substitutions for the General Curriculum Subtests	78 + 190
English	5–12	English	61
English as a Second Language	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	-
World Language A Competency Review is required for languages where a test is not offered.	PreK–6, 5–12	Chinese (Mandarin)	29
		French	26
		German	27
		Italian	30
		Portuguese	32
		Russian	31
		Spanish	28
General Science	1–6	Competency Review (General Science (64) will also meet this requirement.)	-
General Science	5–8	General Science	64
Health/Family and Consumer Sciences	All	Health/Family and Consumer Sciences	21
History/Social Science	1–6	Competency Review (History/Social Science (73)) will also meet this requirement.)	-
History/Social Science	5–12	History/Social Science	73
Latin and Classical Humanities	5–12	Latin and Classical Humanities	15
Library	All	Competency Review	-
Mathematics	1–6	Elementary Mathematics (Middle School Mathematics (65) or Mathematics (63) will also meet this requirement.)	68
	5–8	Middle School Mathematics or Mathematics (63)	65
	8–12	Mathematics	63
Middle School: Humanities (English/History)	5–8	Middle School Humanities. (English (61) + History/Social Science (73) will also meet this requirement.)	76
Middle School: Mathematics/Science	5–8	Middle School Mathematics/Science (Middle School Mathematics (65) + General Science (64) or Mathematics (63) + General Science (64) will also meet this requirement.)	77
Music: Vocal/Instrumental/General	All	Music	16
Physical Education	PreK–8, 5–12	Physical Education	22
Physics	8–12	Physics	69
Speech	All	Speech	44
Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities	PreK–2	Early Childhood + Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.) In addition, a Competency Review is required for a Provisional license.	72 + 190
	PreK–8	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) + Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.) In addition, a Competency Review is required for a Provisional license.	78 + 190
	5–12	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) or one of the following MTEL subject matter tests at the 5–8 or 8–12 grade level: English (61), History/Social Science (73), Middle School Humanities (English/History) (76), Middle School Math/Science (77), Mathematics (65 and 63 only), science (Biology (66), Chemistry (67), Earth and Space Science (74), General Science (64), Physics(69)).) + Foundations of Reading. (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.). In addition, a Competency Review is required.	78 + 190 or subject matter test + 190
Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities	PreK–2	Early Childhood. In addition, a Competency Review is required.	72
Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities	All	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) In addition, a Competency Review is required.	78
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing: American Sign Language/Total Communication	All	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) Also, Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) has been approved by DESE to meet this requirement. Please contact the MA Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (617-740-1690) for registration/scheduling information.	78 + SLPI
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing: Oral/Aural	All	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.)+ Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.).	78 + 190
Teacher of the Visually Impaired	All	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) + Foundations of Reading.(Reading (62) will also meet this requirement). In addition, a Competency Review is required.	78 + 190
Technology/Engineering	5–12	Technology/Engineering	70
Theater	All	Theater	45
Visual Art	PreK–8, 5–12	Visual Art	17

Specialist Teacher License	Level	Subject Matter Test	Test Code
Academically Advanced	PreK–8	Academically Advanced	52
Instructional Technology	All	Subject matter test not required
Reading	All	Reading Specialist	62
Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders	All	Subject matter test not required	N/A

Administrator License	Level	Subject Matter Test	Test Code
Superintendent/Asst. Superintendent	All	Subject matter test not required	N/A
School Principal/Asst. School Principal	PreK–8, 5–12	Please see information about the PAL Assessment	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	Test Code
School Counselor	PreK–8, 5–12	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

Last Updated: December 7, 2023