Certification and Regulatory Affairs
Advising and informing current, prospective, and past undergraduate and graduate educator licensure candidates with license requirements, Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) preparation, endorsement for Massachusetts educator licenses, and more.
Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Meetings are available by appointment from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily by phone, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams, depending on the preference of the individual. Please email cert_off@lesley.edu for more information.
Questions regarding:
- Initial or Professional Licensure
- Guidance on transferring a MA license to other states
- Information on Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education policies and guidelines
- Support for MTELs
Email: cert_off@lesley.edu
To teach in a public school in Massachusetts, you will need an educator license, and within a specified amount of time will need to renew or reach the next level of licensure to keep teaching. If you are wondering how this works, see the listed categories for an explanation of each license level, including when you need each license, what the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA ESE) requires, the ways you can get it, and for how long it is valid, for more information please visit our licensure page.
If you are a MA Initial licensure candidates, you need to take the MTELS. Find out what tests you need to take, when to take them, and how to prepare for them, to learn more about the MTELs visit our MTELs page.
Visit our licensure page, for steps to applying for your Initial Massachusetts license, once you're enrolled in a program.
Lesley undergraduate and graduate alumni who are endorsed for an Initial license in Massachusetts can apply for comparable positions in US states and territories that have signed the NASDTEC (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification) Interstate Agreement 2020-2025 (PDF). The reciprocity agreement means that licensure programs are recognized across states. A Provisional license is not recognized by other states. For more information, visit our Out-of-State licensure page.