If Massachusetts is where you would like to teach, you can become licensed without too much trouble. You must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. If you are certified to teach in another state and have at least three years of teaching experience, then you can get a temporary license while you meet all the Massachusetts requirements.

If you have your Bachelor’s degree and have completed an approved Educator Preparation Program, then you can apply for an Initial License. If you have not completed this program, you can apply for a Preliminary License. For either the Initial or the Preliminary License, you must also have a passing score on the MTEL. The Initial License is valid for five years, after which time you will need to apply for a Professional License. During the first year that you teach under an Initial License, you will also participate in a Teacher Induction Program that offers a mentor, support, and educational opportunities tailored to new teachers.

Once you are licensed to teach in Massachusetts, you will want to find a teaching position. Boston Public Schools has been recognized as a model for urban school district reform and the principals, teachers, and schools in the district have been awarded numerous awards and prizes for their success. Worcester has become a center for education, medicine, and research with the quality of the schools reflecting the high standards of this community located only 45 minutes from Boston. Springfield Public Schools nurtures strong ties between its schools and the community while Lowell Public Schools focuses on a strong literacy campaign and mathematics initiative in its district.

After having taught in the location of your choice in Massachusetts for five years, you will need to apply for a Professional License. You will need to successfully teach for three years and complete the Teacher Induction Program as well as complete 50 contact hours of mentor programs and 50 contact hours of content-based education. The Professional License is valid for five years.