Educator Services
Preparing Educators

Out-of-State Applicants/Interstate Agreement

Candidates from outside of Massachusetts may meet requirements for licensure if they have completed an approved educator preparation program from a regionally accredited institution outside of Massachusetts and/or have appropriate educational experience in another state under a valid license from that state. Upon application, a review of official transcripts, recommendation by the preparing higher education institution and/or verification of successful experience will be necessary. Since licensure names, fields (subject area) and grade levels vary from state-to-state, applicants will receive the closest grade-level and/or field that is issued in the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts participates with almost every jurisdiction in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement to accept candidates' state approved preparation programs from a regionally accredited institution, or possession of the equivalent of at least an Initial license/certificate and three years of employment under such license/certificate during the previous seven years. Please note that the interstate agreement does not exempt candidates from degree, testing and/or prerequisite requirements applicable to the requested license.

Candidates from states that do not have an interstate agreement with Massachusetts may still be eligible for the Initial license if they pass the appropriate exams and completed an educator preparation program sponsored by a college or university outside Massachusetts that has been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

In order to facilitate licensure in Massachusetts, check with your institution's Registrar or Dean to see if your educator preparation program falls within either of the above two reciprocal options. If so, you will need a Verification Form    completed, signed and officially stamped by your institution as their endorsement.

The following states currently participate with Massachusetts in the 2005-2010 NASDTEC Interstate Agreement:

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