DESE DESE Teacher Licensure & Certification Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What document must a Massachusetts educator submit to DESE to renew a Professional License?
- Evidence of completing 150 PDPs (Professional Development Points) over five years (Correct answer)
- A letter of recommendation from a principal
- A new passing MTEL score
- A graduate thesis approved by a state university
Correct answer: Evidence of completing 150 PDPs (Professional Development Points) over five years
Professional License renewal requires 150 Professional Development Points (PDPs) earned over the five-year license cycle, documented through an approved professional development plan.
Question 2: In Massachusetts, which license type is issued to educators who hold a valid license in another state but have not yet met all Massachusetts-specific requirements?
- Transitional License (Correct answer)
- Preliminary License
- Temporary License
- Conditional License
Correct answer: Transitional License
A Transitional License allows qualified out-of-state educators to teach in Massachusetts while completing any remaining state-specific requirements.
Question 3: Which MTEL subtest is specifically required for candidates seeking licensure as an elementary classroom teacher in Massachusetts?
- Elementary (03)
- General Curriculum (03) (Correct answer)
- Foundations of Reading (90)
- Literacy (07)
Correct answer: General Curriculum (03)
Candidates for Elementary education licensure in Massachusetts must pass the MTEL General Curriculum (03) subtest covering mathematics and multi-subject content.
Question 4: Which organization reviews and approves educator preparation programs in Massachusetts on behalf of DESE?
- Massachusetts Educator Preparation Program (EPP) approval process administered by DESE (Correct answer)
- NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) exclusively
- Regional accreditation bodies only
- The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education independently
Correct answer: Massachusetts Educator Preparation Program (EPP) approval process administered by DESE
DESE administers its own Educator Preparation Program approval process, reviewing and approving all programs that prepare candidates for Massachusetts licensure.
Question 5: A Massachusetts educator's license can be revoked by DESE for which of the following reasons?
- Conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude (Correct answer)
- Receiving two consecutive unsatisfactory performance evaluations
- Changing employment districts without notification
- Failing to attend district-mandated PD sessions
Correct answer: Conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude
DESE may revoke an educator license upon conviction of a felony or crime that demonstrates unfitness to teach, protecting student safety.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the Massachusetts Educator Personnel Identification (MEPID) number?
- To uniquely identify each licensed educator and track licensure status, professional development, and employment history statewide (Correct answer)
- To assign educators to specific geographic regions for hiring purposes
- To serve as a payroll identifier for school district HR departments
- To track student performance outcomes linked to specific teachers
Correct answer: To uniquely identify each licensed educator and track licensure status, professional development, and employment history statewide
The MEPID is a permanent unique identifier assigned to each Massachusetts educator to track their licensure, PDP completion, and professional history across districts.
DESE DESE Teacher Licensure & Certification Requirements 2
What document must a Massachusetts educator submit to DESE to renew a Professional License?