NOTE: Please see this link for information about when your MTEL score reports will be released based on when you take your test.

NOTE #2: The key requirements for your license are: undergraduate official transcripts, completing an educator preperation program with SEI endorsement (done by BU), payment of license fees, passing of Mathematics and Communication/Literacy Skills MTELs.

• By September #1, create an account on DESE ELAR (Link). Make sure you select that you do not have a Massachusetts Educator Personnel ID (MEPID), so that one will be created for you upon creation of your account.
• By November, make sure you know what your MEPID is. Formally apply for your license (your requirements will be fulfilled as they are met -- don't worry!). At that time, you also need to complete your affadavit, during which you must affirm a few things. Most people have no issues with these, but if you do, you need to address this now as you will not be able to get back into ELAR (and therefore obtain your license) until you get that cleared up.
  • You have never been a defendant in any Federal or state criminal case at any time in any place (including other countries). This includes any case where you were required to enter a plea or where you could be put on probation before needing to enter a plea. This also includes cases in which the charge was dismissed, nol prossed, or you were found not guilty. If you are unsure, you may want to run a CORI on yourself.
  • You have not been identified as a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect by any child protection agency.
  • You have never been dismissed "for cause" (involuntarily terminated/fired) from any position you have held.
  • You have not been asked to resign from a position while under investigation or due to disciplinary issues.
  • You have never had a professional license or certificate (e.g. medical license, bar license, etc.) "denied, revoked, surrendered, or annulled" and that there is not anyone formally attempting to do so.
  • You do not owe any outstanding income tax to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  • You agree that you are legally obligated to report immediately to the Department of Social Services or building principal if there "is reasonable cause to believe a child under 18 is suffering physical or emotional injury as a result of abuse, including sexual abuse, or neglect" and that you understand the legal consequences of failing to do so.
  • You agree that a background check will be run against you, but that a criminal history will not automatically disqualify you.
  • You have been honest on your entire licensure application.
  • You will notify the DESE commissioner in writing within 10 days if something happens that would cause you to change your answer to any of the above questions.
• By December,  make sure you've contacted DESE and taken any steps needed to mitigate issues with your affadavit, if any exist.
• By January,  make sure you've paid all licensure fees and ordered official transcripts to be sent to the DESE licensure office.
• By January,  ideally before school reconvenes for the spring semester, take the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL. If you are worried about passing the Mathematics MTEL, you may also want to take the MTEL by this time as well so that you have 2 chances to pass it before June. Remember: no passed MTELs, no license.
• By January,  ideally before school reconvenes for the spring semester, have written your cover letter and resume and created an account on SchoolSpring. At that point, you can go ahead and upload those documents.
• By March,  make sure you have passed all of your MTELs, and if you haven't passed the Mathematics MTEL, make sure you have at least taken it by this point.
• By March/April, make sure you have determined who will provide references for employment. Your supervising practitioner(s), preacticum supervisor, and professors good choices. Complete your SchoolSpring profile with your references.
• By Early April, start preparing for interviews (see my interview advice here).
• By Mid-April, start applying for teaching positions and doing phone/in person interviews.
• By May, complete your student teaching practicum and other academic requirements.
• By May, graduate from BU. Doesn't time fly?
• By May/June, make sure all requirements for your license are completed.
•  By September #2, get ready for your first year!