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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education application documents

Which documents does Massachusetts require from an out-of-state teacher?

The state, institution, employer or testing provider may need to send some records directly.

Open K-12 Educator Licensing
Official state guidance State makes the decision Checked 2026-08-01

Core application evidence

Requirement

Plan to document the bachelor's degree, valid comparable out-of-state credential, three years of employment under it and the field or grade level requested in the Massachusetts application.

Which application this evidence supports

Massachusetts can issue an experienced out-of-state teacher a one-year Temporary License while Massachusetts testing remains outstanding, while other license types require their own field-specific evaluation.

What can change this answer

The Temporary route requires a bachelor's degree, a valid comparable out-of-state credential and at least three years of employment under that credential; it is discretionary, nonrenewable and does not remove the applicable Massachusetts test requirement.

Conditions to resolve before sending records

  • The commissioner may issue rather than must issue the Temporary License
  • The Temporary License is valid for one year of employment and is nonrenewable
  • A teacher with fewer than three years or without a comparable valid credential needs a different Massachusetts pathway
  • Field-specific and testing requirements still govern progression beyond the temporary route

Send identity documents and background records only where the state agency instructs. TeachPassport does not receive them.

Official sources

Check again by 2026-11-01