Overview of Massachusetts Testing Requirements

In Massachusetts, the Communication and Literacy Skills (CLST) Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) has been required for educator licensure since 1998. In October of 2020 (Word), the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education passed a new regulatory amendment to pilot the use of alternative assessments to the MTEL.

The regulation states:

• The Department may conduct a pilot of alternative assessments identified or developed to satisfy the requirements of 603 CMR 7.04 (2) (a) (2) and (3), and 603 CMR 7.04 (2) (b) (2) and (3), and 603 CMR 1.06 (4) (a). Any alternative assessment identified or developed for this purpose shall be determined by the Commissioner to be comparable to the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills test or subject matter knowledge test. The alternative assessment pilot period shall continue through June 30, 2024. Any candidate who passes an alternative assessment during that period will be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of 603 CMR 7.04 (2) (a) (2), or (a) (3), or 603 CMR 7.04 (2) (b) (2) or (b) (3), or 603 CMR 1.06 (4) (a), as applicable. During the period of the alternative assessment pilot, the Commissioner will report to the Board at least annually on any alternative assessments, including the number of candidates taking the alternative assessments, any evaluative information regarding these candidates, patterns of employment, and feedback from school districts and educator preparation programs. Prior to making any recommendations following the conclusion of the pilot, the Commissioner shall conduct or contract for an evaluation of the alternative assessment pilot.

The Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, has approved the Reading and Writing sections of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core), referred to as the Communication and Literacy test, as an alternative to the CLST MTEL during the pilot period. Teacher candidates, or those wishing to become certified, may take the Communication and Literacy test as an alternative to the CLST MTEL.

For additional information about the regulatory pilot, please refer to updates on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.

For information on licensure requirements, please visit Massachusetts' Office of Educator Licensure.

• If you test in Massachusetts at a test center or at home, and your Praxis profile address is in Massachusetts, your score report will be sent automatically to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• If you test outside Massachusetts or your Praxis profile address is not in Massachusetts, your scores are NOT automatically sent to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. To have your scores sent to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, you must select the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (state code 7335) as a score recipient when you register.
• For all methods of Praxis testing, to request additional score reports you must select the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (state code 7335) with each additional score report request.

Get additional information about Sending Your Praxis Scores.

ETS discontinued paper-delivered testing; however, Praxis tests will continue to be available in a paper-delivered format as required for ADA accommodations. All scores for previously administered paper-delivered tests are reportable for 10 years from the date the test was taken.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not require an SSN to process educator certification paperwork. ETS does not require your SSN for its own purposes, but will submit it to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with your test results. However, failure to provide your SSN could delay processing of your certification application.