Education Laws and Regulations

603 CMR 7.00:

Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval Regulations

Section:

  • 7.01: Purpose
  • 7.02: Definitions
  • 7.03: Educator Preparation Program Approval
  • 7.04: Types of Educator Licenses, Requirements for Licensure, Licenses Issued, and Requirements for Field-Based Experience
  • 7.05: Routes to an Initial Teacher License and Specialist Teacher Licenses
  • 7.06: Subject Matter Knowledge Requirements for Teachers
  • 7.07: Specialist Teacher Licenses
  • 7.08: Professional Standards for Teachers
  • 7.09: Licenses and Routes for Administrators
  • 7.10: Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership
  • 7.11: Professional Support Personnel Licenses
  • 7.12: Standards for Induction Programs for Teachers
  • 7.13: Standards for Induction Programs for Administrators
  • 7.14: Endorsements
  • 7.15: General Provisions
  • View All Sections

Most Recently Amended by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: June 27, 2023

7.11: Professional Support Personnel Licenses

Candidates seeking professional support personnel licenses who have substantial experience and formal education relevant to the license sought but who do not meet all of the specific requirements listed in 603 CMR 7.11 may demonstrate that they meet the requirements, with the exception of a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test, through a Panel Review administered by the Department in accordance with guidelines to be established by the Department. For candidates who were prepared outside Massachusetts, the provisions of 603 CMR 7.05 (3) (a) and (b) apply.

(1) School Counselor (Levels: All)

  1. (a) Initial License.
    1. Master's degree with a major in counseling.
    2. Subject Matter Knowledge as outlined in the Subject Matter Knowledge Guidelines.
    3. A practicum of 450 hours in an educational setting.
    4. Passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test.

  2. (b) Professional License.
    1. Possession of an Initial license.
    2. Three years of employment as a school counselor.
    3. Completion of one of the following:
      1. A total of 60 credits of graduate coursework that may include credits earned in a master's degree program for the Initial license in a discipline appropriate to the license sought, including but are not limited to school counseling, mental health counseling, school psychology, or clinical psychology.
      2. Achievement and maintenance of certification or licensure from one of the following:
        1. National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).
        2. National Board for School Counseling.

(2) School Nurse (Levels: All)

  1. (a) Provisional License
    1. Valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts.
    2. A bachelor's or master's degree in nursing.
    3. Passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test.
    4. Completion of training within the orientation program for delivery of school health services as defined by the Department of Public Health and identified by the Department.

  2. (b) Initial License.
    1. Valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts.
    2. A bachelor's or master's degree in nursing.
    3. A minimum of two full years of employment as a Registered Nurse in a child health, community health, or other relevant clinical nursing setting.
    4. Completion of an orientation program based on the requirements for delivery of school health services as defined by the Department of Public Health.
    5. Passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test.

  3. (c) Professional License.
    1. Possession and maintenance of a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts.
    2. Possession of an Initial license.
    3. Three years of employment as a school nurse.
    4. Completion of one of the following:
      1. Achievement and maintenance of certification or licensure by a nationally recognized professional nursing association as a school nurse, community health nurse, or a pediatric/family/school nurse practitioner.
      2. A master's degree program that may include credits earned in a master's degree program for the Initial license in community health, health education, nursing, or public health.

(3) School Psychologist (Levels: All)

  1. (a) Initial License.
    1. Completion of a master's degree or higher in school psychology approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), including an advanced practicum of 1,200 hours, 600 of which must be in a school setting. (The Commissioner may grant temporary approval, in accordance with NASP standards, to institutions without NASP approval for up to five years while they achieve such approval.)
    2. Passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test.

  2. (b) Professional License.
    1. Possession of an Initial license.
    2. Three years of employment as a school psychologist.
    3. Completion of one of the following:
      1. Passing score on the National School Psychology Examination.
      2. Achievement and maintenance of a certificate or license from one of the following:
        1. The Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health Professionals, as an educational psychologist.
        2. The National Association of School Psychologists, as a school psychologist.

(4) School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor (Levels: All)

  1. (a) Initial License.
    1. Master's degree in Social Work or Counseling.
    2. Course work and clinical experience that demonstrate subject matter knowledge as outlined in the Subject Matter Knowledge Guidelines.
    3. A practicum of 900 hours, 450 of which must be working with children, adolescents, and families in an educational setting.
    4. Passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test.

  2. (b) Professional License.
    1. Possession of an Initial license as a school social worker/school adjustment counselor.
    2. Three years of employment as a school social worker or school adjustment counselor.
    3. Completion of one of the following:
      1. A total of 60 credits of graduate coursework that may include credits earned in a master's degree program for the Initial license in a discipline appropriate to the license sought including but not limited to mental health counseling, psychological counseling, school counseling, school social work, or social work.
      2. Achievement and maintenance of a certificate or license from one of the following:
        1. The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Work, as a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) or a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).
        2. The Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health Professionals, as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or a Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor (LRC).

Regulatory Authority:
M.G.L. c. 69, § 1B; c. 69, §§ 1J and 1K, as amended by St. 2010; c. 12, § 3; c. 71, § 38G, as amended by St. 2022, c. 154, § 10; c. 71, 38G ½; c. 71A, § 10; c. 76, § 19.

Disclaimer:
For an official copy of these regulations, please contact the State House Bookstore, at 617-727-2834 or visit Massachusetts State Bookstore .

Last Updated: July 17, 2023