Subject Matter Test Requirements

The chart that follows provides general information on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) tests that are currently offered to meet the subject matter test requirement for each license. All candidates must also pass the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL or an approved alternative, or receive a waiver. The Department has approved a limited number of subject matter knowledge alternative assessments for specific content areas. Please know that candidates must meet specific requirements to be eligible for some of the available subject matter knowledge alternative assessments. Eligibility requirements are provided in the descriptions of each of the alternative assessments. For more information, please see the approved subject matter knowledge alternative assessments. Tests with approved alternative assessments are indicated below.

For a complete and accurate evaluation of the license requirements you need to meet, submit a license application to the Office of Educator Licensure.
For general license requirements, refer to Licensure Help.
License candidates enrolled in a Massachusetts educator preparation program or an alternative/practice-based program, should contact the Department liaison at their organization for program completion requirements.

Teacher License	Level	Subject Matter Test	Test Code
Adult Basic Education (ABE)	Not applicable N/A	Adult Basic Education	55
Biology	8–12	Biology Approved alternative assessment available	66
Business	5–12	Business Approved alternative assessment available	19
Chemistry	8–12	Chemistry Approved alternative assessments available	67
Comprehensive Health	PreK–8, 5–12	Health/Family and Consumer Sciences	21
Dance	All	Dance	46
Digital Literacy/Computer Science	1–6	Competency Review (Digital Literacy and Computer Science (71) will also meet this requirement.)	-
Digital Literacy/Computer Science	5–12	Digital Literacy and Computer Science	71
Early Childhood	PreK–2	Early Childhood + Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.) Approved alternative assessments to the Early Childhood and Foundations of Reading available	72 + 190
Earth and Space Science	8–12	Earth and Space Science Approved alternative assessment available	74
Elementary	1–6	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) + Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.) Approved Substitutions for the General Curriculum Subtests Approved alternative assessments to the General Curriculum and Foundations of Reading available	178/278+190
English	5–12	English Approved alternative assessment available	61
English as a Second Language	PreK–6, 5–12	English as a Second Language Approved alternative assessments available	54
Transitional Bilingual Learning endorsement (only available for holders of an English Language Learner ELL license)	PreK–6, 5–12	Exam in the relevant foreign language	-
World Language A Competency Review is required for languages where a test is not offered.	PreK–6, 5–12	Chinese (Mandarin)	29
World Language A Competency Review is required for languages where a test is not offered.	PreK–6, 5–12	French	26
World Language A Competency Review is required for languages where a test is not offered.	PreK–6, 5–12	German	27 (retiring 2/28/2027)
World Language A Competency Review is required for languages where a test is not offered.	PreK–6, 5–12	Italian	30
World Language A Competency Review is required for languages where a test is not offered.	PreK–6, 5–12	Portuguese	32
World Language A Competency Review is required for languages where a test is not offered.	PreK–6, 5–12	Russian	31 (retiring 2/28/2027)
World Language A Competency Review is required for languages where a test is not offered.	PreK–6, 5–12	Spanish Approved alternative assessment available	28
General Science	1–6	Competency Review (General Science (64) will also meet this requirement.)	-
General Science	5–8	General Science Approved alternative assessment available	64
History/Social Science	1–6	Competency Review (History/Social Science (73)) will also meet this requirement.)	-
History/Social Science	5–12	History/Social Science Approved alternative assessment available	73
Latin and Classical Humanities	5–12	Latin and Classical Humanities	15
Library	All	Competency Review	-
Mathematics	1–6	Elementary Mathematics (Middle School Mathematics (65) or Mathematics (63) will also meet this requirement.)	68
Mathematics	5–8	Middle School Mathematics or Mathematics (63) Approved alternative assessments available	65
Mathematics	8–12	Mathematics Approved alternative assessments available	63
Middle School: Humanities (English/History)	5–8	Middle School Humanities. (English (61) + History/Social Science (73) will also meet this requirement.)	76
Middle School: Mathematics/Science	5–8	Middle School Mathematics/Science (Middle School Mathematics (65) + General Science (64) or Mathematics (63) + General Science (64) will also meet this requirement.)	77
Music: Vocal/Instrumental/General	All	Music Approved alternative assessment available	16
Physical Education	PreK–8, 5–12	Physical Education Approved alternative assessments available	22
Physics	8–12	Physics Approved alternative assessments available	69
Speech	All	Speech	44
Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities	PreK–2	Early Childhood + Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.) In addition, a Competency Review is required for a Provisional license. Approved alternative assessments to the Early Childhood and Foundations of Reading available	72 + 190
Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities	PreK–8	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) + Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.) In addition, a Competency Review is required for a Provisional license. Approved alternative assessments to the General Curriculum and Foundations of Reading available	178/278+190
Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities	5–12	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) or one of the following Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure MTEL subject matter tests at the 5–8 or 8–12 grade level: English (61), History/Social Science (73), Middle School Humanities (English/History) (76), Middle School Math/Science (77), Mathematics (65 and 63 only), science (Biology (66), Chemistry (67), Earth and Space Science (74), General Science (64), Physics(69)).) + Foundations of Reading. (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.). In addition, a Competency Review is required. Approved alternative assessments to the General Curriculum and Foundations of Reading available	178/278 + 190 or subject matter test + 190
Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities	PreK–2	Early Childhood. In addition, a Competency Review is required. Approved alternative assessment available	72
Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities	All	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) In addition, a Competency Review is required. Approved alternative assessments to the General Curriculum available	178/278
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing: American Sign Language/Total Communication	All	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) Also, Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) has been approved by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE to meet this requirement. Please contact the Massachusetts MA Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (617-740-1690) for registration/scheduling information. Approved alternative assessments to the General Curriculum available	178/278 + SLPI
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing: Oral/Aural	All	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.)+ Foundations of Reading (Reading (62) will also meet this requirement.). Approved alternative assessments to the General Curriculum and Foundations of Reading available	178/278 + 190
Teacher of the Visually Impaired	All	General Curriculum (Subtest 1: Language Arts and History/Social Science + Subtest 2: Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.) + Foundations of Reading.(Reading (62) will also meet this requirement). In addition, a Competency Review is required. Approved alternative assessments to the General Curriculum and Foundations of Reading available	178/278 + 190
Technology/Engineering	5–12	Technology/Engineering Approved alternative assessment available	70
Theater	All	Theater Approved alternative assessment available	45
Visual Art	PreK–8, 5–12	Visual Art	17

Specialist Teacher License	Level	Subject Matter Test	Test Code
Academically Advanced	PreK–8	Academically Advanced	52
Instructional Technology	All	Subject matter test not required
Reading	All	Reading Specialist	62
Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders	All	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A

Administrator License	Level	Subject Matter Test	Test Code
Superintendent/Asst. Superintendent	All	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A
School Principal/Asst. School Principal	PreK–8, 5–12	Please see information about the Performance Assessment for Leaders PAL Assessment	Not applicable N/A
Supervisor/Director	Based on Pre- requisite License	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A
Special Education Administrator	All	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A
School Business Administrator	All	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A

Professional Support Personnel License	Level	Subject Matter Test	Test Code
School Counselor	PreK–8, 5–12	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A
School Nurse	All	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A
School Psychologist	All	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor	All	Subject matter test not required	Not applicable N/A

Last Updated: October 14, 2026