DLCS Licensure

In Massachusetts, there are two Digital Literacy and Computer Science Licenses. One is for elementary (Pre-K to Grade 6) and one is for middle and high school (Grades 5–12).

How do I earn an Elementary DLCS License?

To earn this license, you must demonstrate your knowledge of the subject matter. There are two ways to do this:

1. Document your knowledge with a Competency Review Process, including the appropriate signatures. Each area of SMK (Subject Matter Knowledge) requires at least 10 hours of instruction. See the Competency Review guide for full details.

Or

2. Earn a passing score on the DLCS MTEL and meet the other educational requirements for a Pre-K to 8 license. See the Competency Review guide for full details.

If you already hold an initial or professional license, the DLCS PreK-6 license can be added at the same level as your existing teaching license(s).

How do I earn a Middle School / High School DLCS License?

Massachusetts provides a DLCS 5–12 license that covers teachers teaching in grades 5 to 12. To earn this license, you must achieve a passing score on the Digital Literacy and Computer Science (71) Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Information about what is on the test can be found on the Pearson MTEL webpage. Candidates can register for the test on the Evaluation Systems Group (ES) of Pearson website.

Exam preparation may be available through local colleges. DESE has approved vouchers for the Cambridge College MTEL DLCS Review course for eligible candidates. Pearson also provides Preparation Materials for the DLCS MTEL exam, including test objectives and sample questions.

If you already hold an initial or professional license, the DLCS 5–12 license can be added at the same level as your existing teaching license(s).

What if I don't have any other valid teaching licenses in Massachusetts?

If you pass your DLCS MTEL (for 5–12) or complete the Competency Review Process (for PreK–6), you will also need to create an ELAR account, where you can submit your college transcripts and apply for your Provisional License. A Provisional License also requires a passing score on the Communications and Literacy MTEL. An educator may work under a Provisional License for five years of employment before it is expected that they complete the requirements to advance the license to the Initial stage. Please visit DESE Licensure for up-to-date information on License requirements.

What Ed Prep Programs can help me with DLCS Initial Licensure?

There are several post baccalaureate programs for DLCS 5–12 Initial Licensure:

• Boston Teacher Residency, Contact: btr@bostonteacherresidency.org

• Gordon College, Contact: kim.winsor@gordon.edu

• Lesley University, Contact: astratma@lesley.edu

• UMass Amherst, Contact: bjbell@umass.edu

• UMass Boston, Contact: aimee.davignon@umb.edu

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Contact: jdibonaventura@wpi.edu

You can also use the EdPrep Program Search to find up to date information on available programs.

Is there a DLCS Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure (PRPIL)?

PRPIL (Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure) is an alternative Massachusetts Teachers License program for teachers who wish to advance from a Provisional license to an Initial license. You may use this program to earn an initial license while you teach.

You can complete a "Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure" (PRPIL) for the DLCS Initial license, through Class Measures, by contacting antoinette.pearson@classmeasures.com .

For more information about the program, application requirements, payment options, and information events, please visit the DESE Eligibility Page and PRPIL website.

What are the PreK–6 DLCS Teacher subject matter knowledge requirements?

Computing and Society

1. Understand safety and security concepts, online identity, and privacy, and how to deal with cyberbullying and inappropriate content in a computing setting. (Standards: K-2.CAS.a, 3-5.CAS.a, and 6-8.CAS.a)
2. Demonstrate responsible use of technology, digital content, and social media interactions and understand the consequences of inappropriate technology uses. (Standards: K-2.CAS.b, 3-5.CAS.b, and 6-8.CAS.b)
3. Recognize, analyze, and evaluate the impact of technology and digital media bias and messaging in schools, communities, and societies. (Standards: K-2.CAS.c, 3-5.CAS.c, and 6-8.CAS.c)

Digital Tools & Collaboration and Computing Systems

1. Selection and use of digital tools or resources and computing devices to create an artifact, solve a problem, communicate, publish online or accomplish a real-world task. (Standards: K-2.DTC.a, 3-5.DTC.a, 6-8.DTC.a, K-2.DTC.b, 3-5.DTC.b, 6-8.DTC.b, K-2.CS.a, 3-5.CS.a, and 6-8.CS.a)
2. Use of advanced research skills including advanced searches, digital source evaluation, synthesis of information, and appropriate digital citation. (Standards: K-2.DTC.c, 3-5.DTC.c, and 6-8.DTC.c)

Computing Systems

6. Understand how computing device components work. Use of troubleshooting strategies to solve routine hardware and software problems. (Standards: K-2.CS.a, 3-5.CS.a, 6-8.CS.a, K-2.CS.b, 3-5.CS.b, and 6-8.CS.b)
7. Understand how networks communicate, their vulnerabilities and issues that may impact their functionality. Understand the capabilities services can provide. (Standards: K-2.CS.c, 3-5.CS.c, 6-8.CS.c, K-2.CS.d, 3-5.CS.d, and 6-8.CS.d)

Computational Thinking

8. Creation of new representations, through generalization and decomposition. Write and debug algorithms in a structured language. (Standards: K-2.CT.a, 3-5.CT.a, 6-8.CT.a, K-2.CT.b, 3-5.CT.b, and 6-8.CT.b)
9. Understand how different data representation affects storage and quality. Create, modify, and manipulate data structures, data sets, and data visualizations. (Standards: K-2.CT.c, 3-5.CT.c, and 6-8.CT.c)
10. Decompose tasks/problems into sub-problems to plan solutions. (Standards: K-2.CT.d, 3-5.CT.d, and 6-8.CT.d)
11. Creation of programs (any standard programming language and any block-based programing language) using an iterative design process to create an artifact or solve a problem. (Standards: K-2.CT.d, 3-5.CT.d, and 6-8.CT.d)
12. Creation of models and simulations to formulate, test, analyze, and refine a hypothesis. (Standards: K-2.CT.e, 3-5.CT.e, and 6-8.CT.e)

I have an Instructional Technology Specialist or Instructional Technology Teacher license, do the subject matter knowledge requirements overlap?

The Instructional Technology and DLCS subject matter knowledge requirement crosswalk resource identifies five overlapping requirements out of twelve competencies required to obtain a DLCS PreK–6 license.

Your ITS or IT knowledge and experience are a good foundation for taking the DLCS 5–12 MTEL, but to earn the DLCS 5–12 license, you must pass the MTEL.

Last Updated: January 10, 2025