Massachusetts School Counselor Certification Reciprocity

School Counselor Certification

by School Counselor Certification Staff

Updated: January 7th, 2025

Reciprocity Process for Massachusetts School Counselor Certification

For out-of-state school counselors aiming for certification in Massachusetts, there are three (3) types of Academic PreK-12 educator licenses available: Temporary, Initial through NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, and Provisional licenses (see Mass Dept of Ed out-of-state overview).

The Temporary License necessitates three (3) years of work under an out-of-state license, while the Initial and Provisional licenses offer a streamlined application process. The Initial License is valid for five (5) years, potentially requiring additional steps like passing the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) or securing Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsements. Similarly, the Provisional License, also valid for five (5) years, doesn’t mandate the Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement.

Noteworthy, applicants with degrees from outside the U.S. (see foreign degree assessment process) must undergo an equivalency report or evaluation via recognized agencies like the Center for Educational Documentation or Evaluation Services, Inc.

Temporary License

Requirements:

  • Hold a valid comparable school counselor license from another state.
  • Have worked under the license for three (3) years.

Application Process:

  • Create an Educator License and Renewal (ELAR) profile.
  • Submit a $100 application fee.
  • Provide a copy of the current, valid school counselor license from another state.
  • Complete the Employment Verification form or submit a Verification of Completion document.
  • Passing all required Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) is not necessary for this license.

Validity:

  •  Valid for one (1) year of employment in Massachusetts.

Initial License through NASDTEC Interstate Agreement

Requirements:

  • Hold a valid comparable license from another state.
  • Have completed a traditional or alternative/non-traditional educator preparation program outside of Massachusetts or an accredited educator preparation program sponsored by a college/university outside of Massachusetts.

Application Process:

  • Create an ELAR profile.
  • Submit a $100 application fee.
  • Provide a copy of the valid out-of-state license.
  • Fulfill additional requirements if applicable, e.g., passing MTEL tests, and earning Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsements.

Validity:

  • Valid for five (5) years of employment in Massachusetts.

Provisional License:

Requirements:

  • Hold a valid comparable license from another state.
  • Have completed a traditional or alternative/non-traditional educator preparation program outside of Massachusetts or an accredited educator preparation program sponsored by a college/university outside of Massachusetts.
  • Do not hold the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement.

Application Process:

  • Create an ELAR profile.
  • Submit a $100 application fee.
  • Provide a copy of the valid out-of-state license.
  • Fulfill additional requirements if applicable, excluding the SEI endorsement.

Validity:

  • Valid for five (5) years of employment in Massachusetts.

Additional information and required forms are available in the Applying for/Checking the Status of a License section of the website.

Applicants with a Degree(s) Obtained in Another Country

If your Bachelor’s degree was acquired outside the United States and you are pursuing licensure, you will need to provide the Office of Educator Licensure with either a comprehensive equivalency report or a course-by-course evaluation of your foreign coursework and/or diplomas. These official reports must explicitly state the U.S. equivalency of your education obtained outside the United States, specifically confirming that your educational credentials are equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

To meet this requirement, independent evaluations should be conducted by nationally recognized agencies, such as those listed below or an entity affiliated with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Subsequently, you can upload the completed reports directly into your ELAR account after submitting your application and payment for the educator license.

The completed official reports must include language determining the U.S. equivalency of the education you obtained outside of the United States. Reports submitted for the verification of a bachelor’s degree must verify that you have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree earned in the United States through a regionally accredited college/university.

Reputable agencies for credential evaluations include:

Contact the Licensure Call Center at 781-338-6600 for questions about the out-of-state application process.