Secondary School Teacher / Massachusetts
2026 data Massachusetts board official source

Massachusetts Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Instructs students in grades 7-12. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the Massachusetts data shows for Secondary School Teachers

Massachusetts sets the entry bar for secondary school teachers at board-approved training and a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent). A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Massachusetts's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification".

Budget $172 to get started, plus $108 at each renewal on a 5-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For secondary school teachers, the reciprocity picture is: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
50/100
Secondary School Teacher · Massachusetts

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$172
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$22/yr
$108 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Massachusetts

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$172
Renewal Fee
$108
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Secondary School Teacher All Massachusetts licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Massachusetts licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Secondary School Teacher in Massachusetts? ▼
In Massachusetts, the license path calls for, a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent), and a $172 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Secondary School Teacher in Massachusetts? ▼
Massachusetts licenses secondary school teachers who complete its requirements and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Massachusetts licensing board.
Can I transfer my Secondary School Teacher license to Massachusetts from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for secondary school teachers nationally works like this: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Massachusetts. Verify the specifics with the Massachusetts licensing board.
Does Massachusetts require a background check for Secondary School Teacher licensing? ▼
Massachusetts does require a background check before issuing a secondary school teacher license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Secondary School Teacher in Massachusetts? ▼
Licensed secondary school teachers in Massachusetts must complete 150 hours of continuing education every 5 years. The renewal fee is $108.

Related Guides

What to do with this secondary school teacher license

Secondary School Teacher in Massachusetts, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a secondary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Massachusetts licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.