Educator Licensure Information
Welcome to the Educator Licensure Information web pages, which are designed to assist licensure candidates currently in our programs and our alumnae/alumni with the licensure application process.
The FSU Education Licensure Office endorses the applications of candidates who have completed all licensure program requirements. The electronic endorsements are completed in:
- late January (December completers)
- mid-February (January completers)
- early June (May completers)
- mid-September (August completers)
NOTE: All approved Initial licensure programs require a practicum and university endorsement.
If you completed an approved licensure program at FSU, please complete the Endorsement Request Form and follow the steps below to apply for your license with FSU endorsement and to help ensure timely processing of your licensure application.
Effective July 1, 2014, all candidates for an Initial teaching license as a core academic teacher must receive a “Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement” to receive an Initial teaching license from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. SEI is an approach to teaching which makes content material comprehensible and accessible to English Language Learners.
SEI for licensed teachers:
Framingham State University offers TESL 910 Sheltered English Immersion (SEI), a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)-approved graduate level course, leading to the SEI endorsement.
Qualifications:
- Enrollees who are not currently matriculated in an Initial licensure program at FSU,
must show proof (license #) of a Massachusetts Initial or Professional teaching license prior to registration. - All enrollees must have access to a classroom with English Language Learners.
Cost:
TESL 910, FSU's stand-alone SEI course, is a four-credit-hour, graduate-level course. Please see Tuition and Fees for details.
Hours: one evening per week for three hours and twenty minutes
Duration: for fifteen weeks, the length of the semester
Offering and Registration:
This course is offered during the spring and fall semesters. Those not matriculated in an Initial licensure program at FSU, must receive permission of the instructor to register.
From the Graduate drop-down menu, choose World Languages and TESL.
Questions and Additional Information:
For questions and additional information regarding this course, please contact Dr. Anne Roberti at aroberti [at] framingham.edu (aroberti[at]framingham[dot]edu) or 508-215-5713.
Framingham State University licensure programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Please note that advancing to the Professional license requires three years of experience teaching under the initial license, a master's degree, and twelve graduate credits in content or pedagogy appropriate for the license. If your chosen degree allows elective courses, please work closely with your advisor to ensure that you are taking courses appropriate for the license as well as the degree.
NOTE: Professional licensure candidates who already hold a master's degree should seek advice from the appropriate program advisor or from the licensure officer.
If you completed an approved licensure program at FSU and are applying for a license in another state, please select the link below for instructions. Most states require some type of verification and have forms designed for this purpose.
When will I receive a copy of my license?
The Massachusetts DESE no longer issues hardcopies of licenses. You may print a copy of your license from your ELAR profile area. Once you logon, click on the "Check license status..." link. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click on the "View/Print" tab under License Information.
Which MTEL tests are required for licenses?
Massachusetts DESE required subject matter MTEL exams for each license. Note that some licenses require multiple subject matter exams.
Field Placement
Field-based experiences are integral components of the education course work in Framingham State University's educator preparation programs. These experiences provide students with opportunities to observe and practice their teaching skills. Please refer to the following information for additional details regarding placements and placement applications:
We are accepting Fall 2025 Field Experience Applications January 28th – February 14th.
Please be sure to plan ahead:
Download our application guide.
To have your one-page essay carefully reviewed (with a CASA Writing Tutor, if at all possible).
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you wait too long to schedule, there may not be any appointments remaining.
For application submission/drop-off
with Ms. Sandy Shaw or Ms. Maureen Barnowski.
LEARN MORE
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you wait too long to schedule, there may not be any appointments remaining.
- Log into Starfish via: LEARN MORE .
- Select Application Drop Off.
- Use the mini calendar on the left to select a range of dates;
we are accepting applications between January 28th and February 14th. - Follow the prompts. Once completed, you will receive an email confirmation from Starfish.
According to the Essay Guidelines no later than the evening prior to your appointment with the writing tutor.
Via the Fall 2025 online application survey, no later than 24 hours prior to your application submission/drop-off appointment.
In a Microsoft Word .docx document (so we can copy & paste, please) attached to an email to Mrs. Shaw (sshaw1 [at] framingahm.edu (sshaw1[at]framingahm[dot]edu)) or Mrs. Barnowski (mbarnowski [at] framingham.edu (mbarnowski[at]framingham[dot]edu)), whomever your appointment is with, no later than 24 hours prior to to your appointment.
NOTE: If you are unable to convert to MS Word or attach to email, please copy and paste your essay into the body of the email, with extra lines between each paragraph.
Contact Information
Educator Licensure and Placement Office
O'Connor Hall 125
Ms. Sandra Shaw, Director
Educator Placement and Licensure
sshaw1 [at] framingham.edu (sshaw1[at]framingham[dot]edu)
Phone: 508 626 4573