Requirements/Massachusetts
Early Childhood Teacher in Massachusetts.
Three exams, including the reading test.
- Exams
- 3
- Passing
- 240
- Certificate
- Early Childhood (PreK-2)
The exams you have to pass
In the order most candidates take them.
01
MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills (Reading and Writing)101/201
Two subtests, each passed separately. Required for every Massachusetts license.
Pass240
02
MTEL Early Childhood72
Pass240
03
MTEL Foundations of Reading190
Required for Early Childhood, Elementary and Moderate Disabilities licenses.
Pass240
What people get wrong
Each of these costs a candidate either money or a test date.
- Massachusetts accepts approved alternatives to Communication and Literacy Skills, including the NES Essential Academic Skills subtests. Check what your programme will take before you register.
- Foundations of Reading attaches to Early Childhood, Elementary and Moderate Disabilities. Those three licenses carry it; the secondary licenses do not.
Required, but not an exam
- A bachelor’s degree
- An approved educator preparation program or an alternative route
- Application through the Massachusetts DESE Office of Educator Licensure
Now go pass them.
Knowing the list is the easy part. Built To Pass teaches the strategy layer that works on any of these, aimed at the domains where you are actually losing points.
Start with your examVerified 2026-08-04 against Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (mtel.nesinc.com) and DESE. Certification rules change by state board vote. Confirm with the state before you register for a test.