Entry into the teaching profession is regulated by law that outlines the requirements and conditions for licensure. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Educational Reform Law of l993 stipulates a three stage process of teacher certification. Provisional Certification requires a Bachelor's degree with a major in the arts or sciences, or an inter-disciplinary major appropriate to an instructional field. This level of certification does not require professional preparation in teacher education.
Provisional certificates are valid for five years.
Provisional with Advanced Standing Certification requires completion of professional preparation at either the undergraduate or graduate level in teacher education and student teaching. Standard Certification requires possession of the Provisional with Advanced Standing certificate and completion of an approved Master's degree program. The approved program consists of advanced professional preparation in teacher education, graduate level courses in appropriate instructional fields and a clinical experience or internship. One of the key features of the Education Reform Law is the premium placed on the professionalism of teaching through a more intensive and qualitative teacher preparation. An appreciably high level of subject matter knowledge in the instructional field constitutes a critical competency requirement for certification.