The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) suite of exams has been a vital part of the certification process for teachers in Massachusetts since 1988. Adopted by the Massachusetts state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the MTEL exams ensure that prospective teachers possess the necessary pedagogical skills and subject area knowledge to educate students at the K-12 grade levels successfully. Typically, prospective teachers must pass the Communication and Literacy: Reading and Writing subtests, which measure reading comprehension and communication skills, before moving on to the subject tests. The subject tests are specific to the content area and/or grade level the candidate intends to teach. Candidates must obtain the MTEL passing score on both sets of exams to earn their teaching license.
In 2004, Massachusetts added Vocational Technical Education and Adult Basic Education tests to the MTEL suite of exams for prospective educators seeking certification in these less traditional areas of education. In addition, another update to the program, MTEL-Flex, was implemented to offer a more straightforward retesting option for individuals who do not pass the exam, but scored within one standard error of measurement of doing so. This program allows candidates to take a reduced version of the exam to prove their skills, rather than retaking the full version. Prospective educators must register online before signing up for their MTEL exam(s).
Access thousands of practice questions so that there are no surprises on the exam
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountMTEL exam appointments are typically four hours and fifteen minutes in length. The first fifteen-minute segment of the exam is allotted to a brief tutorial instructing test-takers on how to navigate controls of the computer-based test. During this time, candidates will also be required to review and sign a non-disclosure agreement testifying that they will not discuss the test content in any way. From there, examinees will have four hours to complete the exam. Candidates should confirm the exam duration when they schedule their MTEL test dates and be sure to arrive at the testing center fifteen minutes before their appointment start time.
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountMost of the exams in the MTEL program contain a mixture of multiple-choice and open-response questions. The open-response questions on the MTEL exams may be in short answer format or more extended responses that usually take 20-30 minutes to write. Typically, the multiple-choice section of any MTEL test accounts for a higher percentage of the final MTEL test results. Applicants should, however, confirm this information before finalizing their registration. Applicants should also confirm what question formats will be on the exam. Knowing this information can be very useful with the help of MTEL practice tests, as candidates can familiarize themselves with the specific question formats they will encounter when testing.
Before even beginning the registration process for MTEL test, the applicant should first ensure that they are registering for the appropriate exam in accordance with their intended teaching specialty.
Generally, prospective teachers in Massachusetts will first need to take the exam for MTEL Communication and Literacy, which is required for all types of educator licensure. From there, individuals seeking licensure as a teacher or specialist teacher will be required to take a subject matter test based on the subject area and grade level at which they intend to teach.
Prospective teachers can visit the state Department of Education website for a complete list of which subject matter exam they should take, based on the type of teaching license they are seeking. If an applicant is uncertain which exam they need to take, they can contact the Massachusetts Office of Educator Licensure to get confirmation and additional assistance interpreting the licensure requirements.
To sign up for the MTEL, applicants must register for an account on the MTEL website by entering an active email address, creating a password, and setting a security question to help secure their account. Candidates will then fill out the section asking for their personal information and enter their Massachusetts Education Personnel ID (MEPID). MTEL registration dates are available year-round.
The MEPID is a personal identification number given to all educators in Massachusetts schools. Some applicants may already have an MEPID if they are employed by a Massachusetts school or school district. Candidates who do not yet have an MEPID can create a profile in the Massachusetts Educator Licensure and Renewal (ELAR) system.
Applicants will then be required to agree to the MTEL testing policies and complete payment for the exam fee. After completing the registration process, candidates may schedule the MTEL test dates right away or wait until another time. Their registration will be valid for one year for applicants to schedule an exam session.
The MTEL test cost varies depending on which test the applicant elects to take.
For the Communication and Literacy Skills exam and the Vocational Technical Literacy Skills exam, the pricing structure is as follows:
| Reading subtest only | $76 |
| Writing subtest only | $85 |
| Both subtests together (discounted pricing) | $112 |
All MTEL subject matter tests cost $139, except for two exams. One is the Sheltered English Immersion MTEL exam, which costs $166. The second is the General Curriculum test, which uses the following pricing structure:
| Mathematics subtest only | $94 |
| Multi-subject subtest only | $94 |
| Both subtests together (discounted pricing) | $139 |
The MTEL-Flex Assessments fall in a lower price range than the standard assessment tests. Flex Assessments cost either $49 or $69, depending on which exam is taken.
| MTEL-Flex English, English as a Second Language, Foundations of Reading, History, Spanish | $69 |
| MTEL-Flex General Curriculum Mathematics, General Curriculum Multi-Subject | $49 |
When applicants register for one of the MTEL tests, they must decide whether to take the exam at an approved MTEL testing centers or online at home. As of October 2021, most MTEL exams are available to take through the online proctoring option.
Before registering for an MTEL with the online proctoring option, candidates should complete the system check offered on the Pearson VUE website to ensure their PC meets the system requirements for online testing. Examinees must take the exam on a laptop or desktop computer, with only one monitor connected and a stable internet connection. The laptop or desktop must also have a working microphone and webcam. Tablets are not permitted unless equipped with a physical keyboard and capable operating system.
Examinees must also ensure that the space in which they intend to take their online MTEL exam is private. The candidate should be the only person in the room when taking their online test. There may not be any prohibited materials within arms' reach of the examinee during testing.
The online proctoring option for the MTEL exam begins with a brief check-in where face-matching technology is implemented, and a live proctor establishes ID verification. ID requirements for online testing are the same as ID requirements for in-person testing. After examinees have completed the ID verification process, they will be asked to sign an online non-disclosure agreement before beginning the exam. The live proctor will remain connected to the examinee through a webcam and microphone to monitor their testing session.
Examinees considering registering for the online MTEL testing option should also note that unscheduled breaks are not allowed during online testing. Physical scrap paper is also prohibited. For note-taking on online MTEL tests, test-takers are instead provided with an online notepad housed within the exam.
To register for the MTEL, applicants must create a profile on the MTEL website. Candidates will be asked to provide an active email address, create a password and security questions, and enter their Massachusetts Educator Personnel ID (MEPID). Candidates who do not already have an MEPID number through employment at a Massachusetts school can get one by registering online on the Massachusetts Educator Licensure and Renewal site. Once applicants have provided this information, they will be asked to review and agree to the MTEL testing policies. Applicants will then provide payment for their exam. Once a candidate is registered, they have one year to schedule their MTEL exam.
The MTEL suite of exams was designed to be taken by prospective educators in Massachusetts. The exams ensure that applicants have the necessary skills, content knowledge, and pedagogical knowledge to successfully educate students. Individuals who are seeking licensure in vocational technical education or adult education will also take the MTEL as part of their certification process.
Generally, prospective teachers in Massachusetts must pass two MTEL exams in order to obtain teaching licensure. The first exam is the Communications and Literacy test, which comprises a reading subtest and a writing subtest. This exam helps ensure that an individual has the necessary reading comprehension and communication skills to be a successful educator. The second exam is the Subject Matter test that corresponds to the applicant's intended teaching specialty. For candidates who are not sure which exams they should take, the Massachusetts DOE offers a comprehensive list of which exams correspond to each licensure area.
Most MTEL exams cost $139, with a few notable exceptions. The Communications and Literacy Reading and Writing subtests cost $76 and $85, respectively. When taken together, these exam fall under discounted pricing at $112. The Sheltered English Immersion MTEL costs $166. Finally, the General Curriculum Mathematics and Multi-subject subtests cost $94 each when taken separately, and $139 when taken together.
