Professional License Renewal

All Professional level licenses for both teachers and administrators must be renewed every five calendar years. The date of renewal is printed on your license. Licenses can be renewed up to one year in advance of expiration. Educators must have completed the required number of Professional Development Points (PDPs) at the time of application for license renewal.

• The requirements for renewal include:
• Development of an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)
• Approval of IPDP by appropriate supervisor or administrator
• Completion of the Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)
• Endorsement of final IPDP to determine that 80% of activities are consistent with the IPDP
• Completion of application for renewal and payment of fees
• Evidence of completion of the appropriate number and type PDPs

Educators must have earned 150 PDPs to renew a primary license and 30 PDPs in the content area for each additional license. The distribution for the first 150 PDPs depends on the type of license. If an occupational or professional certification is required, then it must also be current at the time of license renewal.

Academic Educator Licenses - 150 Total PDPs

• 60 content
• 30 content or pedagogy
• 15 ESL or SEI
• 15 SPED
• 30 elective

Vocational Technical Educator Licenses – 150 Total PDPs

A minimum of 10 PDPs in each:

• Subject content knowledge and skills
• Pedagogy
• Academic and technical curriculum integration
• Safety and health

Applications for license renewal may be completed online or via paper application. The Office of Educator Licensure does not always request evidence of completion of IPDP, PDPs or requirements at the time of application or issuance of license. However, DESE may audit your license application and PDPs at any time in the five years following the awarding of the license. Failure to retain copies of all documentation may result if suspension of the license or require completion of additional activities for the license to remain active and valid.

Professional License Audit

Every renewal of a professional license is subject to audit by the DESE. An audit of licensure renewal requirements may be conducted by random selection of license applications by the Office of Educator Licensure. The DESE Office of Educator Misconduct many also request an audit of license renewal application requirements as part an investigation into an educator

Any educator whose licenses are subject to an audit is welcome to request assistance from the Center for Educator Policy and Practice. Educators may contact their local president for more information or can send an email to licensure@massteacher.org