Teacher Education
Practicum Overview & Timelines

As Boston College’s teacher education programs leading to initial licensure are state-approved, we adhere to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval (DESE, 2020).

As mandated by the state, Boston College has designed a series of field-based experiences to ensure candidates become effective educators – educators who are ready to teach from their first day of professional service following successful completion of the approved teacher education program. Overall, these field experiences are scaffolded to align with the Massachusetts Standards for Professional Teachers and the required Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP). Candidates who successfully meet all of these expectations demonstrate their “readiness to teach” and are eligible for endorsement from Boston College for licensure.

Boston College’s professional experiences are composed of early field experiences, referred to as pre-practicum placements, and an immersive, semester-long full practicum experience. The section below is designed to provide candidates with an overview of pre-practicum experience and the full practicum placement. Successful completion of the pre-practicum or an approved waiver from the Office of Field Placement is required prior to the full practicum experience. Over the course of your undergraduate and/or graduate program, you will be presented with an opportunity to engage with students, teachers and families in PK-12 schools in partnership with Boston College. The Lynch School partners with a range of urban and suburban public, private, parochial, and charter schools in Greater Boston—empowering students to apply their skills in dynamic classroom settings. In the process, they gain teaching experience and learn how to thrive in an increasingly diverse education environment. 

For more information about the placement process and details involved with each field experience, please see the pre-practicum section of the site and/or the section that highlights the full practicum. 

As an undergraduate teacher education candidate, you will complete three pre-practicum experiences and a full-practicum experience. The graphic below highlights the pathway from your initial field experience through graduation, endorsement from Boston College, and licensure in Massachusetts. You can also download a PDF version of the Undergraduate Roadmap to Endorsement & Licensure in Massachusetts; the PDF version contains links to supporting resources and to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

As a graduate teacher education candidate, you will complete a pre-practicum experience and a full-practicum experience. The graphic below highlights the pathway from your initial field experience through graduation, endorsement from Boston College, and licensure in Massachusetts. You can also download a PDF version of the Graduate Roadmap to Endorsement & Licensure in Massachusetts; the PDF version contains links to supporting resources and to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.