Embedded Files
Obtaining a Library All Levels license is up to each educator, as the road toward licensure can vary depending on your background. For licensure questions, please reach out to Thomas O'Neil in the BPS Office of Human Capital. You may also contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Customer Service Call Center at 781-338-6600 (M–F 9:00am – 1:00pm; 2:00pm – 5:00pm). Visit the Licensure Welcome Center walk up counter, located in Malden on the first floor of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's administrative building (M–F 8:45am – 4:45pm). If you don't currently have a DESE ELAR account, you can create one to start your licensure journey.
MSLA & BPS Competency Program
MSLA & BPS Competency Program
New cohort starting September 2025
In partnership with Massachusetts School Library Association, BPS Library Services is offering an opportunity to current BPS staff the option of initial licensure through an in-house, partly synchronous, 90 hour competency program in line with DESE standards. School year 23-24 is a Beta year, and the course is being offered to current BPS Library Services staff with the goal of opening up the program to the larger BPS community in school year 24-25.
guide-competency-review-made-simple (7) (2).docxCompetency Review Guide
Competency Review Guide
From the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, how to satisfy and document - subject matter knowledge competency review requirements. With updates for Libraries, published August 2023.
In place of Comepetency Review- DESE will accept passing one of the following tests. Please reach out to DESE for more information:
In place of Comepetency Review- DESE will accept passing one of the following tests. Please reach out to DESE for more information:
The Praxis II 5311 Library Media Specialist Test
The National Evaluation Series (NES) School Library Media Specialist (502) Test adopted by Arizona and Oregon
The Educational Media Specialist PK-12 (010) Test adopted by Florida
The GACE Media Specialist Assessment (Combined 601) Test adopted by Georgia
The ILTS Library Information Specialist (175) Test adopted by Illinois
The MTTC Library Media (048) Test adopted by Michigan
The MTLE Library Media Specialist Test adopted by Minnesota
The MEGA Library Media Specialist (042) Test adopted by Missouri
The NYSTCE Library Medial Specialist (074) Test adopted by New York
The CEOE Library-Medial Specialist (038) Test adopted by Oklahoma
The TExEs School Librarian (150) Test adopted by Texas
The WEST-E Library Media (042) Test adopted by Washington
Page updated
Report abuse