MTEL and DESE certs?

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I am hoping to be selected for a school nurse position for this school year.... Cutting it a bit close here in Western Ma.... Anyhow, I have 14 years of ER and case management experience, with a year of sub nursing for a different school district. I have interviewed for a position and was told today I am one of two candidates being considered for the position. The hiring director voiced that she would advocate to the school board that I be the selected candidate, she is getting questioned though as the other candidate already has her license for school nursing.

I am in Massachusetts. Does anyone have any experience with the process for MTEL or DESE certs? Is it possible to start this process to show my intent is there to be a part of this school?

Thank you! I have been lurking for months and have really gained a ton of wisdom already! Wish me luck :)

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Hi, I've copied the license requirements from www.msno.org/membership/licensure. One note - Boston University is taking over from Northeastern University for the 3 conferences needed for licensure. So far I only saw the Medication Delegation course listed in live events. Typically the courses are offered 3 -5 times per year. The website is Upcoming Live Events

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

Licensure

MA DESE Licensure has three levels, only two of which apply to the School Nurse. These are:

  1. Initial License
  2. Professional License

(Preliminary License: Not applicable for the School Nurse applicant due to the requirement for minimal 2 years of experience as a Registered Nurse prior to Initial licensure.)

The regulations that govern this DESE Licensure are: 603 CMR 7.00 Regulations for Educator Licensure

School Nurse (Levels: All)

(a) Initial License.

  1. Valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts.
  2. A bachelor's or master's degree in nursing.
  3. A minimum of two full years of employment as a Registered Nurse in a child health, community health, or other relevant clinical nursing setting.
  4. Completion of an orientation program based on the requirements for delivery of school health services as defined by the Department of Public Health. (Includes Professional School Nursing Practice in MA (2 day program), Medication Administration and Delegation in MA Schools (1 day program) AND Mandated Screening Training for School Nurses (1 day program). ALL 3 PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED FOR LICENSURE
  5. Passing score on the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills test. (www.doe.mass.edu )***

***All support personnel, including school nurses, who apply for initial licensure, are required to meet the qualifying score on Department of Education Communication and Literacy skills test. School nurses are not subject to a test of subject matter knowledge for this certificate. This is the same requirement for all other support personnel, such as a school psychologist, school guidance counselor, school social worker, library media specialist, speech and language therapists, etc.

(b) Professional License.

  • Possession of an Initial license.

  • Three years of employment as a school nurse.

  • Completion of one of the following:

Achievement and maintenance of certification or licensure by a nationally recognized professional nursing association as a school nurse, community health nurse, or a pediatric/family/school nurse practitioner.

A master's degree program that may include credits earned in a master's degree program for the Initial license in community health, health education, nursing, or public health.

The Initial license is valid for 5 years. It is the expectation that at the end of 5 years, the requirements will have been met to move to the Professional License. If these have not been met, the holder of the Initial License may apply for a one time extension for another 5 years.

The Professional License is renewed every 5 years by meeting the required Continuing Education / Professional Development. (See below)

School Nurses and Professional Teacher Status

Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2006, was approved August 21, 2006, amends Chapter 71 section 41 of the General Laws to include school nurses in the list of school personnel (including teachers, school librarians, school adjustment counselors, school social workers and school psychologists) who are eligible for professional teacher status if they meet certain established criteria.

The full text of the new law is available atSession Laws: Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2006.

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Thank you!!

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Specializes in school nurse.

You can certainly sign up for the MTELs. That is all online and you pick a time, sort of like the boards.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

I am in the same boat and wondering how difficult that communication and literacy MTEL test is. I looked through the practice questions and it just seemed cumbersome more than anything and frustrating that nurses and other support staff have to take the test to work in a school.

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Specializes in School nursing.

I'm taking it myself this fall in MA. But my school is paying for it, which is awesome :). I find the practice tests not so bad and every teacher I've talked with told me I should have no problem passing it.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

Thanks! Yes, I would hope my school would pay for it for me as well. I need to figure it all out.

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Specializes in school nurse.
I am in the same boat and wondering how difficult that communication and literacy MTEL test is. I looked through the practice questions and it just seemed cumbersome more than anything and frustrating that nurses and other support staff have to take the test to work in a school.

No harder than anything in nursing school. Be prepared to write a brief essay as part of it. You get plenty of time to complete the tests.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

Thanks for the info!

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