Biology Teacher Certification

Framingham State offers two pathways to biology teacher certification, described below. If you are a Biology major who is considering high school teaching as a career, please consult with Dr. Aviva Liebert at aliebert@framingham.edu.

Biology Major with Coordinate Minor in Secondary Education.  Students majoring in Biology can complete a coordinate minor in secondary education. Typically a primary advisor in the Biology Department and a secondary advisor in the Education Department will be assigned. Students who complete all major and minor requirements and obtain a satisfactory score on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) may receive Initial Licensure to teach high school biology in Massachusetts. Please visit the Minor in Education for Licensure Purposes page for more information.

Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Licensure (PBTL) Program.  This is a longer pathway but a better option for many students, particularly for those who decide on a biology teaching career only in their junior or senior year. Any coordinate minor courses taken while still an undergraduate will be counted toward PBTL requirements the following year. Students who complete the PBTL program may receive Initial Licensure to teach high school biology in Massachusetts. Please visit the PBTL Program page for more information.