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DOE extends hours as recertification deadline looms

The following is a media release from the Massachusetts Department of Education.

Office of Educator Licensure Extends Hours To Accommodate June 17th Renewal Deadline

MALDEN -- The Office of Educator Licensure is extending its customer service hours this week to meet the needs of educators seeking to renew their professional licenses prior to the June 17 deadline.

Most have already renewed their licenses online at www.doe.mass.edu/educators/ or at www.doe.mass.edu/recert/  using the Educator Licensure and Recruitment (ELAR) system, but nearly 12,000 of the estimated 70,000 teachers who need to recertify have not yet done so. To meet their needs, the Department will have extended hours from June 15-17.

The Customer Service Counter/Help Desk and Licensure Call Center will be open on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 15 & 16 until 8 p.m. and on Thursday, June 17, until 9 p.m. 

Educators may submit their application in person to the Department during these extended hours or may seek assistance by calling the Licensure Call Center at 781-338-6600.

The Education Reform Act of 1993 stipulates that all educators who hold a professional level license must renew the license every five years. The first major round of renewals was accomplished by June 17, 1999, leaving these educators until June 17, 2004, to renew their professional license.

License renewals will remain in effect through June 17, 2009.  Professional license renewals will cost $100 for each designated primary area license, and $25 for each additional area.

For directions to the Department of Education at 350 Main Street in Malden, look online at http://www.doe.mass.edu/contact/doedirections.asp.