Let me say I'm NOT an art teacher, but I am a career-changer.
I used the licensure help page on the DESE website to
investigate the different paths to becoming certified and I
found it useful.

Go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/ and then click "Educator
Services", "Licensure", "Academic", "Licensure Help"

This will give you pull down menus to learn the requirements
for different certifications. I chose the following for you:

Academic: Teacher, Visual Art, PreK-8, Preliminary

and got:

"The following list displays all possible paths available ...

2003:Massachusetts general requirements
Achieve a passing score on the Communication and Literacy
Skills test
Possession of a bachelor's degree
Achieve a passing score on the Visual Art subject matter test"

Since you already have a bachelor's degree, if you pass those
two MTEL tests, you'll be able to get a Preliminary license.

From my limited experience, I found the Preliminary License is
not very marketable. Many districts will ask if/where you did
your student teaching (not required for that license.) So I
think you should know ahead of time that the Preliminary
License is a good start, but you should have a plan to get at
least the Initial License, which will require completing some
sort of program (I did a weekend, cohort format master's) and a
practicum/student teaching.

Sorry this is so long. Hope it helps!

On 5/21/09, Nikki wrote:
> Hello,
> I am currently trying to figure out how to become an
> Elementary school Art Teacher. I currently have a
> Bache;or's degree in Fine Arts/Graphic Design and I'm not
> sure what my next step should be. If anyone is an art
> teacher and has any advice for me it would be GREATLY
> appreciated! Thank you! :)

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