Massachusetts license renewal training on students with disabilities, including children with autism (M.G.L. c. 71, § 38G; 603 CMR 44.06): what the law asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
Massachusetts law requires every educator and administrator, as a condition of recertification, to have training in strategies for effective inclusive schooling for children with disabilities, including children with autism. Under the state's license renewal rule, an educator renewing a Primary license every five years must complete at least 150 professional development points (PDPs), including at least 15 PDPs related to strategies for effective schooling for students with disabilities and instruction of students with diverse learning styles. The duty falls on each educator at license renewal. The rule does not name autism or set separate autism hours.
What the law says
Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 71, section 38G:
"In addition to any other requirements of this section, the board shall require, as a provision of an administrator's or educator's recertification, that all educators and administrators shall have training in strategies for effective inclusive schooling for children with disabilities, including children with autism, instruction of students with diverse learning styles and classroom organization and management. Such training shall include, at a minimum, practical experience in the application of these strategies."
The words "including children with autism" were added by Chapter 226 of the Acts of 2014, approved August 5, 2014. The same section makes a standard certificate valid for five years, continued every five years upon completion of an individual professional development plan.
The license renewal rule, 603 CMR 44.06(1):
"Educators applying to renew a Primary license are required to complete at least 150 PDPs including: ... (b) At least 15 PDPs related to training in strategies for effective schooling for students with disabilities and instruction of students with diverse learning styles."
Under 603 CMR 44.02, one clock hour generally equals one PDP; professional development activities sponsored or approved by the Department, and advanced academic studies, receive 1.5 PDPs per clock hour. Under 603 CMR 44.06(2), at least 10 PDPs must be earned in a topic for them to count toward renewal.
Source: M.G.L. c. 71, § 38G; Acts of 2014, Chapter 226; 603 CMR 44.00.
A related yearly duty for staff in covered public education programs
For public education programs covered by 603 CMR 46.00, Massachusetts's physical restraint rule, each principal or director must determine a time and method to train all program staff every year on the program's restraint prevention and behavior support policy and requirements when restraint is used (603 CMR 46.04(2)):
"Such training shall occur within the first month of each school year and, for employees hired after the school year begins, within a month of their employment."
That training covers the program's own policy, the role of students, families and staff in preventing restraint, alternatives to restraint, and when restraint is permitted. It is the school's duty, built on its own policy. Our course does not teach restraint or crisis intervention.
Source: 603 CMR 46.00.
Where outside training fits
Under 603 CMR 44.03(2), registered providers may award PDPs to license holders who complete an activity and demonstrate proficiency through an appropriate end-of-course assessment that satisfies Department guidelines. The Department, school districts and educational collaboratives may also award PDPs, directly or under their auspices, when an educator completes an activity that complies with Department guidelines. Educators may also accrue PDPs through an educator-designed activity that satisfies Department guidelines. Under 603 CMR 44.05(1), educators working in a Massachusetts public school must obtain approval of their proposed Individual Professional Development Plans from their supervisors. Section 38G also requires the state to offer at least one way to meet the professional development requirement at no cost to school district employees. We do not claim that our course earns PDPs, counts toward the 15 PDPs on students with disabilities, or meets any Massachusetts license renewal requirement. Before relying on any outside course for renewal, ask your supervisor or district, or the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, how it evaluates outside courses.
What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers
The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. We do not claim Massachusetts state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."
Two ways to start
- For one person: try the first two sessions free for 7 days; account creation is required, with no payment information requested. The full course costs $199, paid once, with no subscription or recurring charge. Activate your license code within 90 days of purchase; the published completion window is 10 weeks after activation. You may request a later start date, no later than three months after purchase. Start the free sessions
- For your district's staff: tell us how many people need training and when, and we will send a quote; each participant who completes the course and passes its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80% earns an individual certificate of completion. Ask for a school quote
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.