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Add-On License in Moderate Disabilities (PreK–8)
Take your education career further with an add-on license in moderate disabilities.
Add-On License in Moderate Disabilities
This 12-credit Add-On License in Moderate Disabilities is designed for teachers who have already obtained an Initial license or a Professional License and seek to expand or “add on” to their current credentials.
Our Add-On License in Moderate Disabilities prepares you to work with children in grades PreK–8 with moderate disabilities who participate in integrated or self-contained classrooms.
In addition to completing three courses, students complete an internship under the supervision of their building principal.
Quick Facts:
- Earn an additional Initial license
- Online or on-campus course options
- Complete full time or part time
- Meets DESE licensure requirements
- Six starts per year
- School district partnership discounts
- No GRE or GMAT required
- Financial aid eligible
Learn more about Merrimack’s Add-On License in Moderate Disabilities.
Flexible Program Format for Working Teachers
Designed for full-time teachers or career changers, the program can be completed in one year full time or two years part time.
Additionally, you can choose whether to learn online or come to campus for each course.
Expand Your Current Credentials
Our program is ideal for licensed teachers who are interested in completing the requirements for an additional license.
We’ll meet with you 1:1 to determine your specific licensing needs.
DESE-Approved Program
This program is approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as an Educator Preparation Program.
Flexible Learning:
Choose Online or On-Campus for Each Course
Our flexible format allows you to register for your courses either online, on-campus, or a combination during each semester. Simply select your preference when registering courses and enjoy a convenient learning experience. International students may participate, but they must complete 50 percent of their courses on campus and cannot begin or end their program online.
As a bonus, full-time students who are U.S. citizens and who complete more than 50 percent of their courses on campus are eligible for health insurance.
Add-On License in Moderate Disabilities (PreK–8) Coursework
To earn your Add-On License in Moderate Disabilities (PreK–8), you will complete 12 course credit hours and an internship under the supervision of your building principal.
MTEL Requirements:
- Communications & Literacy Skills (01): Reading and Writing subtests
- General Curriculum (03): Math and Multi-Subject subtests
- Foundations of Reading (90)
This course provides an overview of the challenges that students with moderate disabilities encounter in their lives. The class will explore how disabilities are identified, what necessary steps are taken to refer students for evaluations in the Special Education process, characteristics of students with disabilities, general issues of evaluation approaches, and research-based accommodations and interventions including the use of assistive technology devices and behavioral interventions. State and federal laws as well as an overview of local and national support agencies are also reviewed.
This course in classroom assessment and instruction examines how effective instruction depends on ongoing, meaningful assessment. Instructional and behavioral assessment, as well as techniques, are addressed. This course will study how models of instruction in different content areas depend on how teachers can collect and use assessment data. Further, this data will be used to inform effective instruction to enable all students to produce great learning outcomes regardless of their learning disabilities and challenges.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Add-On License in Moderate Disabilities
$620
per credit*
12
credits
$7,440
tuition
*Tuition based on 2025–2026 academic year.
Tuition and fees are subject to change annually.
Additional program fees may apply.
Financial Aid
As a graduate student, you may qualify for federal support in the form of loans. We strongly encourage all eligible* graduate students to apply for federal financial aid, even if they don’t demonstrate an exceptional financial need.
All graduate students also have the option of obtaining private loans and/or enrolling in an institutional payment plan.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Merrimack College’s FAFSA school code is 002120.
*Certificate programs do not qualify for federal financial aid.
Partnership Discounts and Employer Tuition Assistance
Merrimack partners with many school districts across Massachusetts to offer 10 percent off your tuition. Contact us to see if your school district is a Merrimack partner. We also accept employer financial/tuition assistance.
It’s Easy to Apply Online
A complete application includes:
- Online application (no fee)
- Official college transcripts from all institutions attended
- Resume or LinkedIn profile
- Personal statement
GRE and GMAT scores are not required. Additional materials may be requested.
Key Dates and Deadlines
This program enrolls six times a year. Each term is eight weeks.
Merrimack College
Accolades and Accreditation
At Merrimack College, we’re proud of our long history of providing quality degrees to students entering the job market. Our faculty are more than just teachers. We are committed to helping you grow — academically, personally and spiritually — so that you may graduate as a confident, well-prepared citizen of the world.
U.S. News & World Report | Best Regional Universities North (2025)
- Most Innovative Schools (No. 5)
- Regional Universities North (No. 39)
- Best Undergraduate Teaching (No. 19)
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (No. 94)
(at schools where doctorate not offered) - Best Colleges for Veterans (No. 15)
- Best Value Schools (No. 51)
NECHE-Accredited
- Merrimack College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
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