If an educator is working toward adding the MA+30 through a series of courses and not by completing a specialist degree, a master's degree that includes 51 or more graduate semester credits, or an additional master's degree, the individual must earn at least 21 graduate semester hours in one area of concentration. Acceptable concentration areas include professional education areas and academic areas for which there is a corresponding certification field approved by the State Board of Education. These graduate courses are not required to be in the teacher’s initial certification field.
 
Once a concentration area is chosen, an educator must complete at least 21 semester hours of the required 30 graduate semester hours within the area of concentration through regionally accredited colleges or universities. Up to 9 of the 30 graduate semester hours may be taken in professional education electives or related fields
 
When requesting the class level change, the educator must stipulate the concentration area; the Office of Educator Services cannot make this determination.