Wisconsin Teaching License

If you want to be a teacher at a public K-12 school in ND, first of all, you need to get a teaching certificate. The Department of Public Instruction controls a teaching licensure process. In order to find a detailed description of how to get a teaching license, continue reading.

How to Become a Teacher in Wisconsin

Like other states in Wisconsin, in order to be able to teach in public K-12 schools, first of all, you need to get your teaching certificate. And to earn it you must meet some basic requirements. So, you must have a bachelor’s degree, take a Wisconsin-approved teacher training program and pass the board accredited content and subject exam for educators.

After completing this requirement you can apply for the license.

You can get either a standard or an alternative teaching certificate in Wisconsin. If you meet all the requirements you must get the standard one, but if you didn’t take the training program you must apply for the alternative one.

Wisconsin has a multi-level licensure system for teachers: Initial, Professional, and Master. You need to have professional growth in order to renew and advance your certificate. The requirements for each:

• Provisional Educator License: you must have a bachelor’s degree, take a board-approved teacher training program, and have a passing score on the board accredited content and subject exam for educators.
• Lifetime Educator License: you must complete a minimum of 6 semesters of teaching on the provisional license level.
• Master Educator License: you must be licensed by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) or complete the Wisconsin Master Educator Assessment Process (WMEAP).

Finding Approved Teacher Education Programs in Wisconsin

Obviously, the most important part of the licensing process is to complete a bachelor’s degree and a teacher training program at a board-accredited school. But also it is very important to make sure that your program is accredited.

Here is an approved educator preparation programs list where you can find an approved program that fits you.

In addition, it is important to make sure that the institution has regional accreditation from one of the six regional accreditation agencies recognized by the US Department of Education. Especially when you take courses outside of the state.

Note: If the program that you took is not approved you won’t be able to get a teaching certificate.

In addition, the programs need to have accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CAEP accreditation is not necessary, but it proves the quality of the institution.

Wisconsin Teacher Education Requirements

As you may know, the standard pathway to get a teaching certificate in Wisconsin includes having a bachelor’s degree and taking a teacher training program. And if you have a bachelor’s degree but didn’t take the teacher training program you can apply for an alternative one.

In addition, you must complete coursework in Wisconsin Indian Studies and Environmental Education. You can get a Provisional Educator License without this coursework. But on the condition that you will take it within five years. To know more about this process go to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website.

In the end, to get an early childhood and elementary education certificate you need to take specific coursework in phonics.

Wisconsin Teacher Testing Requirements

Like many other states, Wisconsin also uses the Praxis series of tests for teaching certificates. You need to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test. This a basic skills test, designed to check knowledge in reading, writing, and mathematics. Then to prove that your ability in the subject area that you will teach, you should take Praxis subject assessments.

If you want a certificate in early childhood, elementary education, special education, and reading you must also pass the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test. Also, to teach world languages in addition you need to take the ACTFL World Language Tests.

Additional Wisconsin Teacher Certification Requirements

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requires all Wisconsin teachers to provide a fingerprint and federal criminal background check if they apply for the first time. The reason for the background check is to make sure that future teachers have not been involved in any illegal behavior. So, there are different ways to complete the fingerprint card, to check them visit the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website.

Wisconsin Teachers Licensing Application Process

After you have met all the Wisconsin teacher certification requirements. You have reached the final step where you need to complete and submit your application to the state’s Department of Public Instruction. So, with your application, you need to provide all these documents:

• Original transcripts from bachelor’s degree and coursework.
• Certificate of completed an approved teacher preparation program.
• Non-refundable payment fee for the certification process
• Acceptable scores of all content and pedagogy exams
• Wisconsin teaching license application.

You need to submit the application online Educator Licensing Online (ELO) system. To easily download all the files, the department suggests scanning all the documents as a single file.

To get more information about the licensing process, visit the Department of Public Instruction.

How do you get an emergency teaching license in Wisconsin?

There are two ways to get this license:

1. If you have completed the bachelor’s degree and only need to take the training program. You can ask your institution to sign the “License with Stipulations” approval form.
2. When the school can’t license a teacher to hire they are allowed to hire someone who has a bachelor’s degree. On the condition that during their work they will earn the teacher license.