Requirements for Getting a Teaching License in Wisconsin
- The most common route to an initial educator license is completion of an in-state bachelor's degree in education from a program approved by the Department of Public Instruction. Approved programs are designed to prepare graduates for licensure and immediate entry into the teaching profession. At the culmination of the program, students are required to pass Praxis Series educator examinations. A comprehensive list of approved Wisconsin education programs is available on the Department's website.
- If you obtained a bachelor's degree in education from a regionally-accredited four-year university outside Wisconsin, you may be eligible for immediate Wisconsin licensure. To qualify, an out-of-state program must maintain requirements comparable to Wisconsin requirements and must prepare graduates for immediate licensure in the program's state. If the program does not administer the Praxis Series educator examinations, you will be required to take them in Wisconsin. Note that the certifying officer of your out-of-state school will be required to submit program information and endorsements to the Department of Public Instruction for use in your application evaluations.
- If you want to enter the teaching field after a professional career in another discipline, you must complete an alternative Wisconsin licensure program. Though details vary from program to program, participants will be required to complete coursework, engage in student teaching and pass the Praxis Series educator examinations. Generally, to qualify for an alternative licensure program, you must hold a bachelor's degree in a field that is experiencing a critical shortage of Wisconsin teachers. As of 2011, general science, computer science, math and languages are experiencing teacher shortages in Wisconsin.
To view a comprehensive list of approved alternative programs, visit the Department of Public Instruction website. - Applications are available for download and printing from the Department of Public Instruction website. To complete a license application, you must obtain an endorsement of your character and competency from the certifying officer of your university or alternative program. In some cases, you may be required to submit fingerprints. Application processing may take up to 16 weeks.