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Wisconsin Teacher Certification and Career Guide

Teacher licensure is required to work as a teacher in Wisconsin’s public K-12 school system. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) oversees the licensing process, which is outlined below to help you learn how to become a teacher in Wisconsin. The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Wisconsin are:

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component.
  2. Complete a student teaching placement.
  3. Pass the required teacher certification exams.
  4. Apply for a teaching certificate or license.
  5. Upgrade your license.

Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in Wisconsin.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in Wisconsin

The following steps detail the traditional pathway to teacher licensure in Wisconsin. Wisconsin uses a tiered licensing structure for teachers:

  • Provisional Educator License (3-year): Requires completion of a bachelor’s degree, a teacher preparation program, and passing scores on the required educator exams.
  • Lifetime Educator License (Lifetime): Requires completion of at least six semesters of teaching at the provisional license level.
  • Master Educator License (Lifetime): Requires certification through the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) or completion of the Wisconsin Master Educator Assessment Process (WMEAP).

Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree but did not complete a teacher preparation program may be eligible for alternative teacher certification in Wisconsin.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program.

As with most states, the most direct route to a Wisconsin teaching license is graduation from a bachelor’s degree program that includes a state-approved educator preparation program (EPP) at an accredited school. To find an approved program, prospective teachers should refer to the state’s approved EPPs list. After you have completed the EPP, the school will endorse you for a Wisconsin license.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Wisconsin schools page. You can also read about two important accreditations to consider, institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation, on our teaching schools guide.

2. Complete a student teaching placement.

As part of your program, you’ll spend a full semester immersed in a student teaching placement, where you’ll work closely with an experienced teacher and gain hands-on classroom experience. This internship, often referred to as student teaching, is typically a full-time commitment. To ensure you meet state certification requirements, your placement should be in the grade level and subject you plan to teach. Some programs may provide extended placements or offer the chance to experience more than one teaching environment.

3. Pass the required Wisconsin teacher exams.

wisconsin-state-sealTo obtain teacher certification in Wisconsin, applicants must demonstrate competence in their subject area. There are several DPI-approved methods of measuring competency, which vary by EPP. Candidates may therefore have to pass one or more of the following assessments:

  • Pass the related Praxis Subject Test (administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) or the ACTFL World Language Tests (for teachers of world languages)
  • Have a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better in their content or license area
  • Complete a content-based portfolio designed by the EPP

In addition, teachers seeking endorsements in early childhood, elementary education, or special education and reading teachers and reading specialists must take and pass the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test (FORT). Check with your EPP for more details.

4. Apply for Wisconsin teacher certification.

Once the requirements have been met, candidates must apply to the DPI. The application should include:

  • Official transcripts
  • Proof of completion of the EPP
  • Proof of passing scores on the required examinations
  • Fingerprint based background check
  • Payment of non-refundable certification processing fee

Applications must be submitted through the online Educator Licensing Online (ELO) system. The department recommends that all documents be scanned as a single file for easy uploading to the system. Visit the DPI website for further details on teaching certification in Wisconsin.

5. Upgrade your license, if desired.

Once you have taught under a Provisional License for at least six semesters, you are eligible to move to a Lifetime License. You can upgrade your license to a Lifetime License on ELO when you have met the requirements.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

Wisconsin Teacher Certification Renewal

Licenses are effective July 1 of the year of issuance. To renew a Provisional License, you will request reissuance of the license and pay the fee on ELO. No professional development is required to reissue a license.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once you receive your teaching certificate, you will only be eligible to work as a teacher in the grade levels and certification areas listed on your certificate, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. Wisconsin teachers can add a license subject to their existing license by completing an approved EPP or taking the related content area test. To find the content test required for your license area, review the Grades K-12 and Grades 4-12 content test lists. Some subject areas also require work experience. Teachers adding a subject area through the content test pathway can apply via the ELO by uploading a copy of their score reports. You can learn more about how to add a license on the DPI website.

Wisconsin Teaching License Reciprocity

Wisconsin offers various pathways for out-of-state applicants. Teachers with a valid teaching license from another state who have taught for at least one year can apply for a Wisconsin license by creating an ELO account and submitting:

  • A copy of your valid teaching license
  • Official transcripts
  • Employment verification form
  • Any additional paperwork
  • Fingerprint based background check
  • Payment of non-refundable certification processing fee

Out-of-state teachers who have not taught for at least one year can apply but must also submit transcripts and test scores in addition to the other documents. You can read more about Wisconsin licensure for out-of-state teachers on the DPI website.

In addition to teaching licenses, Wisconsin also offers other education-related licenses for administrators and support staff:

  • Principal License: Administrator License for principals requiring a master’s degree, related state-approved EPP, valid or eligibility to hold a Professional Educator License in teaching or pupil services, and three years of full-time classroom teaching experience or the equivalent.
  • Reading Specialist License: Administrator License for those directing reading programs, requiring a master’s degree, related state-approved EPP, valid or eligibility to hold a Professional Educator License in teaching or pupil services, and three years of full-time classroom teaching experience or the equivalent.
  • School Counselor License: Pupil Services License requiring a master’s degree with specialized coursework and a practicum/internship in school counseling.

Read more about these licenses and others on the Administrator Licenses and Pupil Services Licenses pages.

Wisconsin Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

4.5%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in WI through 20322*

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) about the 2017-2018 school year reported 2,261 operational schools in Wisconsin.3 Within those schools, there were approximately 58.597 teachers and 860,753 students, with an overall student-teacher ratio of nearly 15:1.3

Overall, job projections for teachers in Wisconsin through 2032 are better than national averages. Job growth for Wisconsin elementary teachers is expected to be 4.6%, compared to 0.7% nationally; for Wisconsin middle school teachers, 4.7% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for high school teachers, 4.9% compared to 1% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Wisconsin teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in WI4Average Annual Openings in WI2WI Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in WI425th Percentile Wages in WI575th Percentile Wages in WI5
Preschool Teachers9,7001,1902%$31,980$28,080$36,010
Preschool Teachers, Special Education270203.1%$57,970$46,020$65,200
Kindergarten Teachers1,9502603.9%$55,320$46,870$62,300
Elementary School Teachers26,7102,3104.6%$60,960$48,100$72,960
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education3,3402803.5%$59,000$48,880$64,970
Middle School Teachers12,9101,1204.7%$59,610$48,680$64,420
Middle School Teachers, Special Education1,520——$56,710$47,580$63,730
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education320305.3%$64,300$56,640$74,470
Secondary School Teachers16,6401,3404.9%$62,500$49,340$74,980
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education2,160——$60,080$48,690$67,640
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education1,130903.7%$63,820$58,140$74,270

*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.

Teacher Shortages in Wisconsin

Like most states, Wisconsin is facing teacher shortages in several areas. According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2023-2024, Wisconsin broadly has the following shortages:

In addition to these shortages, Wisconsin had 2,565 unfilled positions during the 2021-2022 school year.7 Furthermore, over 3,732 teachers in the state were considered underqualified for their assignment, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.7

Additional Resources

Wisconsin Teacher Interview

Related Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How can I become a substitute teacher in Wisconsin?

Answer: To work as a substitute teacher in Wisconsin, you must have a license from the state DPI. A Three-Year Short-Term Substitute License requires candidates to have an associate’s degree from an accredited institution and to have completed an approved substitute teacher training program. A Five-Year Substitute License requires a bachelor’s degree and the completion of an approved teacher preparation program. Once licensed, subs can teach in any Wisconsin school district.

Question: How many private schools and private school teachers are there in Wisconsin?

Answer: Wyoming has 890 private schools, according to NCES data from the 2019-2020 school year.8 Within those schools there were 11,412 full-time teachers and 128,987 students.8 There are no statewide certification standards for private school teachers in Wisconsin, but individual schools may prefer teachers with a valid teaching certificate. Private schools participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) or the Parental Private School Choice Program (PPSCP) voucher programs are required to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school.

References:
1. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: https://dpi.wi.gov/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Wisconsin: https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
6. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports
7. Teacher Shortages in the United States, Tuan D. Nguyen et al.: https://teachershortages.com/
8. National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey, 2019-20: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/TABLE15fl1920.asp