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Minnesota Teacher Certification and Career Guide

Prospective teachers in Minnesota K-12 public schools must hold teacher certification. The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) oversees the Minnesota teacher certification process. The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in Minnesota

This section covers the traditional steps to teacher certification in Minnesota. Minnesota uses a tiered system for educator licensure. For traditionally prepared teachers, the licensing structure typically starts at Tier 3:

  • Tier 3 License (3-year): For candidates with a bachelor’s degree who have completed a Minnesota teacher preparation program.
  • Tier 4 License (5-year): For candidates who qualify for a Tier 3 License and have three years of experience.

Professionals who have a bachelor’s degree but did not complete traditional teacher preparation may be eligible for alternative teacher certification in Minnesota.

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

Prospective Minnesota teachers must complete a bachelor’s degree and an educator preparation program from a college or university approved by the state. The bachelor’s degree major will depend on the grade level and subject to be taught. A list of approved programs that qualify graduates for licensure in Minnesota is available through the PELSB.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Minnesota 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 teacher preparation program, you will complete a minimum of 12 weeks of full-time student teaching. You will be paired with a cooperating teacher who holds a Tier 3 or Tier 4 license and a provider supervisor while you practice teaching in the classroom and receive feedback. The student teaching experience should be at the grade level and in the subject you wish to teach. Some programs may offer longer or multiple student teaching placements.

3. Pass the required Minnesota teacher exams.

Minnesota State SealTeacher candidates applying for Tier 3 or Tier 4 Licenses in Minnesota who have completed an approved teacher preparation program are no longer required to pass content or pedagogy exams.

4. Apply for Minnesota teacher certification.

Once all of the requirements for Minnesota teacher certification are met, candidates must submit an application for a teaching license on the online licensing system. Along with your application, you should include:

  • Completed fingerprint cards for background check
  • Official transcripts showing proof of bachelor’s degree
  • Proof of program completion at an approved teacher preparation school
  • License processing fee

Contact the PELSB for further information on teaching certification in Minnesota.

5. Upgrade your license.

After you have worked for three years as a teacher in your field, you are eligible to move from a Tier 3 to a Tier 4 License. To do so, you must submit a paper application along with:

  • License processing fee
  • Verification of completion of state-approved teacher preparation program
  • Verification of three years of field-specific teaching experience as a teacher of record

The application for additional licenses and instructions can be found on the PELSB website.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

Minnesota Teacher Certification Renewal

To renew a Tier 3 or Tier 4 License in Minnesota, you will need to complete clock hours of professional development. Tier 3 renewal requires 75 clock hours within each three-year period preceding the renewal and Tier 4 renewal requires 125 clock hours within each five-year period preceding the renewal. All hours must be approved through the local school district’s continuing education committee. The clock hours must include training in positive behavioral intervention strategies, reading preparation, key warning signs for early-onset mental illness, suicide prevention, English learners, cultural competency, and American Indiana history and culture.

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. To add a subject area to an existing license, teachers should connect with a teacher preparation program who can review their prior coursework and help you make a plan of study to add the new field. Candidates must apply using the paper application corresponding to their tier. In most cases, applicants should use a Tier 3 application. Read more about applying for an additional license on the PESLB website.

Minnesota Teaching License Reciprocity

Out-of-state license holders with at least two years of teaching experience in their content area who have completed a state-approved teacher preparation program with at least 12 weeks of student teaching and passed their state exams are eligible to apply for a Tier 3 license in Minnesota without having to take the Minnesota licensure tests. The initial license can be applied for via the online licensing system. You should include a copy of your out-of-state license with your application.

In addition to teaching licenses, Minnesota also offers related credentials for support professionals and administrators.

  • School Counselor License: Requires a master’s degree in school counseling and the completion of a state-approved or Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Services (CACREP) approved preparation program.
  • School Psychologist License: Requires the completion of a school psychology program accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) or have the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential from NASP.
  • Superintendent License: Administrative license requiring a master’s degree and the completion of an administrator preparation program of 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree and three years of experience.

Most licenses in these categories require a master’s degree and the compilation of an approved preparation program in the subject area. For more information, review the related services page and the school administrators website.

Minnesota Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

3.9%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in MN through 20322*

During the 2017-2018 school year, there were 2,525 K-12 public schools operating in Minnesota with an estimated student enrollment of 884,944.3 There were 57,259 public school teachers during this time frame, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1.3

Educator job prospects through 2032 are stronger in Minnesota than the expected national averages, with job growth for preschool teachers projected at 11.7% compared to 3.4% nationally; for Minnesota middle school teachers, 3.8% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for secondary school teachers, 4.1% compared to 1.0% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Minnesota teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in MN4Average Annual Openings in MN2MN Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in MN425th Percentile Wages in MN575th Percentile Wages in MN5
Preschool Teachers10,8601,31011.7%$41,670$36,600$43,570
Preschool Teachers, Special Education1,5301203%$71,120$60,840$84,650
Kindergarten Teachers2,5102804%$68,860$52,410$81,580
Elementary School Teachers23,9101,7403.8%$67,250$50,090$80,010
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education3,1702202.8%$66,250$51,550$77,530
Middle School Teachers9,7507303.8%$68,710$50,830$79,730
Middle School Teachers, Special Education2,020——$68,030$58,050$78,000
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education160100%$79,660$63,720$95,750
Secondary School Teachers19,1801,2904.1%$70,170$52,560$80,510
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education4,990——$70,370$53,520$81,300
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education810502.4%$71,770$57,000$84,070

*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 Minnesota

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2023-2024, Minnesota broadly had the following shortages:

According to recent research, there were over 946 teacher vacancies in Minnesota during the 2023-2024 school year.7 A further 3,292 teachers in the state were considered underqualified for their position during the 2021-2022 school year, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.7

Additional Resources

Related Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do I become a substitute teacher in Minnesota?

Answer: Substitute teachers in Minnesota who do not have a Tier 1-4 Teaching License must have a Short-Call Substitute Teaching License or a Lifetime Substitute License. A bachelor’s degree or enrollment in a teacher preparation program and the completion of student teaching is required to become a Short-Call Substitute. This license is valid for three years. Lifetime Substitute Teaching Licenses are only for retired educators.

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

Answer: According to the latest statistics available, as of the 2019-20 school year, there were 521 private schools in Minnesota, with 6,566 full-time teachers and 71,734 students.8 Minnesota law does not require private school teachers to be licensed, but they must meet one of the following criteria: hold a valid Minnesota teaching license for their grade level and subject area; be directly supervised by a licensed Minnesota teacher; complete a teacher competency examination; provide instruction in a school that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the commissioner; hold a bachelor’s degree; or be the parent of a child whose performance is assessed each year. Some private schools may prefer to hire teachers with state credentials. Check with schools in your area to confirm requirements.

References:
1. Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board: https://mn.gov/pelsb/
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, Minnesota: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mn.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