Minnesota Teacher License

Being a teacher is one of the hardest and most important professions in the world. Above all, as a teacher you can play a very important role in preparing the whole generation for life. So, if you are taking that risk and thinking to become a teacher, firstly you will need to obtain a teacher’s license. Find out how to become a teacher in Minnesota and how to apply for your license. Moreover, learn how to use MN teacher license or MN teaching license lookup tools to check the validity of the license.

How do I get certified to teach in Minnesota?

Minnesota was considered to be one of the hardest states to get a teacher license. But, recently several changes are done to make the process more flexible and straightforward. As a result, for your license now you should apply to the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. As an initial teacher license you can apply for one of those: Temporary license, which is valid for one year, or First Professional license. And, this one is valid for five years.

In short, after the changes, new four tier certification system was implemented. It will help you to start your teaching career after graduation.

The Tier 1 and Tier 2 requirements

To earn the Tier 1 teaching license, you must have a bachelor’s degree. But, the most important thing is that you should have a job offer from a school, and proof that no teacher holding a Tier 2, Tier 3 or Tier 4 license applied for that position. You can renew your Tier 1 license three times.

For Tier 2 license you should have a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a teacher preparation program or in master’s degree program. Moreover, you can obtain the license if you have one of the followings:

• Completion certificate of a teacher preparation program, eight upper-division credits in your subject area, certificate from a training in subject-specific teaching methods, passing scores on state tests, at least two years of teaching experience.
• You can renew your Tier 2 license three times.
• The Tier 3 and Tier 4 requirements

Tier 3 and Tier 4 requirements

If you have completed one of the followings, you can apply for the Tier 3 license, which you can renew as much as you wish and is valid for three years.

• Graduation from a teacher preparation program approved by the state of Minnesota,
• Graduation out of state teacher preparation program, which meets Minnesota standards,
• Have at least three years of experience with Tier 2 license,
• Or, 2 years of teaching experience out of state.

And, Tier 4 license requirements include all the three Tiers requirements. For example, the bachelor’s degree is a must. Moreover, you should complete a teacher preparation program, get a passing scores on content and pedagogy assessments and the state-approved skills exam. And, in addition three years of Minnesota teaching experience and a recent summative evaluation with no indication of improvement.

Steps to apply for the Minnesota Teacher license

After graduating from a university and obtaining the bachelor’s degree, you can apply to the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board for your license.

Firstly, to the Board you should submit your diploma and official transcript.

Secondly, the results of a national criminal background check by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI.

Thirdly, depending on the license type certificate from a stat approved teacher preparation program and assessments, and exam scores.

Depending on the license type, the cost for your Minnesota teacher license will be around $90. And the renewal fee will be around $64.

How long does it take to get a teaching credential in Minnesota?

To teach in Minnesota you can’t without a Minnesota teacher license. To learn how to obtain a license you can search Minnesota teacher license lookup in the search box of the website.
The minimum requirements for the Minnesota teacher license include a bachelor’s degree. And, it will take at least four year to graduate.

But, after submitting your documents, you will need to wait a month. If you are applying for an initial license, the 30-day timeframe beings when PESLB receives the results of your completed background check. Once your license has been issued, you will receive an email from PELSB with your licensure information.

Can you teach in Minnesota without a credential?

In the public schools of the state of Minnesota, you cannot teach without a credential or a license. You must have at least a bachelor’s degree. But, you can search for a job in the private schools. There can be schools where you can teach without a credential. But, in general, it is impossible to become a teacher and work without a license or credential.