Wisconsin Teacher Certification

How to Become a Teacher in Wisconsin

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) offers two levels of Wisconsin teacher certification: an initial educator license and a professional educator license. The Department of Public Instruction issues an initial educator license to those who have completed a teacher preparation program; it is valid for up to five years. To obtain a professional educator license a teacher is required to show at least three years of full year employment in the license category and successfully complete their professional development plan.

Spotlight School

Liberty University

Popular Programs:

• AA in Education (Non-Licensure)
• M.Ed. - Teaching and Learning
• M.Ed. - Program Specialist in Early Childhood Specialist
• M.Ed Teaching and Learning-Middle Grades
• And more...

Wisconsin Teacher Education Requirements

As with most states, the most direct route to Wisconsin teaching certification is the traditional one: graduation from a state-approved teacher education program in Wisconsin. However, when the DPI issues a license, they can do so “with stipulations”, which most often includes continuing education requirements. To be eligible for a license without stipulations, the applicant simply has to complete the required coursework within the 5-year time that the license is valid, and then he or she can be issued a new license.

One educational requirement for moving from an initial license to a professional educator license is the professional development plan (PDP). This process ensures that teachers continue to grow and develop as professionals, and the renewal (and upgrade) of their teaching certificate is based on the completion of the PDP, and an evaluation of it by the state.

Profiles of Well Known Schools

Marquette University: Marquette University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The University is dedicated to developing servant leaders who are able to lead future generations by investing in them. Marquette’s College of Education houses undergraduate and graduate programs, three research centers and more. The undergraduate education is a key focus of the college. Freshmen are able to take education courses during their first year helping them to decide if the program is a good fit for them. Students are also able to participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities and organizations to enrich their learning experience as well as get practical experience working in real-world educational settings by observing and doing the functions of a particular job.

Wisconsin Teacher Testing Requirements

To obtain teacher certification in Wisconsin, applicants have to show their basic skills in reading, writing, and math through the Praxis I exam. After that, applicants must show their competence in teaching by taking the Praxis II exam. Applicants should take the Praxis II Subject Assessment, an exam in the content area in which they seeking certification. This exam primarily assesses an applicant’s knowledge of content in their proposed certification area, as well as some teaching pedagogy.

Wisconsin Teacher Salary and Jobs

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.

Wisconsin Teacher Interview

Interview with Heather Mathews, Wisconsin Fourth Grade Teacher

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Wisconsin

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

The University of Texas at Arlington

Popular Programs:

• Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Math
• Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Literacy

California University of Pennsylvania

Popular Programs:

• Early Childhood Education (Certification Only)
• Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
• MA in Teaching: Advanced Studies in Secondary Education- National Board Preparation
• Superintendent Letter of Eligibility (SLE)
• And more...

Penn Foster Schools

Popular Programs:

• Teacher Aide

Western Governors University

Popular Programs:

• M.A. Teaching (K-8)
• Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
• B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
• M.A. Teaching - Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
• And more...

DeVry University

Popular Programs:

• Master's-Education
• Graduate Certificate-Management of Education Corporation/Corporate Training Divisions
• Graduate Certificate-Education Leadership
• Graduate Certificate-Curriculum Leadership

Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Teacher in Wisconsin

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

Answer: To work as a substitute teacher in Wisconsin, you need to get a permit from the state Department of Public Instruction. To get the permit, you must have a college degree from an accredited institution, have a school district sponsor you, and take an appropriate substitute training class.

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Wisconsin

Alverno College
3400 S 43rd St
Milwaukee, WI 53234-3922
(414) 382-6000
www.alverno.edu/prospective_students/pro_stu_index.html

Beloit College
700 College St
Beloit, WI 53511-5595
(608) 363-2000
www.beloit.edu/admissions/

Cardinal Stritch University
6801 N Yates Rd
Milwaukee, WI 53217-3985
(414) 410-4000

Carthage College
2001 Alford Park Dr
Kenosha, WI 53140-1994
(262) 551-8500
www.carthage.edu/admissions/

Chippewa Valley Technical College
620 W Clairemont Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701-6162
(715) 833-6200
www.cvtc.edu/pages/170.asp

Concordia University-Wisconsin
12800 N Lake Shore Dr
Mequon, WI 53097-2402
(262) 243-5700

Edgewood College
1000 Edgewood College Drive
Madison, WI 53711-1997
(608) 663-4861
www.edgewood.edu/prospective/default.aspx

Gateway Technical College
3520 30th Ave
Kenosha, WI 53144-1690
(262) 564-2200

Lakeland College
W3718 South Drive
Plymouth, WI 53073
(920) 565-2111

Lawrence University
College Ave
Appleton, WI 54912
(920) 832-7000
www.lawrence.edu/admissions/

Marian University-Wisconsin
45 S National Ave
Fond Du Lac, WI 54935-4699
(920) 923-7600
www.marianuniversity.edu/interior.asp?id=48

Marquette University
615 N 11th St
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 288-7710
www.marquette.edu/student/

Milwaukee Area Technical College
700 W State St
Milwaukee, WI 53233-1443
(414) 297-6370
matc.edu/student/newstudent/admissions.html

Moraine Park Technical College
235 N National Avenue
Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1940
(920) 922-8611
www.morainepark.edu/pages/219.asp

Mount Mary College
2900 N. Menomonee River Pky
Milwaukee, WI 53222-4597
(414) 258-4810
mtmary.edu/admissions.htm

Northcentral Technical College
1000 Campus Dr
Wausau, WI 54401-1899
(715) 675-3331

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
2740 W Mason St
Green Bay, WI 54307-9042
(920) 498-5400
www.nwtc.edu/Admissions/Default.htm

Northland Baptist Bible College
W10085 Pike Plains Rd
Dunbar, WI 54119-9285
(715) 324-6900
vip.nbbc.edu/

Northland College
1411 Ellis Avenue
Ashland, WI 54806-3999
(715) 682-1699
www.northland.edu/admissions-overview.htm

Saint Norbert College
100 Grant St
De Pere, WI 54115-2099
(920) 337-3181
www.snc.edu/futurestudents/

Student Review: “I found the education program at my school to be extremely beneficial. The program allowed us to get out into the classrooms during our sophomore year which was very helpful in assuring me that this was the field that I wanted to get into. Also, the program had fantastic technology that also enabled us to learn in creative different ways. For example, we had a program during our freshman year that gave us a simulated classroom. The class sizes were small and our professors always encouraged us to ask questions as needed. Due to this my cohort became very close and it really felt like a family. After all of my student teaching I felt very comfortable and confidant in my skills as a teacher. I do not perceive finding a job to be difficult after this experience. I highly encourage others to take part in this program!” -Shea M., student at Saint Norbert College

Silver Lake College
2406 S Alverno Rd
Manitowoc, WI 54220-9319
(920) 684-6691

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
105 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
(715) 836-2637
www.uwec.edu/admissions/

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
1725 State St
La Crosse, WI 54601-9959
(608) 785-8000
www.uwlax.edu/admissions/

University of Wisconsin-Madison
500 Lincoln Dr
Madison, WI 53706-1380
(608) 262-1234
www.wisc.edu/admissions/

Student Review: “Attending UW Madison was an enlightening experience for me. It’s a big school, and I think that I wasn’t alone in feeling a little anonymous there for a few months. However, there are so many excellent opportunities and intelligent people that you can find your niche there, no matter what you’re into. You just have to take initiative and look for it. The same goes for the quality of the education you receive there – it all depends on what you make of your opportunities. If you want to goof off, you can slide by with minimal effort (depending on your major). But you can also take thousands of advanced classes taught by world-class faculty (many grad classes are open to undergrads), participate in highly active student orgs, conduct research alongside famous scientists and study abroad almost anywhere in the world. The city is also a gem: full of museums, restaurants, bars, music and political activism that is uncommon among other cities its size. The people are friendly, don’t take themselves too seriously, and love a good beer on the lakefront.” -Andrea S., student at University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2200 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413
(414) 229-1122
www4.uwm.edu/des/admission/

Student Review: “My experiences at UWM have been very good. I started my journey there 13 years ago to begin my quest to be a teacher. I was given the tools I needed to get my first teaching job before I had even graduated. The school was very pleased with the types of classes that I had been taking and were very excited about me joining their team. The professors at UWM were very strict when it came to meeting deadlines on required work and projects but were always willing to offer extra assistance whenever I needed it. They made my time in the program very worthwhile. My advisors also played a vital role, informing me of what classes I needed and the expectations for each. They also provided me with the necessary motivation to keep my goals in sight. I don’t feel like any of my classes were useless because I still continue to implement some of the techniques that I learned. I am glad to be able to attend this university and I would recommend it to anyone planning to become a teacher.” -Javon A., student at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Student Review: “The teacher education program at UW-Milwaukee was an exceptional experience that prepared me well for the demands of being an elementary/middle school teacher. The most influential aspect of this program is the actual field experience set up by the University. The actual program occurs over 4 semesters, and in addition to your final semester which consists of student teaching, you also get placed at a different school each of the previous 3 semesters to observe and practice lessons. The university staff is also superb in guiding prospective teachers through the program. They take a social justice approach with an urban education emphasis; all of which prepares you well for interviewing and working in inner-city schools. Lastly, the additional instructors hired to teach content classes (i.e. math, reading, science, social studies) are actual current teachers from local districts who bring a refreshing and up to date perspective on curriculum and instruction in their subject areas.” -Jonathan M., student at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-1234
admissions.uwosh.edu/

University of Wisconsin-Platteville
1 University Plz
Platteville, WI 53818-3001
(608) 342-1421
www.uwplatt.edu/admission.html

University of Wisconsin-River Falls
410 S 3rd St
River Falls, WI 54022
(715) 425-3913
www.uwrf.edu/admissions/

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Main St
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 346-4301
www.uwsp.edu/admissions/

Student Review: “The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point is an excellent school for just about any person. The school has a big college feel in a fairly small town. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and the campus does a great job of letting Wisconsin’s natural beauty engulf the area. UWSP campus is connected to a Wildlife Reserve that takes up two thirds of the campus. This reserve not only has 26 miles of scenic walking but also employees many students every year. The buildings have a modern feel to them as most of them are newly built. Possibly the only down side to this school is that class sizes can often be large. They aren’t huge, but they usually have around eighty students which is larger than some schools. The professors have a true passion for their work and try very hard to teach their students to the best of their abilities.” -Dustin G., student at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 232-1431
admissions.uwstout.edu/

University of Wisconsin-Superior
Belknap & Catlin
Superior, WI 54880-4500
(715) 394-8101
www.uwsuper.edu/admissions/

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
800 W Main St
Whitewater, WI 53190-1790
(262) 472-1234
www.uww.edu/admissions/

Viterbo University
900 Viterbo Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601-8804
(608) 796-3000
www.viterbo.edu/admission.aspx?id=12802

Waukesha County Technical College
800 Main Street
Pewaukee, WI 53072-4601
(262) 691-5566

Western Technical College-La Crosse
400 Seventh St. North
La Crosse, WI 54602-0908
(608) 785-9200
www.westerntc.edu

Wisconsin Lutheran College
8800 West Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226

Student Review: “Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI had a terrific teaching program. Although the school is very small with only 1,000 students, the small class sizes and one-on-one time with advisors and professors really created a great atmosphere. From freshmen year, the teaching program requires you to have clinical hours teaching at area public schools. By the time you graduate, you feel fully prepared to go into a classroom and teach since you had clinical experiences every semester of your schooling. The college’s program also specializes in urban education—preparing teachers to teach in Milwaukee’s struggling schools. I was able to travel to Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Chicago to observe high-performing schools and take from their programs. As a senior, I received an internship that allowed me to get paid during my student teaching. The only aspect of the program that was difficult was the large homework load. The amount of papers, lesson plans, and projects was very demanding causing many sleepless nights.” -Elizabeth B., student at Wisconsin Lutheran College

Page edited by Charles Sipe.