Frequently Asked Questions

Initial Wisconsin Licensure - Out-of-State Applicants

Wisconsin is continually talking about completion of an "approved program" being required for licensure. What does this mean?

An approved program is a professional education program developed and offered by a four-year institution of higher education that grants at least a bachelor's degree and is approved by the state superintendent. If in another state, the program must be offered at a four-year institution of higher education and must meet the criteria outlined at Wisconsin Licensure for Out-of-State Educators page.

I come from another state, what information should I know about getting licensed in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin issues licenses if your educator preparation program is comparable to an approved program offered in Wisconsin in development level, subject, degree level and if offered at an institution of higher education that offers at least a bachelor's degree. You must verify you are eligible for a license in the state where you completed your educator training, including all testing requirements.

How does DPI know if I completed a state-approved program?

The PI-1602-OS license application for educators prepared outside Wisconsin includes the PI-1612 Institutional Endorsement form, in which the certifying officer at your college verifies you completed their state-approved program. They should only endorse your application based on the program you completed at their college/university. If you completed a second program at another college, you need the certifying officer from that college to also verify you completed a license program with a PI-1612 Institutional Endorsement form. Note: This form also gives us the information we need about your practicum/student teaching placement(s) and results on any required test(s).

Once you receive my complete application/endorsement, how do I know what license I will receive in Wisconsin?

Until we do a full review, we cannot determine exactly what license you will receive in Wisconsin. As stated earlier, we base licensure on completion of a comparable state-approved program, so we will try to give you the most comparable Wisconsin license based on the endorsement from your approved program.

I am currently enrolled in a teacher education program in another state. I will be moving to Wisconsin and want to teach there. When should I apply for a Wisconsin educator license?

You must wait until you have completed the approved program, including all tests required for the license in the state in which you are completing the state-approved program. Once you finish, you can download the PI-1602-OS application packet from our website and fill it out. Please remember to also request fingerprint cards. Fingerprint cards must be mailed to you.

How long will it take before I am issued a license?

We will post the date we received your application on our license database within three weeks. Because we receive so many applications there will be a delay between when we get your application and when you are actually issued the license. There could be further delay if you send in an incomplete application. It is extremely important that you make sure that you have filled out the application completely and have sent required verification forms to your colleges and employers. All transcripts submitted must be original, but do not need to be in a sealed envelope.

Does it matter if I have a license from the state where I graduated?

In most cases we license based on completion of a state approved program, not based on licensure in another state. However, IF you completed an approved program in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma or South Dakota it will help if you are licensed in that state because we have an exchange agreement with these states. The agreement means that if you graduated from their state-approved program and have a valid/current license in that state, you will likely have fewer stipulations (course work that you must make up) noted on your Wisconsin license. In these cases you should send us a copy of your license from the exchange state. If your license from the exchange state hasn't been issued yet, you can apply for Wisconsin licensure and send us a copy of that license once you receive it. Note, until you complete all test(s) required in the state in which you completed your state-approved teacher education program, you are not eligible for a license in the state of Wisconsin.

I received my teacher training through the Department of Education of the state I currently live in. It required me to take courses/workshops, but I was not in what Wisconsin considers a state-approved teacher education program since I was not working directly with a teacher education college/university. Can I be licensed in Wisconsin?

Unfortunately the answer is no, unless a regionally accredited four year degree-granting college will endorse that the training you completed was the equivalent to their approved program. It may be worth your time to investigate what it would take for you to complete a state-approved teacher education program (based on what you've done already) in that state or in another state. Just be sure that if you are interested in being an English teacher for example, that the college you contact has a state-approved program for English education.

Related Resources

More Information for Out-of-State Applicants
Application Processing Timeline
Fingerprint Cards

Return to FAQs - Choose a Licensing Topic

For questions about this information, contact licensing@dpi.wi.gov (608) 266-1027

Last updated on 6/9/2011 8:21:19 AM