NBPTS Certification and
Wisconsin Teacher Licensing

NBPTS CERTIFICATION AND TEACHER LICENSING ARE NOT THE SAME

Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards does NOT authorize a kind of "national teaching license." NBPTS certification has certain value in most states but must be correlated with Wisconsin's licensing regulations. Certifications issued by the NBPTS do not correspond completely with Wisconsin's authorized licenses and levels. The department can only issue education licenses that are cited in state law and rule.

WISCONSIN LICENSING OPTIONS FOR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS (NBCTs)

In order to use an NBPTS certificate to renew or obtain a Wisconsin teaching license (regular or Master Educator), an NBCT must have completed an approved teacher education program and meet all the requirements of PI 34, Wisconsin Administrative Code, including statutory requirements in s. 118.19, Wis. Stats.

LICENSE RENEWAL

Wisconsin honors the professionalism demonstrated by teachers who engage with and complete the NBPTS Certification process. The professional development that occurs for the NBPTS Candidate is of significant value to pupils, schools, and the teaching profession. To recognize the importance of this professional development

• DPI may waive the usual 5-year license renewal requirements of 6 professional education credits or 180 equivalency clock hours for teachers who "apply for and complete the process for National Board certification," whether they obtain certification or not.
• The National Board defines "completion of the process to be only official confirmation of your score report." Typically, you do not receive this notification until November or December. Therefore, you could use the NBPTS process completion to renew your licenses within the five years following your score report notification.
• NBPTS candidates may apply for renewal of all their regular (professional stage) education licenses based on having completed the NBPTS process within the 5 years preceding renewal. Timing Issue:  If you complete the NBPTS process in the same year as you are renewing your license(s), see below for information on obtaining a 1 year extension until the NBPTS sends you official notification of completion.

To renew education licenses based on completing the NBPTS process,

1. complete the PI-1602-5R - 5 year renewal license application form;
2. indicate on the form that you are using the NBPTS process in lieu of credits/clock hours; and
3. attach a copy of the score report notification letter received from the NBPTS.
   
   Note:  If you have not received the score report notification letter yet, because you completed the NBPTS certification process in the same year as you are applying for July 1 renewal, use the PI-1602-5R form to apply for a "1 year extension of 5 year licenses." Include a note that you are in the process of the NBPTS certification. When you receive official notification from the NBPTS of your scores (in November or December), send a copy of the notification letter to:
   DPI Teacher Licensing, PO Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841. DPI will reissue your license, at no cost to you, as a Master Educator license (if you have obtained your NBPTS certificate) or renew your license(s) for five years (if you completed the process but did not obtain the NBPTS certificate).

If you are renewing 5 year licenses AND, in addition, applying for a Master Educator license based on NBPTS certification, you can apply for the Master Educator license and renew other regular 5-year licenses with the same PI-1602-5R application form and fee.

MASTER EDUCATOR LICENSE (MEL)

When the teacher becomes National Board Certified he or she may apply for a 10-year Master Educator License from the department.

• The Master Educator License is only issued for the regular (professional level) Wisconsin license(s) that the NBCT holds that corresponds in field and level to the National Board Certificate.
• A 5 year license with stipulations does not qualify as a "regular" license. Stipulations must be removed prior to applying for the Master Educator license.
• Application for the MEL can be made upon obtaining NBPTS Certification or at any time within the 10 year effective date of the NBPTS certificate.
• NBCTs apply for the Master Educator license using the PI-1602-5R application form. A copy of your NBPTS certificate or score report letter must be attached to your application.
• Pursuant to rule, the effective dates of the Master Educator license must coincide with the effective dates of the NBPTS certificate. Therefore, regardless of when the NBCT applies for the Master Educator license, its duration will not exceed the effective dates of the NBPTS certificate. Consequently, the duration of the MEL may be fewer than 10 years, dependent on when the NBCT applies for it.
• An educator holding a MEL is exempt from meeting the 6 credit professional education or PDP requirements as long as the NBPTS certificate is effective.

Return to Wisconsin process.

For questions about this information, contact Charlene M. Koci (608) 267-9215

Last updated on 3/3/2008 9:31:50 AM