Wisconsin Licensure for Out-of-State* Educators

(*Graduates of Non-Wisconsin Educator Preparation Programs - including out-of-state on-line educator preparation programs)

Important Notes:

Educators who only want to complete on-line course work to satisfy the professional growth requirement for license renewal (as opposed to an on-line educator preparation program) should reference the Semester Credit Renewal Option.

Educators who live outside Wisconsin but completed a Wisconsin educator preparation program should reference the appropriate link below.

• If you were never licensed in Wisconsin, see FAQs - Wisconsin Program Completers Never Licensed in Wisconsin.
• If you were licensed in Wisconsin in the past, see License Renewal for information on renewing/reactivating your license.

BASIS OF WISCONSIN LICENSURE FOR NON-WISCONSIN PROGRAM COMPLETERS

The department grants licenses to applicants who complete educator preparation programs outside of Wisconsin, including on-line programs, if the preparation program completed meets the following criteria:

• Offered by an institution of higher education that grants at least a bachelor's degree and is regionally accredited;
• Offers a license program in a field for which Wisconsin has a license and rules;
• Has comparable degree and teaching major/minor requirements to those prescribed by Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 34 and is equivalent in content and scope to approved programs offered by Wisconsin institutions.
• Is approved in accordance with the statutes and administrative rules of the state in which the campus headquarters are located.
• Qualifies the program completer for regular licensure in the state in which the campus headquarters are located. Please note: if the testing requirements are different from Wisconsin, the applicant must complete both states' testing requirements. If the same test is required in the state where the campus is headquartered, the results of that test may be used if the higher cut score (of either state) is achieved.

If the preparation program meets the above criteria, the applicant may submit a PI-1602-OS license application for evaluation to the DPI.

* Regional accreditation is provided by associations of schools and colleges. There are six recognized regional associations:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools of Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

To verify that a specific institution is accredited by one of the recognized regional accreditation associations above, look it up by name on the U.S. Department of Education's Institutional Accreditation Search Site.

Frequently Asked Questions

• FAQs - On-line Programs
• FAQs - License Stipulations or Deficiencies

WISCONSIN LICENSES FOR NON-WISCONSIN GRADUATES (Out-of-State Applicants)

Applicants who graduated from non-Wisconsin preparation programs are commonly issued a Wisconsin license with minor course work stipulations (additional course work that is required for a Wisconsin license). If there are stipulations, Out-of-State program completers may be issued one of the following licenses:

• Professional Educator with Stipulations (a five-year license) — For applicants who completed an approved program on or before August 31, 2004.
• Professional Educator with Stipulations (a one-year non-renewable license) — For applicants who completed an approved program on or before August 31, 2004 but must complete Wisconsin testing requirements.
• Initial Educator with Stipulations (a five-year license) — For applicants who completed an approved program for the first time in a license category (teaching, pupil services, administration) after August 31, 2004.
• Initial Educator with Stipulations (a one-year nonrenewable license) — For applicants who completed an approved program for the first time in a license category (teaching, pupil services, administration) after August 31, 2004 but must complete Wisconsin testing requirements.
• Substitute Teaching License (with Stipulations) — For applicants who are eligible for a Wisconsin license but have been out of the K-12 profession for five years or more. Also see FAQs - Substitute Licenses and Permits.

WISCONSIN APPLICATION PROCESS — Graduates of non-Wisconsin programs and never licensed in Wisconsin.

Applicants completing approved preparation programs (meeting criteria above) outside Wisconsin may download and submit a PI-1602-OS - "Out of State" application application form. You must also request fingerprint cards.

If you are unable to download the application form, you may request our office mail a complete application packet and instructions by e-mailing Educator Licensing. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address, with your request for "Out-of-State" application materials (form PI-1602-OS). You may also request application materials on our voice mail system at 1-608-266-1027 or 1-800-266-1027. Fingerprint cards are included in the "Out-of-State" application packet which will be mailed to you.

The certifying officer of the college where the state-approved program was completed must certify the applicant for Wisconsin licensure by completing and signing/endorsing a Wisconsin PI-1612 Institutional Endorsement and Assurances form which is included in the application form. If you completed an educator preparation program in a foreign country, you do not need to provide the PI-1612 form but will need a credential evaluation from an approved foreign credential company.

Before submitting your application, review the PI-1602-OS Submission Checklist for common errors and omissions to ensure that your application is complete. Incomplete applications result in additional correspondence and submissions which greatly extend the time required for processing. If you receive correspondence from the department indicating that additional information or documentation is required, please respond promptly.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The processing time for a COMPLETE application varies depending on the time of year. Your application is not considered COMPLETE until the department has received all forms, documentation, and information needed to process it.

For more information about educator preparation and licensing, see Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 34.

Direct questions about this topic to Educator Licensing.

Last updated on 3/18/2009 2:21:28 PM