For Library Directors

• PI-2450 Certification Application - Use this form to apply for certification or renewal, regardless of grade level or type.
• PI-2453 Continuing Education Activity Report - Complete this form for each continuing education (CE) activity you complete. 
• PI-2454 CE Summations - Complete and submit this form annually or as directed by your system CE validator. When submitting, include a completed form PI-2453 for each activity listed. Retain the signed copy of this form returned by your CE validator to submit with your certification renewal application to DPI. 
• Schedule of course completion for Grade 2 and 3 temporary certification - This optional form may be used by an applicant for Temporary Grade II or III certification to notify DPI of their planned schedule of completion for required library courses. The DPI Certification Coordinator will also accept course completion schedule information in the body of the application email or as a separate, informal document. 
• Self-Directed Continuing Education Activity Proposal - This optional form may be used to propose Category C CE activities that require pre-approval from your system CE validator. Consult your system CE validator for information on their preferred process for Category C activities. 
• Summary of certification requirements 
• Summary of continuing education (CE) requirements
• Certification decision tree - This reference document may help first-time applicants decide what certification grade level and type to apply for. 

All applications must be submitted by email to LibraryCertification@dpi.wi.gov. Applicants should complete the following steps to apply for certification or renew their certification:

1. Complete and sign the Certification Application (form PI-2450).
2. Compile the supporting documents necessary for certification. (See "What to send" below or consult the Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors for details on the requirements for all certification types, including provisional and lapsed certification.)
3. Save or scan your application and supporting documents and email them to LibraryCertification@dpi.wi.gov. (Please send supporting documents as PDF files if possible. If you do not have access to a scanner, consider using a scanning app for your smartphone.)
4. Payment and physical copies are no longer required. Applicants should no longer mail items to DPI.

The minimum certification grade level required to serve as the administrator of a public library in Wisconsin is determined by the library’s service population. However, many applicants qualify for a higher level of certification than is required for their position. Applicants should apply for the highest grade level of certification that they qualify for based on their education, even if that is higher than the minimum required for their library.

Administrators of public library systems, county libraries, county library services, municipal, joint municipal, and tribal public libraries established under Chapter 43 (except Milwaukee Public Library) must hold certification, per Wis. Stat. sec. 43.09(1) and Wis. Admin. Code PI 6.03(2). Director certification is also a public library system membership requirement, per s. 43.15(4)(c)(6). Other library staff may voluntarily apply for certification if employed at a Wisconsin public library.

Applicants for library director positions do not need to be certified prior to accepting a position. However, an applicant must be eligible for regular or temporary certification upon employment: They must have already obtained, at a minimum, the appropriate general education requirements for the level required of the position in order to apply for temporary certification. Temporary certificates may be granted for Grade I directors who will complete their master’s degree in library and information science within one (1) year. Temporary certificates may be granted and renewed for Grade II and Grade III directors for up to four (4) years in order to complete the library courses required to obtain a certificate with regular status.

Directors eligible for regular certification must apply within one month of their appointment as library director, if they are not already certified. Directors eligible for temporary certification must apply within three months of employment. If an applicant applies for temporary certification after the first 90 days of employment, certification will be denied per Wis. Admin. Code PI 6.03(6).

When renewing your librarian certification, please send your renewal documents during the month of your certificate expiration date. For example, if your certificate expires on the last day of October, please submit your documents after October 1 and no later than October 31.

If you are upgrading your certificate from temporary to regular status or from a lower grade to a higher grade based on the completion of education requirements, you may choose to apply for your new certificate when you have completed the requirements or wait to apply when your current certificate expires. Your upgraded certificate will be approved within the month it is received, which may change the renewal deadline for your certificate in the future.

First time applicant, master's degree from ALA-accredited program in library science:

Include in your application email:

1. Completed application form PI-2450
   1. Your form should indicate the Grade Level Requested is I, and the type of certification is First Regular.
   2. In the enclosures section, check the box for Master’s (or higher degree) in library science.
   3. Sign and date your application.
2. Transcript (official or unofficial) OR a copy of a diploma that demonstrates a conferred master’s degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution

First time applicant, master's degree in progress from ALA-accredited program in library science:

Include in your application email:

1. Completed application form PI-2450
   1. Your form should indicate the Grade Level Requested is I, and the type of certification is First Temporary.
   2. In the enclosures section, check the box for Bachelor’s (or higher degree) and for Official documentation of required library courses already completed.
   3. Sign and date your application.
2. Transcript (official or unofficial) OR a copy of a diploma that demonstrates a conferred bachelor's degree; AND a transcript or student record demonstrating that you have accrued enough credits toward your master’s degree in a library and information studies program at an ALA-accredited institution to obtain the degree within one year.

First time applicant, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in field other than library science:

Include in your application email:

1. Completed application form PI-2450
   1. Your form should indicate the Grade Level Requested is II, and the type of certification is First Temporary (if you still need to complete the required library courses) or First Regular (if you have completed all the necessary courses).
   2. In the enclosures section under either First Regular or First Temporary (as applicable), check the box for bachelor’s degree (whichever applies); Official documentation of library courses, if you have any to report; and Schedule of completion, if you have remaining courses to complete.
   3. Sign and date your application.
2. Transcript (official or unofficial) OR a copy of a diploma that demonstrates a conferred bachelor’s degree or higher.
3. Proof of completion of required library courses, if any. Such proof could include information from your transcript or a course completion certificate.
4. A schedule for completion of the four (4) required library courses, indicating the semester and year that the applicant plans to take each course and the school at which they will be taken; OR a schedule of completion of the Advanced Administration course if you have a minor in Library Science. To submit your schedule, use this optional form or include equivalent information in the body of your email or in a separate, informal document. 

First time applicant, 54+ college credits:

Include in your application email:

1. Completed application form PI-2450
   1. Your form should indicate the Grade Level Requested is III, and the type of certification is First Temporary (if you still have required library courses to complete) or First Regular (if you have completed the 4 required library courses).
   2. In the enclosures section, check the boxes for At least 54 semester credits; Official documentation of required library courses already completed (if you have any); and Schedule for completion of course requirements (if you have courses yet to complete).
   3. Sign and date your application.
2. Transcript (official or unofficial) of all college credits taken, demonstrating at least 54 semester credits, 27 of which must be in the liberal arts.
3. A schedule for completion of the four (4) required library courses, indicating the semester and year that the applicant plans to take each course and the school at which they will be taken; and certificates of completion for required courses already taken, if any. To submit your schedule, use this optional form or include equivalent information in the body of your email or in a separate, informal document.

Temporary Grade I certificates cannot be renewed. You must complete your master’s degree in library and information studies within one year of your temporary certification and apply for regular certification upon completion of your degree. Follow the instructions above for first-time applicants and indicate that you are applying for your First Regular certification.

Renewal of Temporary Certificate (Grades II and III):

Temporary Grade II and III certificates may be renewed three (3) times for a total of four (4) years of temporary certification, except that a temporary certificate for an applicant with a minor in library science cannot be renewed. If you have completed all of the required library courses for regular certification, follow the instructions above for first-time applicants and indicate that you are applying for your First Regular certification.

Include in your application email:

1. Completed application form PI-2450
   1. Your form should indicate the Grade Level Requested is II or III, and the type of certification is Renewal of Temporary. Include the expiration date of your current certificate.
   2. In the enclosures section, check the box for Official documentation of library courses completed since last certification.
   3. Sign and date your application.
2. Proof of completion of any of the four (4) required library courses you have completed since the last certification date. This may include certificates of completion or a student record that shows the course has been successfully completed. Note that you must complete at least one course per year in order to maintain your temporary certificate.
3. Please do not resubmit any documents that have been submitted with previous applications.

Renewal of Regular Certificate, Regardless of Grade Level

To renew your certificate, include in your renewal application email:

1. Completed application form PI-2450
   1. Your form should indicate the Grade Level of your current certification, and the type of certification is Renewal of Regular. Include the expiration date of your current certificate.
   2. In the enclosures section, check the box for Validated Annual Summations of Continuing Education Activities.
   3. Sign and date your application.
2. Annual Summations of Continuing Education Activities (Form PI-2454) for the 5-year certification period. Each form must be approved and signed by a public library system validator, and together the forms must provide proof of 100 hours of CE activities, including 10 hours of technology-related activities, during your certification period. Please do not send CE Activity Reports (Form PI-2453) with your renewal application. 

All librarians holding regular certification, regardless of grade level, are required to complete 100 hours of continuing education (CE) activities, including 10 hours of technology-related activities, in order to qualify for renewal of their certificate. Consult the Certification Manual for details on CE requirements. To identify CE activities that may be useful for you, contact your public library system CE validator, see the "Certification Courses and Institutions" information below for Wisconsin-based education institutions offering courses in librarianship, or visit the Wisconsin Public Libraries Professional Learning Calendar.

To record your CE activities: Complete a CE Activity Report (Form PI-2453) for each CE activity you complete. Submit these forms with the Annual Summation of Continuing Education Activities (Form PI-2454) to your library system CE validator annually. (Check with your CE Validator for their preferred timeline and procedure for submitting these forms.) The CE Validator will review, approve, and sign Form PI-2454. Retain signed copies of these summation forms for your certification renewal.

Note: Certificants interested in pursuing Category C continuing education activities after January 1, 2025, must submit a Self-Directed Continuing Education Activity Proposal to their library system CE validator for preapproval before completing the activity. Consult the Certification Manual for details on what CE activities qualify as category A, B, or C. 

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) requires library coursework to receive a Grade II or Grade III public library director certificate. Consult the Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors for more information on the education requirements for each certification grade.

The following institutions may offer coursework that fulfills the certification requirements for Wisconsin Public Librarian Certification. Consult the institution staff for more information, or email LibraryCertification@dpi.wi.gov for questions about course eligibility.

UW-Madison
iSchool Staff (608) 890-0364
The iSchool at UW Madison
Helen C. White Hall, 4th Floor
600 N. Park Street
Madison, WI 53706

Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC)
Vince Mussehl (715) 833-6285
Library & Information Services Program (AAS)
620 W. Clairemont Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54701

UW-Whitewater
Katie McBride Moench 
libmedia@uww.edu | 262-472-1380
UW - Whitewater Library Media Program
6005 Winther Hall
Whitewater, WI 53190