Pathway Options
- Bachelor's Degree Pathway
- Post Baccalaureate Pathway
- Alternative Route Program Pathway
- American Board Pathway
1. Bachelor's Degree Pathway Candidate Profile
- No Bachelor's degree
- High School graduate
- Returning adult student
- First teaching license in WI
This pathway requires the candidate to complete a bachelor's degree and an approved teacher preparation program at a Wisconsin college/university. Upon completion, the Wisconsin college/university will endorse you for a Wisconsin license.
If you fit this pathway profile:
- DECIDE what you are interested in teaching.
- IDENTIFY the Wisconsin colleges/universities that are approved to prepare teachers for the Wisconsin teaching license you are seeking on the Find a Preparation Program page.
- CONTACT the college/university directly to learn about their program and enrollment. See Contact Information for Approved Educator Preparation Programs on the Approved Educator Preparation Programs page.
- COMPLETE the bachelor's degree.
- COMPLETE all the requirements of the approved teacher licensure program.
- APPLY for a Wisconsin Initial Educator License using the ELO System.
Bachelor's Degree Pathway Resources
2. Post Baccalaureate Pathway Candidate Profile:
- Bachelor's degree
- Career changer, entering teaching
- Educator seeking additional license
- College graduate, seeking MS degree in a new content area
Having earned a Bachelor's degree, these candidates choose to return to a Wisconsin college/university approved to offer a teacher licensure program. Post-baccalaureate programs provide subject area and teaching coursework that lead to teacher licensure only or towards a master's degree program.
If you fit this pathway profile:
- DECIDE what you are interested in teaching.
- IDENTIFY the Wisconsin colleges/universities that are approved to prepare teachers for the Wisconsin teaching license you are seeking on the Find a Preparation Program page.
- CONTACT the college/university directly to learn about their program and enrollment. See Contact Information for Approved Educator Preparation Programs on the Approved Educator Preparation Programs page.
- COMPLETE all the requirements of the approved teacher licensure program.
- APPLY for a Wisconsin Initial Educator License using the ELO system.
Post Baccalaureate Pathway Resources
3. Alternative Route Program Pathway Candidate Profile:
- Bachelor's degree, with a major in the license subject
- Career changer, entering teaching
- Educator seeking an additional license in a shortage area
- Seeking licensure in a shortage area in Wisconsin
- mathematics, science, career and technical education subjects, business education, world languages, special education, bilingual/bicultural and ESL; also regional shortages
For subject-specific licensure, the candidate must have already completed a major in the subject area of the license they are seeking. Wisconsin Alternative Route programs prepare candidates with teaching coursework for Wisconsin licenses in shortage areas. These programs are for licensure only and do not lead to a degree.
If you fit this pathway profile:
- DECIDE what you are interested in teaching.
- IDENTIFY the Wisconsin Alternative-Route Program Providers that are approved to prepare educators in the Wisconsin teaching license you are seeking on the Find a Preparation Program page.
- CONTACT the Alternative Route Program Providers directly to learn about their program and enrollment. See Contact Information for Approved Educator Preparation Programs on the Approved Educator Preparation Programs page.
- COMPLETE all the requirements of the approved alternative route licensure program.
- APPLY for a Wisconsin Initial Educator License using the ELO System.
Alternative Route Program Pathway Resources
4. American Board Candidate Profile:
Wis. Stat. 118.197 requires that DPI issue a provisional license to an individual who meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Notwithstanding s. 118.19 (4m), (6) to (9), and (12) to (14), the department shall grant an initial license to teach to an individual who is eligible for licensure under s. 118.19 (4) and (10) and who satisfies all of the following:
(a) The individual possesses a bachelor's degree.
(b) The individual successfully completed an alternative teacher certification program operated by a nonstock, nonprofit organization described under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code that satisfies all of the following criteria:
1. The organization operates in at least five states.
2. The organization has been operating an alternative teacher certification program for at least 10 years.
3. The organization requires candidates to pass a subject area exam and the pedagogy exam known as the Professional Teaching Knowledge exam to receive a certificate under the alternative teacher certification.
The American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) is currently the only certification program that meets all of the requirements in this statute.
Educators who have completed an ABCTE licensure program and wish to apply for a Wisconsin teacher license will submit an Out-of-State [1025] application with the following documentation:
- Bachelor degree transcript (the Transcripts for License Application page lists transcript requirements)
- PI-1612 Institutional Endorsement and Assurances form
- ABCTE certificate of completion
- ABCTE Professional Teaching Knowledge exam and Content Knowledge exam results
Educators may use the ABCTE Application Checklist to ensure they have obtained all necessary documentation and are submitting the correct application.