Frequently Asked Questions - Provisional License

Questions

1. What is a Provisional license?
2. How do I reissue my Provisional license?
3. How do I move from my Provisional license to a Lifetime license?
4. What do I do if I let my Provisional license expire?
5. Am I required to complete a Professional Development Plan (PDP) or Educator Effectiveness Plan (EEP)?

Answers

1.  What is a Provisional license?

A Provisional license is a three-year license available to teachers, administrators and pupil service professionals. A Provisional license may be issued to educators who completed an approved educator preparation program. This is a full license.

2.  How do I reissue my Provisional license?

If experience requirements for the Lifetime license have not yet been met before the expiration of a Provisional license, an educator may apply to reissue their Provisional license please follow the application directions for (re)issuance of Provisional license. There is no limit to the number of reissuances for Provisional licenses.  There is no professional development required to reissue your Provisional license.

3.  How do I move from my Provisional license to a Lifetime license?

If a Provisionally licensed educator has six semesters of successful experience in a position that meets the following criteria, they may apply for Lifetime licensure:

• Experience completed in the license area (Teaching, Administration or Pupil Services) while holding either a Provisional, Initial Educator, Professional Educator or Master Educator license.
• Experience completed in the five years immediately preceding the July 1 start date of the Lifetime license.
• Experience must be providing direct services to students or providing administrative oversight in a prekindergarten through grade 12 setting in the license area of the Provisional license verified as successful experience by an educational entity in Wisconsin.

Note: Short-term substitute experience does not meet the experience requirement listed above.

Follow the ELO Application Directions for Lifetime License to apply to move from a Provisional license to a Lifetime license.

4.  What do I do if I let my Provisional license expire?

You may apply to reissue your Provisional license. There is no limit to the number of reissuances for Provisional licenses.  There is no professional development required to reissue your Provisional license.  Licenses are effective July 1 of the year of issuance.

5.  Am I required to complete a Professional Development Plan (PDP) or an Educator Effectiveness Plan (EEP)?

Educators are not required to complete either the PDP or the EEP for license renewal. However, an educator may be required by their employer to complete a PDP or an EEP for employment purposes.  For questions about what professional development is necessary for employment, contact your employer.