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Legacy License and Assignments

DPI License Codes

A license or permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction consists of multiple parts that describe the duration, renewal criteria, and the position the holder can assume or the subject(s) the holder can teach.

Prior to the implementation of the Educator Licensing Online (ELO) system, there were three different codes that combined would describe duration, renewal, and the type of assignment the holder could assume. Under the ELO system, much of this coding has either changed or was eliminated. The following describes the changes:

License Type: Under the old coding structure, the license type code was a two-digit code that described the license name, the duration, and renewal requirements. In the old coding structure, an initial educator license was coded as 20 (or 21, 22, etc.). In the ELO system, the initial educator license is coded as IET 5, IEA 5 or IEP 5. The “IE” stands for initial educator, the “T", "A" or "P” stands for teacher, administrator or pupil services respectively, and the “5” means the license is valid for five years.

Subject: Under the old coding structure, the subject code was a three-digit code that described the subject that a teacher could teach. For example, a secondary math teacher would have a subject code of 400. In the new ELO system, the subject code is a four-digit code. The new ELO code is comprised of a one plus the old three-digit code. So, math is now 1400 in ELO.

Position:  Under the old coding structure, the position code was a two-digit code that described either 1) the administrative or pupil services license or 2) the grade or developmental level associated with the subject code of the teaching license. Under the old coding structure, a principal would have a position code of 51. In the new ELO system, the modifier code is a four-digit code. So a principal is now 5051 in ELO.  All administrator licenses start with either 5 or 50 (e.g., superintendent is 5003). For pupil services licenses like school counselor, the license was coded using a position code of 54 in the old system. In the new ELO system, the four-digit modifier code is comprised of 70 plus the old two-digit code. School counselor is now 7054 in ELO. All pupil services licenses start with either 7 or 70 (e.g., 7050 is school social worker).

In the ELO system, grade or developmental codes have been eliminated from the list of position codes because it is an inconsistent use of this field. However, in ELO Public Search the developmental level or low and high grades are still shown.

To ease this transition, a complete cross-walk between the old coding structure and the ELO codes has been developed: ELO-License-Codes-Crosswalk.xlsx

Currently Issued License Stages

After the 2017-2019 state budget created new license stages, PI 34 was revised to reflect these license stages. Currently, educator licenses issued under Wis. Admin. Code PI 34 are based on the following license stages and tiers:

Provisional Educator License, Tier II

Educators who completed an approved educator preparation program for the first time in a license category (Teaching, Administrator or Pupil Services) after September 23, 2017, will be issued a provisional educator license for each license within that category.

Lifetime Educator License, Tier III

A lifetime educator license may be issued to educators who successfully completed at least six semesters of experience in the category of their provisional educator license and have completed all statutory requirements.

Master Educator License, Tier IV

This optional lifetime license may be issued to educators who successfully completed a National Board Certification by National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) or a Wisconsin Master Educator Assessment Process (WMEAP).

Previously Issued License Stages

Under previous PI 34 rules, educator licenses issued under Wis. Admin. Code PI 34 were based on the following license stages:

Initial Educator License

Educators who completed an approved educator preparation program for the first time in a license category (Teaching, Administrator or Pupil Services) after August 31, 2004, will be issued an initial educator license for each license within that category.

Professional Educator License

A professional educator license could be issued to the following:

  • Educators who successfully completed at least 3 years of the initial educator stage based on employment and successful completion of a professional development plan.
  • Educators who completed their approved educator preparation program prior to August 31, 2004, and are eligible to receive or renew their licenses before August 31, 2004.
  • Educators who have completed five or more years of experience as a teacher, administrator, or pupil services professional in another state.
  • Educators who hold life licenses.

Master Educator License

This optional 10-year license may be issued to educators who successfully completed a National Board Certification by National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) or a Wisconsin Master Educator Assessment Process (WMEAP).

Currently Issued Grade Ranges

Educator licenses issued under current Wis. Admin. Code PI 34 are based on the following grade ranges:

Teaching Areas Grade Ranges
Early Childhood (Regular Education and Special Education) Birth - 3
Elementary and Middle School Kindergarten - 9
Middle and High School 4 - 12
Prekindergarten through grade 12 K - 12
Kindergarten through grade 12 Cross-Categorical Special Education K - 12

Previously Issued Developmental Levels

Educator licenses issued under previous Wis. Admin. Code PI 34 were based on the following developmental levels:

Developmental Levels Age Ranges Typical Corresponding Grades
Early Childhood (EC) Birth – 8 PK – 3
Early Childhood through Middle Childhood (EC-MC) Birth – 11 PK – 6
Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence (MC-EA)* 6 – 12/13 1 – 8
Early Adolescence through Adolescence (EA-A) 10 – 21

5 – 12

Early Childhood through Adolescence (EC-A)

Birth – 21 K – 12

*Grade bands for MC-EA licenses in special education and English as a Second Language have a corresponding grade that starts with Kindergarten.

What Can I Teach with My License?

The What Can I Teach with My License page answers many common questions we receive regarding what teaching assignments are allowed with various teaching subject codes. 

Related Information:

Submit questions and comments about this information to the Licensing Online Help desk.