Wisconsin Teacher Licensure Guide for Online Master's Students

Who Licenses Teachers in Wisconsin, and Which Exams Does It Use?

Wisconsin licenses teachers through Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the exams it requires are the Praxis tests from ETS.

For the programs themselves, the online master's in education programs at universities in Wisconsin are ranked at the in-state price, and the national and specialty lists cover schools in other states.

How Do I Get a Wisconsin Teaching License With an Online Master's?

Getting a Wisconsin teaching license with an online master's depends on where the program is headquartered, because DPI treats a program based outside Wisconsin, online included, as out-of-state whatever your address. The program must be state-approved where it sits, comparable to Wisconsin's requirements and offered at a bachelor's, post-baccalaureate or master's level.

The first license is the Provisional Educator License, Tier II. A Tier III Lifetime Educator License follows six semesters of Wisconsin experience once every statutory requirement is met. Compare reading and literacy and special education programs with that sequence in mind.

Which Exams Does Wisconsin Require for Teacher Licensure?

The exams Wisconsin requires for teacher licensure are Praxis II content tests, the Foundations of Reading Test for some licenses, and every test the program's own state requires, as DPI's out-of-state testing guidance says, online colleges included. Pearson delivers the reading test, which is needed for a first Tier II license in K-9, cross-categorical special education, birth to grade 3, Montessori, reading teacher and reading specialist.

When the program's state requires no content test or offers none, a cumulative 3.0 grade point average in the subject area or an approved standardized test can serve. Score reports go to you, not to DPI, and you upload a scan. School counselors take Praxis 5422 and need a 159.

Can I Transfer a Teaching License to Wisconsin From Another State?

A teaching license can transfer to Wisconsin from another state through the reciprocity application, which asks for a valid license in good standing and employment verification of one year of teaching. Fingerprints go through Fieldprint when DPI's decision tree requires them.

Reciprocity matters because other out-of-state applicants face stipulations that it avoids. On an out-of-state application, DPI reviews the file and issues the most similar license subject for which you are currently eligible. The 2020 Education Commission of the States comparison in the table records Wisconsin as having no full reciprocity, so read that table alongside DPI's reciprocity page rather than in place of it.

Which Wisconsin Statutory Stipulations Can Follow an Online Master's?

Wisconsin statutory stipulations can follow an online master's because programs outside the state are unlikely to cover every requirement in Wisconsin law. DPI names the possible stipulations: minority group relations, Wisconsin American Indian bands and tribes, special education, conflict resolution, environmental education, reading and language arts instruction and cooperative marketing.

Out-of-state applicants who are not using reciprocity must clear assigned stipulations to be eligible for a Tier II license. Coursework removes them, except that conflict resolution and student teaching can be met with employer verification, and a program with under 15 weeks of student teaching can be made up with 15 weeks of full-time teaching. The reading and language arts stipulation can only be met through approved courses.

Does NC-SARA Membership Cover Teacher Licensure for Wisconsin Online Master's Students?

Teacher licensure for Wisconsin online master's students is not something NC-SARA membership covers. NC-SARA says SARA does not address licensing board approval for programs in fields such as teacher education. Wisconsin approved SARA in August 2016 through MHEC, which eases a school's authority to enroll you, while DPI issues the license. SARA does require participating schools to disclose whether a program meets licensure requirements in your state.

What Should I Ask an Online Program Before Enrolling From Wisconsin?

Before you enroll from Wisconsin, an online program should answer in writing whether it meets your license requirements. 34 CFR 668.43 directs a school marketing licensure preparation to name the states where it does and does not qualify, and to warn you before enrollment when it falls short or has not assessed.

Then ask the Wisconsin questions. Is the program state-approved at its headquarters? Which content tests does that state require? Is the student teaching at least 15 weeks full-time? Does the coursework cover Wisconsin's reading and language arts instruction and American Indian tribes requirements?

Which License Do Wisconsin Principals and School Counselors Need?

Wisconsin principals and school counselors each need a master's degree. A Tier II administrator license asks for a state-approved program, a master's or the equivalent, and six semesters of full-time classroom teaching (or pupil services experience with 540 classroom hours), and the principal license covers PK-12.

A school counselor needs a minimum of a master's, with specialized coursework and a practicum or internship in school counseling, for a PK-12 license. Weigh educational leadership and school counseling programs against both.