Minnesota Tiered Licensure

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) developed the tiered licensure system to be a concise and objective tool to help teacher candidates navigate the required components for licensure.

Licensure and credentials - Education Minnesota

Tier 1

Tier 1 licenses allow teachers to bring real-world experiences into the classroom. These educators can also step in to fill shortage areas and hard-to-staff positions. 

Requirements

  • Must hold a bachelor's degree
    • *EXEMPTION FROM BACHELOR'S DEGREE FOR THE FOLLOWING LICENSURE AREAS:
      • World Language - must be a native speaker
      • Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Music - must prove five years of relevant work experience
      • Career and Technical Education and Career pathways - must have AA degree, a professional certification OR five years of relevant work experience. 
  • Applicant must have a job offer from a Minnesota public school district. District must show it could not find a teacher holding a Tier 2, 3, or 4 license for the position. 

Tier 2

Tier 2 licenses are a pathway to licensure for educators enrolled in a teacher preparation program or educators seeking to teach outside of their content area or scope.

Requirements

  • Must hold a bachelor’s degree (or fall under the exemption areas); and
  • Must satisfy one of the following:
    • be enrolled in a Minnesota teacher preparation program;
    • hold a master’s degree in the content area; or
    • fulfill at least two of the following:
      • have eight upper-division credits in the content area;
      • completed field-specific methods training;
      • have two years of teaching experience in the content area;
      • receive passing scores on content and pedagogy exams; or
      • completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program.

Tier 3

Tier 3 licenses are the licenses that graduates of Minnesota-approved teacher preparation programs will apply for at the time of graduation. 

Requirements

  • Must hold a bachelor's degree (or fall under the exemption areas); and
  • Must satisfy one of the following:
    • completion of a Minnesota-approved teacher preparation program;
    • completion of a teacher preparation program from another state that includes field-specific student teaching equivalent to requirements of MN programs;
    • portfolio in a given licensure field;
    • three years of teaching experience in licensure field at Tier 3 without being placed on an improvement plan and passing scores on applicable Minnesota content and pedagogy exams.
    • Professional teaching license from another state, license in good standing, two years of teaching experience, and passing scores on applicable Minnesota content and pedagogy exams. 

Tier 4

Tier 4 licenses are available for seasoned educators. In honor of teachers' training, experience, and effectiveness - Tier 4 licenses elevate the teaching profession and can be renewed indefinitely. 

Requirements

  • Must hold a bachelor's degree (or fall under the exemption areas); and
  • Completion of a teacher preparation program; and
  • three years as a teacher of record in the licensure field.

 

For more information on tiered licensure, please visit  UMD Teaching Licensure Website

CEHSP Accreditation, Licensing & Field Experience
(218) 726-8627
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