Want to become a teacher in the great state of Wisconsin? If so, you have come to the right place. Below you will find a short article that lists the steps to becoming a teacher in Alaska.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Teacher Preparation Program

To teach in the U.S., educators must hold at least an undergraduate degree. The state of Wisconsin also requires students to complete a state-approved teacher education program to receive certification.  Wisconsin does not list specific course or semester-hour requirements, although every college or university teacher education program will have requirements of its own. Contact your teacher education program or the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for more information.

Teacher education programs typically include a combination of curriculum and field experiences. Courses often include instruction on foundational knowledge,  skills, and pedagogy (the art and science of teaching) as well as preparation in researching, creating, and implementing learning experiences in various fields of study. The field experiences component often includes class observation, student teaching, or internships.

Step 2: Complete the Required Exams

To become a licensed teacher in Wisconsin, you must pass: a foundation skills exam, like the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators series; content exams, such as the Praxis II series; and, if teaching elementary education, special education or reading, the Foundations of Reading Test for Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction gives new teachers their Teaching Licenses, which are good for five years and are non-renewable, unless their extenuating circumstances. After a minimum of three years of teaching, teachers may advance to their Professional Educator Licenses, which are also good for five years and can be renewed. Also, the department offers the Master Educator License, which is good for 10 years, to teachers who currently possess a Professional Educator License and have completed either their national board certification or their Wisconsin master educator assessment process. Find out how to earn your Wisconsin teaching licensure on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website. 

Step 3: Submit a Wisconsin Teaching Credential Application

After you complete your teacher preparation program and meet all testing and experience requirements, you’re ready to apply for the initial Wisconsin Educator’s License. Candidates can find their licensure application form here. Candidates must pay a fee of $100. After finishing their application, candidates should mail them to the director of certification of their Wisconsin college or university for endorsement. The director of certification will then send the packet to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.