Update on Licensing
The 2017 legislative session ended with passage of new laws that will dramatically change Minnesota’s teacher licensure system and the board that oversees and administers that system.
The new law means Minnesota is adopting a tiered licensure system. Once the transition is completed, all teachers in Minnesota’s public and charter schools will have one of the following licenses:
After July 1, 2018, all new applicants who meet eligibility requirements for teaching licenses will be placed into the new tiered system. During the 2018-2019 school year, all teachers who have current professional five-year licenses that are up for renewal will move to a Tier 4 license at the time of that renewal. During that same year, those teachers with professional licenses that are not yet up for renewal will be automatically moved to a Tier 4 license, though the renewal date on the new Tier 4 license will be identical to the renewal date on their original license.
General overview of tiers
The Tier 1 license is designed for educators who are now captured under the language of the non-licensed community expert, or NLCE. Minnesota schools will still have NLCEs in schools in the 2017-2018 school year, but starting July 1, 2018, that category will be replaced by the Tier 1 license. Candidates for a Tier 1 license will need a BA degree if teaching in any field other than career and technical education. Tier 1 teachers will not be in the teacher bargaining unit and will not accumulate years of probationary status.
The Tier 2 license will be the designation for teachers trained in other states who are still working on Minnesota-specific requirements for Tiers 3 and 4, teachers already in classrooms while currently enrolled in teacher preparation programs, and other teachers who have some combination of teaching experience and teacher preparation. Tier 2 teachers will be in the teacher bargaining unit but will not accumulate years of probationary status.
The Tier 3 license is the first license that will be issued to teachers trained in Minnesota teacher preparation programs or in other states that meet Minnesota’s requirements and who have passing scores on content and pedagogy exams. These teachers are in the teacher bargaining unit and must complete three years of successful teaching as probationary teachers. If a teacher got to Tier 3 via Tier 2, then up to two years of successful teaching at Tier 2 can be credited toward the Tier 3 teacher’s three-year probationary requirement. This license will be eligible for unlimited renewals and must be renewed every three years.
The Tier 4 license is the designation for all teachers who have a current five-year, professional license when this transition occurs. Going forward, requirements for a Tier 4 license include all of the requirements for Tier 3, a minimum of three years of teaching in Minnesota, passing scores on the basic skills exam (or one of the alternatives approved by the board), and evidence that the most recent teacher evaluation did not place the teacher on an improvement plan pursuant to teacher development and evaluation law. These teachers will be in the bargaining unit. Tier 4 licenses will be eligible for unlimited renewals and must be renewed every five years.
License renewals
The new legislation changes licensure renewal requirements, and it requires the new Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, or PELSB, to adopt rules for that process. One change that we know is coming for the renewal of Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses is that starting in the 2018-2019 school year, individual teachers applying for renewal can include teacher evaluations as evidence of successful teaching. Another change for those holding Tier 3 or Tier 4 licenses is that professional development focused on cultural competency will be a requirement at the time of renewal. Look to future publications for more information as the PELSB clarifies expectations for renewal through the rule-making process.
Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
As of Jan. 1, 2018, the Minnesota Board of Teaching will be replaced by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. Currently, the Board of Teaching, or BOT, establishes the rules and standards for teacher licensure, while the licensing division at the Minnesota Department of Education issues the actual licenses. Going forward, all licensing duties will be moved to this new PELSB. This new board will also be the body to consider teacher disciplinary issues. Education Minnesota is working closely with staff at MDE and the BOT in order to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for our members.
License Lookup <-- Note: Since there are changes to the PELSB, you can no longer use the license lookup from MDE for current license information.
The new law means Minnesota is adopting a tiered licensure system. Once the transition is completed, all teachers in Minnesota’s public and charter schools will have one of the following licenses:
- Tier 1
- Tier 2
- Tier 3
- Tier 4
- Short-call substitute license
- Long-call substitute license
- Life-time substitute license
After July 1, 2018, all new applicants who meet eligibility requirements for teaching licenses will be placed into the new tiered system. During the 2018-2019 school year, all teachers who have current professional five-year licenses that are up for renewal will move to a Tier 4 license at the time of that renewal. During that same year, those teachers with professional licenses that are not yet up for renewal will be automatically moved to a Tier 4 license, though the renewal date on the new Tier 4 license will be identical to the renewal date on their original license.
General overview of tiers
The Tier 1 license is designed for educators who are now captured under the language of the non-licensed community expert, or NLCE. Minnesota schools will still have NLCEs in schools in the 2017-2018 school year, but starting July 1, 2018, that category will be replaced by the Tier 1 license. Candidates for a Tier 1 license will need a BA degree if teaching in any field other than career and technical education. Tier 1 teachers will not be in the teacher bargaining unit and will not accumulate years of probationary status.
The Tier 2 license will be the designation for teachers trained in other states who are still working on Minnesota-specific requirements for Tiers 3 and 4, teachers already in classrooms while currently enrolled in teacher preparation programs, and other teachers who have some combination of teaching experience and teacher preparation. Tier 2 teachers will be in the teacher bargaining unit but will not accumulate years of probationary status.
The Tier 3 license is the first license that will be issued to teachers trained in Minnesota teacher preparation programs or in other states that meet Minnesota’s requirements and who have passing scores on content and pedagogy exams. These teachers are in the teacher bargaining unit and must complete three years of successful teaching as probationary teachers. If a teacher got to Tier 3 via Tier 2, then up to two years of successful teaching at Tier 2 can be credited toward the Tier 3 teacher’s three-year probationary requirement. This license will be eligible for unlimited renewals and must be renewed every three years.
The Tier 4 license is the designation for all teachers who have a current five-year, professional license when this transition occurs. Going forward, requirements for a Tier 4 license include all of the requirements for Tier 3, a minimum of three years of teaching in Minnesota, passing scores on the basic skills exam (or one of the alternatives approved by the board), and evidence that the most recent teacher evaluation did not place the teacher on an improvement plan pursuant to teacher development and evaluation law. These teachers will be in the bargaining unit. Tier 4 licenses will be eligible for unlimited renewals and must be renewed every five years.
License renewals
The new legislation changes licensure renewal requirements, and it requires the new Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, or PELSB, to adopt rules for that process. One change that we know is coming for the renewal of Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses is that starting in the 2018-2019 school year, individual teachers applying for renewal can include teacher evaluations as evidence of successful teaching. Another change for those holding Tier 3 or Tier 4 licenses is that professional development focused on cultural competency will be a requirement at the time of renewal. Look to future publications for more information as the PELSB clarifies expectations for renewal through the rule-making process.
Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
As of Jan. 1, 2018, the Minnesota Board of Teaching will be replaced by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. Currently, the Board of Teaching, or BOT, establishes the rules and standards for teacher licensure, while the licensing division at the Minnesota Department of Education issues the actual licenses. Going forward, all licensing duties will be moved to this new PELSB. This new board will also be the body to consider teacher disciplinary issues. Education Minnesota is working closely with staff at MDE and the BOT in order to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for our members.
License Lookup <-- Note: Since there are changes to the PELSB, you can no longer use the license lookup from MDE for current license information.
License Renewal
What the extended expiration dates mean for renewal and for the accumulation of CEUs
- Teachers with standard full-professional five-year licenses that have been extended are wondering whether or not CEUs that will be six years old by the time they renew will still be valid. The answer is yes. The system is set up to go six years back through the 2023 cycle and then revert back to five years. Cultural Competency CEU hours must be submitted with renewal hours in and after 2020.
- If your license was set to expire in 2019 but is extended to 2020, you can renew in 2020 with CEUs as old as January 2014.
- If your license was set to expire in 2020 but is extended to 2021, you can renew in 2021 with CEUs as old as January 2015.
- If your license was set to expire in 2021 but is extended to 2022, you can renew in 2022 with CEUs as old as January 2016.
- If your license was set to expire in 2022 but is extended to 2023, you can renew in 2023 with CEUs as old as January 2017.
- After that, everyone will have cycled through. So when applicants go to renew in 2024, they can only use CEUs as old as January 2019. When applicants renew in 2025, they can only use CEUs as old as January 2020, and so on.
- Our advice for all standard full-professional five-year license holders is to get your 125 hours ready before your extended expiration date, but don’t get additional CEUs before your extended expiration date (unless you want them for reasons other than licensure renewal), as they won’t be counted in the next cycle.
- An addition: Cultural competency training has been added to the list of requirements for licensure renewal. The first five-year cohort that will have to show they have had cultural competency training is the cohort that will be renewing in 2020.
- Two deletions: Technology and accommodations/modifications have both been deleted from the list of requirements for licensure renewal, but that change does not take effect immediately. The cohort that is renewing in 2019 will still have to demonstrate that they have had those trainings, but after 2019, teachers will no longer need technology or accommodations/modifications training for the purpose of license renewal.
Submitting CEUs with SWWC
Instructions:
- The Continuing Education Relicensure Committee meets in August or September, February or March, and April of each year.
- Forms are due by February 15th, April 15th and August 15th in order to be approved at those meetings.
- Hours must be turned in for approval by AppliTrack form.
- Complete a Clock Hour Approval Application Form. You will need one form for each activity completed.
- Please make sure to upload your CEU forms with your application form. No forms will be approved without a CEU sheet.
- Don't forget to digitally sign your form before submitting.