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.

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.

    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
          [email protected]