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Requirements For Obtaining Your Initial Minnesota Teacher License
Below are the requirements you must meet to become a Minnesota teacher.
- Bachelor’s degree in your content area
- Teacher preparation program; this may include a mentoring system or an internship
- Completion of the MTLE tests
- Fingerprint file for a background check
Exams Necessary For a License In Minnesota
- MTLE basic skills test or pedagogy exam
- MTLE Content Area Test
Requirements For Upgrading Your Minnesota Teacher License
- Complete at least three years of teaching
- Attain positive performance assessments
- Complete further content area and pedagogy tests
Requirements For Renewing Your License
- 125 clock hours of study in the necessary subjects required by the state
Who Manages Licenses In Minnesota?
The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board manages all educator licenses in the state. You can apply for your license through that group after meeting the requirements for attaining your certification to teach.
Requirements For Your Initial Minnesota Teacher License
You will receive an initial license that will last for five years after completing the first requirements for being a Minnesota teacher. You must have a bachelor’s degree in your field of teaching when you apply. You can dictate the specific course you wish to teach and what students you want to focus on when working. Check with the Minnesota Department of Education to see what teaching opportunities are available when applying.
You will require a transcript from your college surrounding what you have completed in your studies. Your transcript must include information on what courses you took surrounding your content area. The college education must also include pedagogical studies surrounding how to teach students. The work should focus on teaching students at a specific grade level, particularly at the elementary, middle, or secondary levels.
You must also complete a teacher preparation program. The learning system can last for about a year and will entail a teaching internship or a mentoring program. You will learn about unique strategies for teaching children, plus you may receive an opportunity to support students in many forms. You can also learn about how to create unique lesson plans.
You will then complete the necessary MTLE tests, and then you can finish your application for your Minnesota teacher’s license. You can complete the application online, plus you must finish a background check with a fingerprint file. You must also file the non-refundable processing fee for the work in question.
Exams Necessary For Your License
You must complete the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations tests before you can earn your license. The first test you must finish is the basic skills exam. The test may entail either a standard test on math, writing, and reading. The test may also entail general pedagogy in the birth-3, K-6, or 5-12 segment. The test you complete is based on your licensure area. There will be two subtests in this pedagogy exam.
You then need to complete the MTLE Content Area Test in the segment of your focus. There are multiple content area tests available for different subjects, including ones at specific grade levels. The MTLE website will provide details on what tests are open, so you can figure which one is relevant to the field you will support for teaching purposes.
Moving To the Next License Level
You can upgrade your license by completing a few points:
- Obtaining additional experience in teaching; may involve at least three years of teaching with your current license.
- Completing other content area and pedagogy tests, the state must approve these.
- Receiving positive scores in your annual evaluations
Your license will be valid for five years regardless of the segment you will cover and will ensure you can continue to teach students in the state of Minnesota.
JPED Work
You can continue to develop your skills as an educator through the state’s JPED program. The Job Embedded Professional Development program entails studying how to support unique school environments. Your school district may provide information on how the JPED system works and what development opportunities are available.
The program can help you review the unique opportunities available for studying in the state. You can check the state standards in the state and find new courses to complete surrounding what is open. The JPED content you manage can work towards whatever studies you wish to address.
Renewal and Continuing Education Work
You will need to renew your license after five years. The renewal process is necessary for confirming your ability to manage various educational activities in a classroom. It is also to ensure you recognize your content area and any new developments that may appear in your study needs.
The license expires on June 30 of the year designated on your license. You can begin the renewal process on January 1 of that same year.
You will require 125 clock hours of study during the five years leading to the renewal process. You can complete various continuing education programs through the state’s approved classes. These include courses that can take place online or through in-person study at schools throughout the state.
The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board can receive your license renewal work. The group’s website provides an online license renewal system when you are ready to renew your work.
What Courses Are Necessary For Continuing Education Purposes?
The state of Minnesota requires teachers to complete courses surrounding many aspects of pedagogy during their renewal periods. These include courses on:
- Behavioral intervention
- How to motivate students
- Using technology in the classroom
- Suicide prevention training
- How to manage cultural competency concerns
- How to identify early-onset mental concerns in children
- How to manage students learning the English language
- Adapting your curriculum and lesson plans for whatever unique needs your students hold
You can complete various online and in-person courses for each of these subjects of value.
Resources
https://hmongtimes.com/how-to-become-a-teacher-in-minnesota/2981/ – Information on becoming a teacher in Minnesota
https://mn.gov/pelsb/aspiring-educators/requirements/ – License requirements for teaching in Minnesota
https://mn.gov/pelsb/ – PELSB website
http://www.mtle.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Tests.html – Details on the MTLE tests
https://www.teacher.org/state/minnesota/ – Reports on JEPD work and how it is essential for Minnesota residents
https://www.educationminnesota.org/EDMN/media/edmn-secure/member%20engagement/VOB_Renew-your-license.pdf – Renewal points for Minnesota teachers