Emergency Educator Licenses and Permits

By District Request Only

DPI considers emergency applications for the upcoming school year only after districts make every effort to fill vacancies with fully licensed candidates. An emergency permit may be issued to an individual with a non-teaching bachelor's degree (who is not eligible for a teaching license). An emergency license may be issued to a person who holds a teaching license, but who is being asked to teach out-of-field/grade level. July 1st is the earliest date that an emergency license or permit request may be made.

The following criteria are considered when DPI reviews a district request for emergency licensure:

First Time Request for Emergency License or Emergency Permit

The burden of assuring that schools have qualified staff rests with employing administrators. DPI will not accept a first-time emergency request if a district has a fully licensed teacher in that subject area/grade level available, unless justification is provided as to why the fully licensed teacher is unacceptable. DPI also will not accept a first-time emergency request for a teacher on staff with seniority when a less senior but fully licensed teacher has been laid off.

Further, DPI does not accept budget constraints as a valid reason for requesting emergency licensure. When considering licensed applicants from outside the district, salary concerns based on years of service must be negotiated (commensurate with the union contract) before an emergency permit/license for an unlicensed candidate can be requested. If the licensed candidate rejects the district's offer, then candidates who are unlicensed in that subject area/grade level may be considered.

Renewal of an Emergency License or Emergency Permit

DPI will not renew an emergency license or permit for an unlicensed teacher in a subject area when the district has laid off a fully licensed teacher in that same subject unless justification is provided as to why the fully licensed teacher is unacceptable.

Related Federal Rules:

The federal ESEA rules state that there will be a "highly qualified" teacher in every classroom (Sec. 1119). "Highly qualified" means the teacher shall be fully licensed both at the level and for the subject he/she is teaching. A teacher on an emergency permit or emergency license in a core subject area is considered highly qualified ONLY IF:

the educator has demonstrated content knowledge in the core subject(s) in which s/he will be teaching through either a major, a minor, or completion of Wisconsin's Praxis II content test(s);
the educator is enrolled in an approved teacher training program that will be completed in three years;
the district provides high quality professional development before and while teaching and intensive supervision or mentoring while teaching.

Application Process

The PI-1602-EL license application form is used to apply for emergency licenses and permits. The form includes Page 2b for the district request and justification. The processing fee is $100. Fingerprint cards may also be required.

Further questions about emergency licenses should be directed to Educator Licensing.

Last updated on 7/1/2008 1:49:45 PM