Frequently Asked Questions

On-Line Educator Preparation Programs for Licensing

I am interested in earning an educator's license through an out-of-state on-line program. What do I need to do?

Make sure the program is a regionally-accredited baccalaureate degree-granting program and that it is a state approved program in the state where the campus is headquartered and in the area in which you wish to be licensed. Once you have completed the program, along with the student teaching and a Praxis content exam (if required) and are eligible to receive a full license to teach in the state in which the program is headquartered, you could apply in Wisconsin as an out-of-state applicant.

I would like to take two on-line courses to complete my six credits for license renewal. Is this is acceptable in Wisconsin?

We do accept semester credits completed on-line for license renewal, as long as the course work is completed through a regionally-accredited four-year degree-granting college or university, the course work pertains to your area of licensure, the course work was taken within a five-year period of the July 1 start date for license renewal, and the course work is taken for graduate or undergraduate semester credit.

I am a resident of Wisconsin and am completing an out-of-state on-line educator preparation program. When complete, will I need to apply for my license using an out-of-state application?

Yes, as the approved program you are completing is an out-of-state program, you will need to use the PI-1602-OS application to apply for your license. It is important that you can verify your eligibility for a license in the state where the approved program is located, including all testing requirements, before applying for a Wisconsin license.

How does DPI know I completed a state-approved program?

The PI-1602-OS application for initial out-of-state licensure includes the PI-1612 Institutional Endorsement form, in which the certifying officer at your college verifies you completed their state-approved program. The PI-1612 form also gives us information we need about your practicum/student teaching placement and results on any required test(s).

Once you receive my complete application/endorsement, how do I know what license I will receive in Wisconsin?

Until we do a full review, we cannot determine exactly what license you will receive in Wisconsin. Licensure is based on completion of a comparable state-approved program, so the license issued will be the most comparable Wisconsin license based on the endorsement from your approved program.

Does it matter if I have a license from the state where the on-line program is located?

In most cases Wisconsin educator licenses are issued based on completion of a state approved program and eligibility for a license, not licensure in another state. It is important to note that until you complete all of the tests required in the state in which you completed your state-approved educator preparation program, you are not eligible for a license in the state of Wisconsin.

I am considering enrolling in an on-line program for educator preparation. What is the most direct way to determine if this program is regionally accredited?

The U.S. Department of Education provides a list of all accredited institutions of higher education. This list can be accessed at: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. After you have determined the institution is accredited then check to make sure:

• The institution offers a license program in a field for which Wisconsin has a license and rules;
• The institution offers a comparable degree and comparable teaching major/minor requirements to those prescribed by Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 34;
• The institution is state approved and program completers are eligible for licensure in the state where the institution is headquartered.

Return to FAQs - Choose a Licensing Topic

Return to Out-of-State Licensure

For questions about this information, contact Mark A. Schwingle (608) 266-1633

Last updated on 8/22/2008 1:12:01 PM