Frequently Asked Questions

Professional Development Plan (PDP)

What is the Professional Development Plan (PDP)?

The PDP is a process for renewal of an educator's license based on planned professional growth and evidence of the effect of that growth on student learning. License renewal is based on the documented completion of the PDP as verified by a PDP review team and submitted to the state superintendent. The PDP has several required components which can be found in the toolkits on the PDP Main Page.

What is the process for completing a PDP?

A PDP has four main steps in the process (Reflection, Writing the Plan, Annual Review of the Plan, and Documentation of the Completed Plan).

When writing the Plan, the following five components are included:

Description of School and Teaching, Administrative, or Pupil Services Situation.
Description of Goal(s) to be Addressed.
Rationale for the Goal(s).
Plan for Assessing and Documenting the Goal(s).
Plan to Meet Goal(s): Objectives, Activities, Timeline, and Collaboration.

Note: An initial educator must have his/her goal(s) approved by a PDP team and a copy of the completed PDP goal approval form must be submitted to: DPI Educator Licensing, PO Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841.

For specific questions related to changing a goal/standards or requirements of the annual review, see the toolkits available on the PDP Main Page.

When is a PDP required?

A professional educator (40) who completed a program prior to 8/31/2004 has the option of completing either a PDP or six semester credits of course work related to his/her area of licensure to renew the license. A professional educator (40) who completes an additional license program(s) after August 31, 2004 in the same licensure category for which s/he already holds a license (e.g. has a regular education teaching license and adds a special education teacher license) can renew both licenses by completing either a PDP OR six semester credits of course work related to his/her area of licensure.

If an educator is adding a new license after 8/31/2004, is a PDP required for renewal in the future?

An educator who completes a license program after August 31, 2004 (e.g. has a teaching license and adds an administrative license after 8/31/2004) and has never completed an approved license program in that new category (i.e. teacher, pupil services, or administration) will be issued an Initial Educator (20) license and will be required to complete a PDP to advance to the professional educator (30) stage in that category. However, if the educator has not attained employment in that new category, s/he may renew his/her Professional Educator (40) license by completing six semester credits of course work related to the area of licensure or could also complete a PDP that focuses on the teaching standards.

Can an educator who completed an approved program prior to August 31, 2004 choose to renew with a PDP and then switch back to the six credits system for later renewals?

Yes, educators who completed an approved program prior to August 31. 2004 can switch back and forth between the PDP renewal option and the six semester credit renewal option for renewal of that particular professional educator (40) license. If an educator selects the PDP renewal option it is important to remember the PDP is a five-year plan that includes annual reviews and activities completed over that five-year period.

Can an educator complete his/her Professional Development Plan in less than 5 years?

Only an initial educator who holds an Initial Educator (20) license may choose to complete a PDP in year 3, 4, or 5 of the licensure cycle to advance to the professional educator (30) stage. A professional educator's PDP must be for five years. A professional educator (30 or 40) who completes a PDP must remember that the PDP is a five-year plan that includes annual reviews and activities which are completed over that five-year period. For more information about PDP timelines, review the educator toolkits on the PDP Main Page.

If an educator is adding a new license after 8/31/2004, is a Professional Development Plan (PDP) required for renewal in the future?

Professional educators (40) who complete an additional license program(s) after August 31, 2004 in the same licensure category for which they already hold a license (e.g. have a regular education teaching license and add a special education teacher license) can renew both licenses by completing either a PDP OR six semester credits of course work related to his/her area of licensure.

Anyone who completes a program for the first time in a particular licensure category (teacher, pupil services, or administrator) after 8/31/2004 is considered an initial educator (20) in that licensure category and must complete a PDP to advance to the professional educator (30) license stage. For example, a professional educator (40) who has a license in teaching and completes a program for administrative licensure after August 31, 2004 (and has never before completed an approved license program in administration) will be issued an Initial Educator (20) license and will be required to complete a PDP to advance to the professional educator (30) stage in that category. However, if the educator has not attained employment in that new category, s/he may renew his/her Professional Educator (40) license in teaching by completing six semester credits of course work related to the area of licensure or could also complete a PDP that focuses on the teaching standards.

Related Resources

Initial Educators' Page - Main page for educators with an Initial Educator License.
PDP Main Page - DPI Resources for the PDP Process
Resources and Support Systems for the PDP Process - License Renewal Support Centers, Quality Educator Interactive, Wisconsin PDP, e-PDP, School Districts.
Licensing - FAQs

For questions about this information, contact licensing@dpi.wi.gov (608) 266-1027

Last updated on 12/11/2008 9:41:57 AM