Educator License Renewal

IMPORTANT: Anyone who completes an approved program for the first time in a particular category (teaching, pupil services, or administrator) after August 31, 2004, is considered an Initial Educator in that category and must complete a Professional Development Plan to advance to the Professional Educator license stage in that category. Completion of a PDP is also required to renew the Professional Educator license in subsequent renewal cycles. For those educator licenses, the professional growth requirement information for license renewal described below is NOT applicable. (Print a summary of the professional growth requirement for renewing a Professional Educator license if you completed your educator preparation program after August 31, 2004.)

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For applicants who currently hold a valid five-year Wisconsin educator license or who previously held a Wisconsin license which has expired, the license renewal procedures are the same as long as the license was issued based on an approved program that was completed prior to September 1, 2004. Any five-year license which is renewed will be issued as a "Professional Educator License."

The earliest that an applicant may apply for renewal is January of the calendar year in which the license expires. General requirements to renew a 5-year educator license in any licensure area are outlined below. For detailed renewal information organized by specific licensure areas, also see the appropriate license title in the Applicant Guide.

NOTE: Military personnel who are in active duty status at time of license expiration/renewal may be eligible, with proof of active duty status, for an accomodation related to the fee or professional growth requirement. For more information, contact Bob Kott.

5-Year Professional Educator Licenses with Stipulations (Graduates of non-Wisconsin Programs) - Information on Common Minor Deficiencies/Stipulations and the Renewal Process

5-Year Licenses     FAQs - How & When to Apply for Renewal

Renewal of a regular five-year Professional Educator license is contingent upon completion of the professional growth requirement described on this page.

To renew a 5-year license, send a completed PI-1602-5R application, fee and evidence of completion of the professional growth requirement (see below) must be mailed to DPI Teacher Licensing, Drawer 794, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0794.

The PI-1602-5R is used to apply for renewal of ALL 5-year licenses except the following licensees who are exempt from the professional growth requirement.

• Special Education Aides. Use PI-1602-PA to renew.
  
  
• School Occupational Therapists/Assistants and School Physical Therapists/Assistants.
         Use PI-1602-NP to renew. (Occupational therapists/assistants and physical therapists/assistants must verify current certification by the Department of Regulation and Licensing Credentialing Board.)
  
  

Other application forms may also be necessary.   Renewal applicants who 1) are adding a new certification (e.g. initial administration or reading) or 2) are requesting an emergency license must submit, in addition to the PI-1602-5R and $100 fee, the appropriate separate application form and fee for the new license. See License Applications for a complete list of forms. A separate application fee is required for each separate initial application. See Fee Policy and Payment Options for examples.

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH REQUIREMENT   FAQs - Professional Growth Requirement
    (Print a summary of options for meeting the professional growth requirement if you completed your educator preparation program prior to September 1, 2004.)

All applicants renewing a 5-year license on the PI-1602-5R (except substitute teachers and substitute educational interpreters) must have completed a professional growth requirement which can be satisfied by completing six semester credits. The credits must be directly and substantively related to one or more of the licenses held by the applicant or to the applicant's professional competency. Additional requirements apply to renew a driver education license or an educational interpreter license.

OPTIONS for Meeting the Professional Growth Requirement:

1. Six Semester Credits
   For applicants who hold a current license, the six semester credits must be completed during the 5-year period beginning on the July 1 effective date and ending on the June 30 expiration date of the license. For applicants who do not hold a current license because a previous license has expired, the credits must be completed in the five year period immediately prior to the effective date of the license renewal (i.e. by June 30). Credits earned in one 5-year period may not be "banked" for use in a future period. Semester credits completed after June 30 of the year a license expires will not be accepted for a 5-year renewal. If all required credits are not completed by June 30 of the year a license expires, the applicant must apply for a 1-year extension (indicate in Section III of form PI-1602-5R). If the additional needed credits are completed during the 1-year extension period (from July 1 to June 30), the applicant may then apply (with a new application form and fee) for another five-year license.
2. Professional Development Plan (PDP)
   An educator may satisfy the professional growth requirement by successfully completing a PDP as authorized in Chapter PI 34 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. Choosing the PDP option to renew a license in one renewal cycle does not obligate the educator to use the PDP process to renew that license in future renewal cycles. For more information, see PDP FAQs.
3. Master Educator Process
   Under DPI Educator Licensing policy, the 5-year license renewal professional growth requirement may be met by completing either the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) process or the Wisconsin Master Educator Assessment Process (WMEAP), whether or not national certification or a Master Educator license is attained.
      
   
   

For more assistance with licensing questions, see Frequently Asked Licensing Questions. Questions not covered in the FAQ topics may be directed to Educator Licensing.

Last updated on 7/1/2009 4:25:32 PM