Applying for teacher licensure

During your student teaching term

Attend your student teaching seminar. Student Services staff will walk you through the entire license application process and procedures. You will receive the following materials:
- Teaching license application folder
- Declaration of Licensure Completion
- Application for Minnesota Education License (Teaching/Administrative/Related Services)
- Conduct Review form
Fill out and turn in the Declaration of Licensure Completion form. You will receive a response e-mail updating you on requirements to complete your licensure.

Note: If Student Services is not scheduled to present during your seminar class, ask the instructor if a presentation is being planned. If not, contact Student Services immediately for individual assistance.
Sign up for fingerprinting.
- Watch your official University of Minnesota e-mail for an announcement regarding times.
- Even if you were fingerprinted for student teaching, you will need to do it again.
- If you hold a limited, subbing, or regular Minnesota teaching license, you do not need to be fingerprinted again.
- After your prints have been taken, put the MDE fingerprint card into your teaching license application folder.
Pass all remaining Praxis I and II exams.
- Required scores and more information can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education's Web site. (See the links at the bottom of the page.)
- Have your Praxis scores reported to the University. The institutional code is 6874.
- If Student Services did not receive your scores, you will need to take your original score report (not a copy) to this college office:
  
  CEHD Student Services
  110 Wulling Hall
  86 Pleasant Street SE
  Minneapolis, MN 55455
Open your credential file.
- You must open your credential file before Student Services can recommend you for a license.
- Instructions and forms are available at Establishing your credential file.
- If you secure a job before using your credential file then you must still open your file, but can request a deferral of its use until the next year.
Obtain Standard First Aid and CPR certifications if you're in one of the following programs:
- agricultural education
- elementary education
- industrial education
- physical education
- science education
- technology education
Any Standard First Aid certification is acceptable. CPR certification may be for infant/child, child/adult (recommended), or adult.

Take your Standard First Aid and CPR cards to this college office:

CEHD Student Services
110 Wulling Hall
86 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

While Standard First Aid and CPR certifications are not required for other programs, it is still highly recommended that you do this for the safety of your students and yourself.

Tip

It's often best to apply for the Minnesota teaching license as soon as you complete the program, even if you don’t want to teach right away, or plan to teach in another state. If you choose to apply for the Minnesota license later on, you will have to complete all requirements in place at the time of application, which may be more extensive than the ones in place right now.

Getting a teaching license or certificate in another state

Complete the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) online form

Notes
- If you have ever been granted a Minnesota education license and/or file folder number, you cannot use the MDE's first-time licensure system. Check the MDE Web site for more details.
- Don't start too soon. Be sure your grades have been posted and you have your Praxis results. You can complete the online portion of the application up to 60 days prior to the date the state receives the final documents from Student Services. If the MDE does not receive the full license application from Student Services within 60 days, you will have to reapply and pay MDE for the license application again.
- If you leave the system before submitting your application, your information will be lost and you will need to begin the online application process again.
Before you begin
- You'll need a credit card. All MDE applications require processing fee(s). You'll need to pay with VISA or MasterCard. You'll also be asked for the three-digit security number found on the back of the credit card.
- You'll need to be connected to a printer. Copies on your online forms must be submitted to Student Services.
Step 1: Obtain a name and password.

Register with MDE
You will need to establish an MDE account by entering your identifying information and creating a user ID and password. Along with this information, you will be asked to supply a question and answer that is known only to you.

Step 2: Complete online application.

Fill out online application.

Step 3: Print copies for your records and for Student Services.

After completing the MDE online application you need to print out the following documents and place them in the teaching license application folder given to you in your student teaching seminar. You'll need copies of the following forms:
- Verification of Completion of State-Approved Licensure Program
- Checklist of license documents
- Receipt of payment

Complete your teaching license application folder

Contents list:

Checklist of license documents (from MDE)
Receipt of payment (from MDE)
Verification of Completion of a State-Approved Licensure Program
Fingerprint card
If your bachelor's degree was not earned at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, or Crookston campuses), include an official sealed and stamped transcript from the institution where you did your undergraduate degree. This requirement is waived for University of Minnesota graduates.

Return your folder to Student Services

M.Ed. early childhood and early childhood special education program
Barb Murphy
125 Child Dev Bldg
51 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455

M.Ed. programs (all other) and all undergraduate programs, including music education
Maxine Copeman (in-person delivery preferred)
110 Wulling Hall
86 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-6840
E-mail: m-cope@umn.edu

What happens next?

You will receive a letter from Student Services stating their completion of your recommendation to MDE for licensure. You'll also receive a verification letter you can provide to hiring officials.

If you're in an M.Ed. program, you'll also receive instructions on how to complete your M.Ed. degree.

MDE will mail your license to you in 6-8 weeks. (If MDE elects not to issue you a license, the Commissioner of Education will mail you a letter.)

March 2008

Student services