Licensure FAQs

Gov. Walker signed the 2017-19 Wisconsin State Budget into law on September 21, 2017. It included significant changes to the state’s teacher license system. These changes were not sought by the DPI nor WCRIS.

Nonetheless, the DPI is the state agency responsible for creating rules that implement the law. To help you navigate this new terrain, WCRIS has compiled a list of most often asked questions about the changes. See FAQs below.

In addition to those new provisions, the DPI is pursuing other measures to simplify the state’s complicated teacher licensure process. Because of a state law requiring a WCRIS representative on the DPI’s Professional Standards Council, private school teachers have input in the recommendations the Council makes to the State Superintendent.

Many of the DPI’s recent changes to the system are listed here.

If you have questions about teachers with out of state licenses, the DPI has updated its information about those license holders and has a new diagram to help you navigate that process. Since each teacher’s situation is unique, it’s important to read those license provisions with a specific teacher’s license details in mind.

What is a lifetime license?

A lifetime license allows a teacher in Wisconsin to teach in public schools in her/his area of certification without needing to renew the license for the lifetime of the teacher.

How do I qualify for a lifetime license?

All educators holding a valid, unencumbered “professional” or “master” educator license qualify for a lifetime license.

Do I have to do anything to obtain my lifetime license?

No. The DPI will automatically convert existing licenses to a lifetime license(s) by removing the expiration dates from current licenses. There is no application and no fee for this change.

I was grandfathered under PI-34 and have been taking six credits every five years. Do I need to keep taking classes and earning credits?

No. Graduate credits are no longer required for license renewal.

I have a professional license, but have been completing a PDP every five years to renew my license. Do I need to continue to complete my PDP?

No. The completion of a PDP is no longer required for state licensure. However, your private school or its sponsoring jurisdiction (Synod, Diocese) may still require professional development, which completion of a PDP may satisfy.

Do “Initial Educators” qualify for a lifetime license?

No. If you are an Initial Educator (IE), your license will be converted to a “three (3) year provisional license”. Once you have completed six semesters of “successful” teaching, you may apply for a lifetime license.

How is “successful” defined?

The law is not clear. WCRIS and DPI are working together to get this clarified.

What does this mean for an IE in years 2, 3, 4, and 5?

Currently, we do not know if those IEs who have already taught will be required to complete an additional six semesters of successful teaching prior to being able to apply for a lifetime license. This is on the list of issues the DPI is seeking to resolve.

Do initial educators need to complete their PDP?

No. PDPs are no longer required for licensure. However, your school or jurisdiction may have requirements for professional development that the work you’ve undertaken in your PDP may satisfy.

What if I currently hold a life license?

The DPI has not yet issued guidance on this. WCRIS is working with the DPI to ensure that no licenses are deactivated.

If I hold multiple teaching licenses or am certified for multiple subject areas, will all of my licenses be converted to “lifetime” licenses?

Every valid, unencumbered, “professional” or “master” license that you hold will be converted to a “lifetime” license. This is true even if you are licensed in multiple categories (teaching, administration, pupil services).

If I hold licenses in two categories, and one is a professional license, but the other is an initial license, what happens in my situation?

The professional license will be converted to a lifetime license, and the initial license will be converted to a “three-year provisional license”. For example, if you hold a professional teaching license and an initial administration license, the teaching license will convert to a lifetime license, and the administration license will convert to a “three-year provisional license”.

Do I still need to pay for my license?

There is no cost to convert a professional or master license to a lifetime license. However, the law still requires the DPI to perform background checks on all licensed teachers every five years. So, teachers will need to pay a fee and submit to a background check every five years in order to keep a license valid.

I got an e-mail from the Quality Educator Initiative, which helps support PDP development. Do I need to do anything?

No. We currently do not know the role that QEI will play in verifying “successful” teaching experience. WCRIS and its member jurisdictions are currently investigating this and will provide further information once a course of action is determined.