Information for Initial Educators

An Initial Educator is an individual who completed an approved educator preparation program after August 31, 2004 and is licensed by the Department of Public Instruction for the first time in a particular level or category. Initial Educator licenses have a License Type of 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, or 27.

The Initial Educator's Professional Development Plan (PDP)

• PDP Initial Educator Tool Kit Background and guidance to assist the initial educator with the PDP process.
• DPI-Trained Educators for PDP Teams - Lists of people trained and available to serve on PDP teams.
• PDP Writing Form - fillable   It is strongly suggested that initial educators write a PDP Plan with a Five-year Timeline.
  An initial educator may choose to write a PDP Plan with a Four-year Timeline or a Three-year Timeline.
• Initial Educator Goal Interview Video Discussion between a DPI-trained facilitator and an educator as they navigate the PDP Goal Writing Process.
• Professional Development Plan (PDP) Goal Approval Form (PI-PDP-3) The PDP Team must approve the initial educator's goal.
  Every initial educator must submit a signed PDP Goal Approval signature form with all three team members' signatures to DPI. A two thirds majority must approve the goal. Include your current email address on your PDP Goal Approval signature form.
  
  • When DPI receives your PDP Goal Approval signature form(s), it will be reviewed to ensure that all requirements are met. If your PDP Goal Approval signature form is in order, the date it was received will be entered into your file and you will receive a confirmation email. The date received will be displayed on your License Lookup record. If any problems are identified during the form review, you will be contacted by a licensing staff.
    
  • IMPORTANT: The DPI does not charge a fee for submission and review of your PDP Goal Approval signature form. DO NOT send any payments to DPI with your Goal Approval signature form.
  • Questions about PDP Goal Approval submission may be directed to Mary Benzine.
• PDP Verification Form (PI-PDP-2) - For PDP Team verification of PDP completion. Every initial educator must submit a signed PDP verification form when applying to advance to the professional educator stage.

Advance from Initial Educator to Professional Educator and/or Remove License Stipulations

• Requirements for Advancement to the Professional Educator License
• PI-1602-ADV Application Form - Initial Educator Advancement or Reissuance
  • Advance an Initial Educator License without Stipulations (License Type 20, 21, 24, or 25) to a Professional Educator License after all requirements are met. On this same form you may also request renewal of your 5-year professional educator licenses, with no additional fee, so that the renewal cycles of all your licenses are aligned. (A separate PI-1602-5R application form is not required in this situation.)
  • If you have not completed all requirements for advancement of your Initial Educator License, use this PI-1602-ADV form to request reissuance or an extension of the Initial Educator License without Stipulations.
• PI-1602-STP Application Form - Use this form if your Initial Educator License was issued with Stipulations (License Type 22, 26, or 27). You may request removal of stipulations and/or advancement to the Professional Educator License after all requirements are met and all stipulations have been removed. This form may also be used to request reissuance of the Initial Educator License with Stipulations.

Other Resources

• Adding a New Area of Licensure
• FAQs about PI 34 for Initial Educators - initial educator section of the complete PI 34 FAQ page below.
• Instructions to initial educators regarding Submission of PDP Goal Approval Forms to DPI - October, 2007 Letter from DPI Educator Licensing.
• FAQs - PI 34 - Information for educators, districts, and institutions of higher education.
• Licensed Educators' Page - Visitor page for educators licensed in Wisconsin.

For questions about this information, contact Mary J. Benzine (608) 266-0954

Last updated on 8/18/2011 11:15:16 AM