Licensing

Pathways to an Administrator License

Under Wis. Admin. Code PI 34, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction issues the following administration licenses. The grade range for all of these licenses is PK – 12.Licenses issued under old rule will continue to have positions and grade levels for the program(s) that the license holder earned at time of completion.

Note: If you completed an administrator program outside Wisconsin, use the Out-of-State pathway. The information below is for those interested in enrolling in Wisconsin approved educator preparation programs.

Candidate Profile

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's, Education Specialist, or Doctorate degree (depending on the administrator license sought).
  • Eligible for Wisconsin license at the Provisional Educator level
  • 6 semesters of teaching or pupil services experience. Pupil services must have 240 hours of teaching experience.

People who fit this pathway profile are teachers or pupil services professionals who wish to pursue a career as an administrator in a Wisconsin public school.  Candidates must complete the approved administrator preparation program specific to the license they are seeking at a Wisconsin college/university. Upon completion, the Wisconsin college/university will endorse the candidate for Wisconsin license.

If you fit this pathway profile:

  1. DECIDE what administrator licensure you are interested in.
  2. IDENTIFY the Wisconsin college/university approved to prepare administrators for the Wisconsin license you are seeking using the Find a Preparation Program tool (scroll halfway down the page for the tool). 
  3. CONTACT the college/university directly to learn about their programs and enrollment. 
  4. COMPLETE the degree requirements.
  5. COMPLETE the requirements of the approved administrator licensure program.
  6. APPLY for a Wisconsin License using the ELO System.

Not yet enrolled in a preparation program?

Review the Tier I Board Requested Administrator License to learn how to obtain your Wisconsin administrative license.

Degree and Experience Requirements for a Tier II License

  1. Completion of a state-approved educator preparation program in the licensure area.
  2. A minimum of master’s degree or the equivalent. Superintendent license requires a specialist degree or equivalent; program coordinator licenses require a bachelor’s degree.
  3. A valid or eligibility to hold a provisional educator license in teaching or pupil services. School business administrator and program coordinator licenses are waived from this requirement.
  4. Six semesters of successful full-time classroom teaching experience, or six semesters of successful experience as a pupil services professional including 540 hours of classroom teaching experience. School business administrator and program coordinator licenses are waived from this requirement.

 

Licenses and Grade Ranges

All license grade ranges are PK-12

Principal

School District Administrator

Director of Instruction

Director of Special Education and Pupil Services

School Business Administrator

Reading Specialist

Career and Technical Education Coordinator

Gifted and Talented Coordinator

 

Submit questions and comments about this information to the licensing help desk.