School District Support License Pathways (Tier I Licenses)

Candidate Profiles

1. Professional Teaching Permit Pathway
2. Experience-Based Technical and Vocational Education Subjects Pathway

Professional Teaching Permits (Tier I)

Candidate Profile

• Holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with majors in engineering, math, science, computer science, art, music, or world languages.
• Demonstrates five years of experience as a professional (outside of education) in the subject area in which the bachelor’s degree was awarded.
• Seeks a permit to teach in a Wisconsin school district in one of the following subjects:
  • Music for grades K-12 (bachelor's degree with a major in music required).
  • Art for grades K-12 (bachelor's degree with a major in art required).
  • World language(s) for grades K-12 (bachelor's degree with a major in the world language(s) required).
  • Computer science for grades 4-12 (bachelor's degree with a major in computer science or engineering required).
  • Math for grades 4-12 (bachelor's degree with a major in math or engineering required).
  • Science for grades 4-12 (bachelor's degree with a major in science or engineering required). 

• Demonstrates competency in the subject area by having a passing score on a standardized test approved by the state superintendent.

• Completes an alternative teacher training program from one of the providers listed below.

• Provides a request to issue the permit from the district administrator or designee of the employing school district accompanied by verification from the employing school district that an educator with a valid tier II, III, or IV license will be supervising the applicant.

2. REVIEW the additional information provided below to learn more about training programs.

Applicants for the Professional Teaching Permit must successfully complete a minimum of 100 hours of formal instruction in the application of modern curricula in the subject area from a Wisconsin DPI-approved alternative training program.

The program providers below can provide the training. Contact the provider directly to learn more about their training and how to enroll.

3. APPLY for a Wisconsin Permit using the Educator Licensing Online (ELO) System.

Experience-based Technical and Vocational Education Subjects Pathway Candidate Profile (Tier I)

• Have training or experience in a trade, technical field, and/or vocational area.
• Have pedagogical training or experience.
• Have a school district interested in having you teach the technical or vocational education subject(s).

People who fit this pathway profile are being supported by a Wisconsin public school district to teach technical or vocational education in their school.

Technical education subjects include:

Architecture and construction, biotechnology, broad-based technology education, communication and information technology, electronics, engineering, environmental technologies, manufacturing, power and energy, and transportation.  

Vocational subjects include:

Agriculture, child services, clothing services, food services, housing and equipment services, family and consumer education, family and consumer services, home economics-related occupations, healthcare-related occupations, business education, business and office, and marketing education.

Qualification for this license is based on a system of points. Candidates must score at least 100 points, with at least 25 points for technical or vocational experience and at least 25 points for pedagogical experience.

Have questions about this pathway?  Please see the Frequently Asked Questions - Experience-Based Technical/Vocational Licensure webpage for more information.

If you fit this pathway profile:

1. DETERMINE your eligibility by following the steps identified here: Experience-Based Technical or Vocational Education Subjects
2. SELECT which experience-based license covers the subject areas your school district is requesting you to teach using the Experience-Based Subjects Crosswalk
3. SEEK school district assistance in completing the PI-1623 Experience-Based Licensure for Technical or Vocational Education Subjects supplemental form
4. APPLY for a license using the Educator Licensing Online (ELO) system.

Note: Please notify us if someone under an Experience-Based License moves districts for us to begin the invalidation process of their license.