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How to become a certified teacher in Wisconsin. Bachelor's degree required. Primary exam: Praxis Subject Assessment. Government fees: $380–$540. Substitute requirements: Bachelor's degree (short-term substitutes may need only a substitute license with 60+ credits in some cases). Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · Wisconsin
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in Wisconsin. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree
Primary Exam
Praxis Subject Assessment
Total Gov Fees
$380–$540
Initial Cert
5 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 2.5 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Content knowledge exam specific to the license endorsement area. Wisconsin accepts Praxis II subject assessment scores.
content knowledge
Passing score: 240
Required for elementary education, special education, and reading teacher/reading specialist licenses. Tests knowledge of reading instruction and literacy development.
Issued to new educators who complete an approved teacher preparation program and pass required exams. Requires completion of a mentoring program and professional development plan during the initial license period.
Issued after completion of the Initial License requirements, including a Professional Development Plan (PDP) and mentoring. Renewable every 5 years with continued professional development.
Advanced license for National Board Certified Teachers or educators who meet additional advanced criteria.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree (short-term substitutes may need only a substitute license with 60+ credits in some cases)
Certificate Required
Substitute Teaching License
Background Check
Required
Permit Fee
$25
Validity
5 years
Wisconsin requires substitute teachers to hold a state-issued Substitute Teaching License. There are three tiers: Short-Term Substitute (up to 45 days in one assignment), Long-Term Substitute (more than 45 days), and Emergency Substitute. The standard substitute license requires a bachelor's degree. Districts may request emergency substitute licenses for candidates with fewer than 60 college credits during severe shortages.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application FeeInitial educator license application fee | $125 |
| Fingerprint FeeBackground check fee processed through the DPI system | $12 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Praxis Subject Assessment ($120–$170) plus FoRT ($105, if applicable) | $120–$275 |
| Initial CertificateIncluded in the application fee | $125 |
| Renewal Fee | $100 |
| Substitute Permit | $25 |
| Total Government FeesIncludes application, background check, exams, and initial license fee | $380–$540 |
Graduate from a DPI-approved or regionally accredited teacher preparation program with a bachelor's degree.
Pass the Praxis Subject Assessment and FoRT (if applicable) for your endorsement area.
Fee: $120–$275
Submit to a background check through the DPI system.
Fee: $12
Submit your application through the Educator Licensing Online (ELO) system.
Fee: $125
Upon approval, receive a 5-year Initial Educator License.
Wisconsin offers several alternative pathways to licensure. The License Based on Experience (LBE) pathway allows individuals with significant professional experience in a content area to teach. Districts can also request alternative education licenses for candidates with relevant expertise. Teach For America operates in Milwaukee.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Hours per Cycle
6
Renewal Cycle
5 years
Wisconsin requires a Professional Development Plan (PDP) for license renewal. The PDP must include at least 6 semester credits of professional development activities over the 5-year renewal cycle. Activities can include college coursework, workshops, action research, mentoring, and other approved PD. The PDP must be approved by a PDP team.
Reciprocity Type
Case-by-case review
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Wisconsin evaluates out-of-state applicants individually. Educators with a valid out-of-state license and 3+ years of teaching experience may receive an Initial Educator License. Those with fewer than 3 years may need to complete additional requirements.
Additional requirements: May need to pass Praxis exams and/or FoRT. Must complete Wisconsin-specific professional development requirements.
Unique to Wisconsin: Wisconsin is notable for not requiring a basic skills exam (Praxis Core) for initial licensure, instead relying on the preparation program for basic skills verification. The state's Professional Development Plan (PDP) system requires educators to work with a PDP team to design their own professional development goals and activities. The Master Educator License (Tier III) provides a 10-year license for National Board Certified Teachers, among the longest validity periods in the country.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Wisconsin.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#30 of 51
Cost
#21 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$49,410
25th percentile
Median
$60,690
-3% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$75,800
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
25,080 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: Educator Licensing - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Educator Licensing - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Educator Licensing - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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Wisconsin requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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