Licensing is the most important part of the teaching process and this page outlines the requirements and differences between all teachers licenses.

Which License

The majority of graduates (program completers) from BSU’s Professional Education programs who are seeking initial licensure will be eligible for one of two options, based on the following:

Tier 2

• Completed BSU’s Professional Education Program, including a Bachelor’s degree.
• Job offer from a school district who will apply jointly with you for your Tier 2 license.
• License is good for two years and can be renewed three times.
• This is the only option available to candidates who have not passed all MTLE Pedagogy and Content exams (you must have taken your Basic Skills, but passing scores are not included in this requirement).

Tier 3

• Completed BSU Professional Education Program, including Bachelor’s degree.
• Passing scores on MTLE Pedagogy and Content exams.
• License is good for 3 years and can be renewed indefinitely.
• Once the candidate has taught in Minnesota for three years (without being put on an improvement plan) and passed the state approved Basic Skills exams, they are eligible to move to Tier 4, the highest possible tier.

If you have NOT passed all the required MTLE Pedagogy and Content exams you will need a job offer with a school district in order to apply for a Tier 2 license. You may do so using the paper applications for Tiers 1 and 2 available on the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) website.

If you do NOT have official scores on file for all required MTLE Pedagogy and Content exams and you do NOT have a job offer, you may apply for s Substitute License.

If you have passed all of the required Basic Skills, MTLE Pedagogy and MTLE Content exams you may apply for a tier 3 license. You may do so using the paper application for Tiers 3 and 4 available on the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) website. Please make sure you are using THE MOST RECENT APPLICATION FORM found here

Tier 4

• This license may apply to FasTrack, SPED, or any other student who has been teaching in their own classroom for a minimum of 3 years.
• Completed BSU Professional Education Program, including a Bachelor’s degree,
• Passing scores on the MN Basic Skills (Reading, Writing, and Math) and MTLE Pedagogy and Content exams.
• THREE YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN MINNESOTA
• MOST RECENT SUMMATIVE EVALUATION MUST NOT HAVE RESULTED IN AN IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
• License is good for 5 years and can be renewed indefinitely following MN’s continuing education process.

For assistance in determining which Tier you qualify for, please see the “Tiered Licensure Explained” document created by the Certification Officer. More information about requirements and the application process is available on the first few ages of each application.

License Requirements

TO APPLY FOR YOUR TEACHING LICENSE YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
1. YOUR DEGREE:
Records will begin processing applications for graduation at the end of the semester after student teaching grades have been posted. It will take approximately 4-6 weeks after student teaching grades are posted for your degree to be awarded. Please keep this in mind when starting your application with PELSB as the application fee is only good for 60 days. To see if your degree has been awarded go to MyBSU –> E-Services –> Academic Records –> Unofficial Transcripts –> Chronological –> Get Academic Record. Once your degree has been posted it will show up at the top of the page as “Awarded on”:

2. *OFFICIAL SCORES* ON FILE SHOWING YOU HAVE MET ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MTLE EXAMS:

• MTLE Pedagogy (Elementary OR Secondary) ≥ 240 for each subtest and
• MTLE Content Area(s) ≥ 240 for each subtest
  You will need to complete Content subtests for each licensure area.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF TESTING REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE THE BSU TEACHER LICENSURE TESTING GUIDE.FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE THE MTLE INFORMATION PAGE.

Please Note: BSU will need official scores on file. Scores are released twice per month. The MTLE website provides a list of score report dates – based on when you took the tests:

*Scores sent from the testing company to BSU or score reports with bar codes are considered official scores.

3. IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A TIER 2 LICENSE, YOU MUST HAVE SECURED A JOB OFFER.

If you have not attempted the required Pedagogy and Content tests – and – you do not have a job offer, you may apply for a Substitute License.

How to Apply for Your License

Please read the entire process before beginning!

The Application Process

Step 1:

Download the appropriate application (based on your qualifications from the PELSB website. Please make sure you are using The MOST RECENT APPLICATION FORM found here

Initial applicants may complete PELSB’S ONLINE APPLICATION found here

Step 2:

Complete the Request for Licensure Documentation form found here

Step 3:

Upon receipt of the above information, a Certification Officer will verify your coursework completion and ensure we have official test scores on file for all required licensure exams. If you have not met all of the requirements, the Certification Officer will NOT sign your form. The Certification Officer will complete your Verification Form (takes approximately 2 weeks).

Due to COVID-19, PELSB is currently accepting electronic signatures from Certification Officers. Therefore, the Certification Officer will return your signed Verification Form to you via email. The Certification Officer will provide:

1. A signed Verification Form.
2. Copies of all relevant transcripts
3. An approved plan of study (if required for your program – FasTrack, SPED, DAPE).
4. You must print off the above items and the email from the Certification Officer. Add these pieces to your application packet.

Step 4:

Send your entire PELSB in one packet, this includes: the Verification Form with ALL required signatures, Review & Checklist, transcript(s), email from the Certification Officer, completed fingerprint card, check/money order. and any other required documentation. Refer to the PELSB Checklist (front page of the PELSB application packet).

Step 5:

As of July 1, 2019, PELSB is no longer be able to issue first time licenses pending a background check. PELSB must receive fingerprint card results before issuing a license to a candidate. The 30 day processing window will not begin until PELSB has received all application materials and the completed background check. Once they received the results of your background check PELSB will process your application and send you an email with a link to your license (you can print out a hard copy). Make sure you email address is correct on your application and do not use your BSU email address (you will lose access to it after a year). PELSB processing times vary, but they estimate 8-10 weeks.

Note: Once you begin the online application, you will have 60 days to complete it before your application fee is forfeit. Please be sure you can complete your application and mail it to PELSB within 60 days or you will have to repay the fee.

I have another question, not addressed above or on any of the licensure pages. Who can I contact

Email: Teaching.License@bemidjistate.edu