Parent and family education licensure

Complete this program online!

Parent education in Minnesota

A teacher of parent and family education is authorized to instruct parents in an early childhood family education (ECFE) program. A parent educator plans, coordinates, and teaches in an instructional program that addresses the intellectual, emotional, cultural, social, and physical needs of both parents and children. Parent education seeks to support respectful, reciprocal interactions between parents and their children.

Interest in parent education is growing across the United States. Minnesota is recognized as a leader in this field with its statewide, legislatively supported early childhood family education (ECFE) programs offering parent education for families with young children through local school districts. In Minnesota, a parent educator license is required for employment in an ECFE program. The purpose of the license is to insure, through scholarly preparation, that parent educators are well-prepared professionals who are qualified to deliver educational programs for parents.

This program also prepares parent educators for parent education positions that do not require a Minnesota parent and family education license. For example, parent educators may find positions in health care and social service agencies and institutions and religious settings in Minnesota and in other states and countries. A parent education certificate program is also available for those who do not require a Minnesota teaching license.

Students may include licensure credits toward the M.Ed. professional studies degree (download sample M.Ed. program planning form), or the M.A. or Ph.D. degrees.

New! Online parent education licensure courses (descriptions and registration information)

Applying to the parent and family education licensure program

1. Program requirements
1. A grade point average of 2.8 or higher is required for admission and students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.8 or higher.
2. All coursework must be on a college or university transcript.
3. All grades must be “C” or better, or completed with a “Pass.”
4. Course credits may be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level.
5. All of the core credits used toward licensure must have been taken within 10 years of when licensure requirements are completed.
6. Passing the Praxis I exam is required for program completion.
2. Application process
1. Complete the Application for Parent Education Licensure Program form.
2. Mail the following application materials to CEHD Student Services (address below):
   • Official college transcripts from all institutions where relevant coursework was completed
   • A copy of your existing Minnesota teaching licenses (if any)
   • Application fee: a check for $50 made out to the “University of Minnesota”
   • Professional resume
   CEHD Student Services
   College of Education and Human Development
   110 Wulling Hall
   86 Pleasant Street S.E.
   Minneapolis, MN 55455
3. Application deadlines
   • Summer Session admission – March 01
   • Fall Semester admission – July 01
   • Spring Semester admission – November 01
4. Application review

   Once you have submitted the required application materials for a license in parent and family education, faculty and advisers will review your materials. You may be asked to supply course descriptions and syllabi for courses on transcripts from institutions other the University of Minnesota that may meet licensure requirements.

   When accepted into the licensure program, you will receive a packet from the College of Education and Human Development in the mail that will include a customized contract that specifies all requirements that you will need to complete in order to be recommended to the Minnesota Department of Education for licensure. Please read through this packet carefully as you will find helpful information about getting started and taking courses at the University of Minnesota.

   Note: Please immediately complete and return your Intent to Enroll form to confirm your decision to pursue licensure in the area in which you have been accepted.

   Contact Heather Cline if you have questions about your application.

   Phone: 612-624-1294
   E-mail: fyc@umn.edu

Working toward a Minnesota license for teachers of parent and family education

1. Take the Praxis I – PPST exam. (If you already hold a Minnesota teaching license, skip this step.) Before you begin your coursework, schedule a time to complete the Praxis I (Pre-Professional Skills Test [PPST]). This basic competency exam includes three content areas: Reading, Writing, and Math. To learn more about the PPST, visit www.ets.org/praxis. Use institutional code 6874 to have your scores submitted to the University of Minnesota. You will not be able to register for your second semester of coursework without scores reported for each content area. If you fail to pass one or more of the content areas, you may begin the program and retake the exam. Passing scores in all content areas are required for program completion.
2. Register for courses. The packet your received indicating your acceptance into this program offers information on how to register for courses. The following links may also be helpful: First-time registration at the University; subsequent registration. If you need more information about how to register, please visit One Stop Student Services or contact them at 612-624-1111.
3. Complete required coursework. Your CEHD student contract will indicate the coursework remaining to fulfill licensure requirements. See our list of approved courses that meet licensure requirements to begin your course selection and registration process. Check the Class Schedule to see when the courses you need are offered.
4. Apply for your Minnesota teaching license Once you have received passing PPST scores, completed the coursework needed for your parent and family education license, and confirmed that all final grades are posted to your transcript, you are ready to apply for your Minnesota teaching license.
   1. If this is your first Minnesota Teaching License, follow these Online MDE Application Instructions (pdf).
   2. If you hold a previous Minnesota teaching license, complete this Application for an Additional MDE License (pdf).
   3. Submit application materials to:
      Family, Youth, and Community
      Attn: Heather Cline
      245C Peik Hall
      159 Pillsbury Drive SE
      Minneapolis, MN 55455-4301

Contact Heather Cline if you have questions about working toward your Minnesota license for teachers of parent and family education.

Chat online with Heather Cline  
Phone: 612-624-1294
E-mail: fyc@umn.edu

Student profile

San Ha

Through my undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota in psychology and philosophy, parenting two children, and volunteer teaching at Jane Addams School for Democracy in St. Paul for immigrant families, I have found that my most rewarding experiences have been those in which I have had the opportunity to support children, parents, and families. I realized the need for better education not only for children but also for parents to enhance the quality of their family lives. I feel very fortunate to have discovered the parent education licensure and family education programs at the University of Minnesota. While pursuing my parent education license, I am also working on my M.Ed. in family education. The program is superb and perfectly matches my needs, interests, and expectations.

As a pre-service parent educator, I have had valuable opportunities for professional practice, such as CI 5934—Practice of Parent Education I and CI 5937—Parent-Child Interactions. Those courses helped me to develop knowledge and skills to create sample lessons, curriculum and a cohesive program on certain concepts for a specific parent group I would work with. These courses also inspired me to broaden my perspectives and reflect on assumptions that I might have taken for granted.

Dr. Betty Cooke is not only an excellent scholar and distinguished expert in parent and family education but also very supportive and responsive to students. She respects different opinions and cares about each student’s progress. Moreover, she always tries to understand students regardless of their diverse backgrounds. I have had the opportunity to discuss some concepts and teaching methods, which were not clearly stated in my curriculum plan, with her after class. Instead of merely giving me a grade for the assignment, she wanted to understand how I planned the curriculum and why I had used these concepts and methods for my plan. I am very happy to have a wonderful mentor like her as my faculty advisor and strongly satisfied by learning parent education from her at the University of Minnesota.

Revised February 2009