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Initial License in Minnesota

If you are in an M.Ed. Initial Licensure Program (ILP) you will be applying for an initial license (even if you hold a MN substitute and/or restricted license), and should follow these instructions:

Checklist Before Applying for License

1. Attend a Professional Practice Seminar

At a Professional Practice Seminar, Student Services staff will walk you through the entire license application process. You will receive the following materials:

• Teaching license application folder
• Instructions for applying for a Minnesota Education License
• Fingerprint card
• Teacher job handbook

Learn more about upcoming Professional Practice Seminars »

If you are unable to attend a Professional Practice Seminar

You can also pick up teaching license application folders and other materials at CEHD Student Services.

CEHD Student Services
612-625-3339 | cehdlic@umn.edu
360 Education Sciences Building
56 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455

2. Sign up for fingerprinting

Review fingerprint card instructions.

• Check your official University of Minnesota email for an announcement regarding  dates of on-campus fingerprinting.
• You will need to be fingerprinted even if you already completed the process for student teaching.
• If you hold a limited, substitute, or regular Minnesota teaching license, you do not need to be fingerprinted again.
• After your prints have been taken, include the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) fingerprint card in your teaching license application folder.
3. Pass all remaining Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE)
4. If required by your program, obtain standard first aid and CPR certifications

The following programs require first aid and CPR certification:

• agricultural education
• elementary education
• industrial technology education
• physical education
• science education
• technology education

Any standard first aid certification is acceptable. CPR certification may be for infant/child, child/adult (recommended), or adult.

Take your Standard First Aid and CPR cards to Student Services at 360 Education Sciences Building, 56 East River Road or scan both sides of your card and send a PDF to cehdlic@umn.edu. Make sure to include your U of M ID number in your email. 

While standard first aid and CPR certifications are not required for other programs, it is highly recommended you become certified for the safety of your students and yourself.

5. Check your APAS report on One Stop to make sure you have completed all license requirements and that your grades have been posted.

Applying for and Submitting a Minnesota Teaching License Application

After your final grades have been posted and you have completed the checklist items above, follow these steps to apply for your Minnesota teaching license:

1. Complete the Minnesota teaching license application

For first-time licensure applicants

If you are a first-time applicant for a Minnesota teaching license, you must complete the MDE first-time online licensing application.

Required steps:

• Step 1: Download the Licensure Instructions and Registration Guide at the MN Department of Education Licensing website.
  
  Before beginning the application, be sure that you have met all the license requirements and that your grades have been posted.
  You will want to submit all required materials to Student Services shortly after finishing your online application. In order to process your application, MDE must receive all license documents from Student Services within 60 days of its completion. If these materials are not received within this time period, you will need to pay the fee again and reapply.
• Step 2: Obtain a name and password.
Register with MDE.
You will need to establish an MDE account by entering your information and creating a user ID and password. You will also be asked to supply a question and answer that is known only to you.
• Step 3: Complete the application.
• Step 4: Print copies for your records and for Student Services.
  
  After completing the MDE application, you need to print out the following documents and place them in the teaching license application folder given to you in your student teaching seminar. You'll need copies of the following forms:
  • Verification of completion of state-approved licensure program
  • Checklist of license documents
  • Receipt of payment

For applicants who already hold a Minnesota teaching license

(Including a substitute or limited license)

If you have ever been granted some type of Minnesota teaching license (i.e., substitute license, limited license), you must use the paper form titled Application for an Addition to a Minnesota Education License available at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website.

2. Complete your teaching license application folder

You should have received this folder at a Professional Practice Seminar.If you were unable to attend a seminar, you can pick up a folder at the Student Services office, 360 Education Sciences Building.

Place the following items in the teaching license application folder:

For first-time licensure applicants:

• Checklist of license documents (from MDE)
• Receipt of payment (from MDE)
• Verification of completion of a state-approved licensure program
• Fingerprint card

For applicants who already hold some type of Minnesota teaching license:

• Paper application to add a license
• Paper conduct review form (included in a paper application to add a license)
• Check or money order payable to "Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)" in the amount specified on the application form.
3. Return your completed teaching license folder to student services

For all M.Ed. programs (except early childhood education)
and undergraduate programs in agricultural education and music education
Licensure Clearance Staff (in-person delivery preferred)
360 Education Sciences Building
56 East River Road S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-6840 | cehdlic@umn.edu

M.Ed. in early childhood education
Barb Murphy
125 Child Development Building
51 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-9035 | murph028@umn.edu

After Submitting Your Application

After completing all the steps in applying for licensure, you will receive a letter from Student Services confirming that you have been recommended to MDE for licensure. In addition, you will receive a verification letter which you can provide to hiring officials.

If you're in an M.Ed. program, you will also receive instructions on how to complete your degree.

Your license will be mailed to you by MDE within 6-8 weeks. (If MDE elects not to issue you a license, the Commissioner of Education will mail you a letter.)

Additional License

If you are in an additional license program and already hold a full-time teaching license in Minnesota, or applying for the Developmental and Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) license, follow these steps:

Once you have completed the course requirements, state mandated testing requirements, and all grades are posted to your transcript you can proceed with your application for the additional license.

Your application packet must include the following:

• The MDE Application for an Addition to a Minnesota Education License. This can be downloaded at the MN Department of Education Licensing website, under the heading "Forms for processes not yet available online."
• The Conduct Review Statement. This form is  part of the Application listed above.
• A copy of your current Minnesota teaching license.
• A check made payable to the “Commissioner of Education”. The current fee is $62.70.
• Official transcripts, in the sealed envelope, from other colleges or universities, if you have taken coursework towards the added license.
• Official Praxis or MTLE test score results sheet, if you did not have them reported to the University of Minnesota. We will return your official score report to you. The Minnesota Department of Education requires MTLE scores for those applying after September 1, 2010.

Mail your complete application packet to:

CEHD Student Services, attn. Pamela Matti
360 Education Sciences Building
56 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455

If you have further questions, please contact Pamela Matti at p-matt@umn.edu.

After Submitting Your Application

Most complete application packets are reviewed, signed, and mailed to the Minnesota Department of Education within two weeks. This timeline maybe extended during the busy summer season. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will typically take from 8-12 weeks for processing of your license. Please follow the processing of your license through the MDE’s web site.

Other Licenses

Special instructions for Adult Basic Education, Alternative Pathway World Languages and Cultures, Parent Education, and School Counseling initial licensure (first-time license) candidates:

Checklist Before Applying for License

1. Submit your fingerprinting using the MDE fingerprint card. Fingerprint cards are available from Student Services, 612-625-3339; or Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Personnel Licensing, 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville, MN 55113; 651-582-8691. Contact one of the authorized sites for fingerprinting (CEHD will not pay for this service).
2. For Adult Basic Education and Parent Education: Pass the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE) — Basic Skills Tests in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics.

Applying for and Submitting a Minnesota Teaching License Application

After your final grades have been posted and you have completed the checklist items above, follow these steps to apply for your Minnesota teaching license:

1. Complete the Minnesota teaching license application
2. Submit the Verification of Completion of a State-Approved Licensure Program form (which is generated after you complete the on-line application for licensure) and completed fingerprint cards to:
3. Pamela Matti, Student Services
   360 Education Sciences Building
   56 East River Road
   Minneapolis, MN 55455

License Outside of Minnesota

It's often best and highly recommended to apply for the Minnesota teaching license as soon as you complete the program, even if you don't want to teach right away or if you plan to teach in another state.

If you choose to apply for the Minnesota license later on, you will have to complete all of the requirements at the time of application. These requirements may be more extensive than the ones in place right now.

Apply for the teaching license through the educator licensing board of the state in which you wish to teach. Each state has a unique set of instructions and forms, which you will complete for that states teacher license.

Complete the application form and provide all requested materials. Note that many states require the use of their own fingerprint card and will conduct their own criminal background check.

Some states, but not all, will require an Institutional Verification Form. If the state requires this form, they will provide it as part of their application process. You will need to submit this form to:

CEHD Student Services, attn. Pamela Matti
360 Education Sciences Building
56 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Student Services will complete the verification form and mail it to that state’s licensing board.

The state's licensing board will review your application and determine if they will issue you a license/certificate.