MN Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE) information

All candidates for Minnesota teaching licensure are required to pass a series of tests. These tests are offered several times a year and students are responsible for registering for and taking the tests by the required deadlines.

Prepare for the exam

Pedagogy tests

You'll need to take the pedagogy test that corresponds with your licensure grade-level:

Each pedagogy test includes two subtests. We recommend that you take both subtests at a single appointment. All subtests require a passing score of 240. Select the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities as a recipient institution of your MTLE pedagogy tests. Also, save a pdf copy of your official MTLE test report.

The pedagogy exam should be completed during your student teaching practicum.

Note: Testing for K–12 and Special Education Licensure Candidates

K–12 licensure candidates in the areas of visual arts, dance, theatre arts education, music education, and second languages education may choose to take either the elementary or the secondary pedagogy exam.

Special education candidates will need to take the pedagogy exam that corresponds with their specialty area:

Content tests

You'll need to take the content test that corresponds to your licensure area.

All tests except elementary education include two subtests. Elementary education content tests include three subtests. We recommend that you take all subtests at a single appointment. All subtests require a passing score of 240. Select the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities as a recipient institution of your MTLE content tests. Also, save a pdf copy of your official MTLE test report.

Tests by Program Areas

Basic skills test requirement for Tier 4 License

Upon completion of the licensure program, U of M teacher candidates are recommended for their Minnesota Tier 3 license. Before moving to a Tier 4 license, Tier 3 teachers must meet the Minnesota basic skills requirement, and teach for 3 years in Minnesota. Tier 3 teachers can meet the basic skills requirement via one of the following exams.

The Minnesota NES Essential Academic Skills (MN NES EAS) test includes three subtests: reading, writing, and mathematics. Candidates must take and complete all three subtests. Select the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities as a recipient institution of your MN NES Essential Academic Skills. Also, save a pdf copy of your official MN NES EAS/MTLE test report.

Find more information on the Minnesota NES Essential Academic Skills test, including test dates and preparation materials.

Minimum scores for the MN NES Essential Academic Skills test:

  • Reading (test code 188) ≥ 520
  • Writing (test code 189) ≥ 520
  • Mathematics (test code 190) ≥ 520

Additional basic skills options

If you have taken the ACT plus Writing, SAT, or GRE exams, and the scores meet the state minimum cut-off scores listed below, your passing scores can be used in lieu of the Minnesota NES Essential Academic Skills test. How to submit your scores. [PDF]

  • ACT Plus Writing (U of M institutional submission code: 2156)
    Composite Score ≥ 22 and Combined English/Writing (or ELA) ≥ 21
  • SAT (U of M institutional submission code: 6874)
    1600 SAT (New): Reading + Writing ≥ 550 Mathematics ≥ 570
    2400 SAT (Old): Reading ≥ 510 Writing ≥ 510 Mathematics ≥ 520
  • GRE (U of M institutional submission code: 6874)
    Taken prior to 8/1/2011
    Verbal Reasoning≥ 450 Analytical Writing ≥ 3 Quantitative Reasoning ≥ 540
    Taken after 8/1/2011
    Verbal Reasoning≥ 150 Analytical Writing ≥ 3 Quantitative Reasoning ≥ 145