Minnesota Teaching Certification
Minnesota teaching certification is administered by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) through a four-tier licensing system established in 2018. Requirements vary by licensure tier, preparation pathway, and endorsement. Traditional Tier 3 candidates generally complete an approved educator preparation program with supervised clinical experience and satisfy applicable testing or statutory testing exemptions.
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Ask a Minnesota teacher when they got licensed, and the answer tells you which system they went through. Educators certified before July 2018 came under the old Board of Teaching. Most licensed since then have moved through a four-tier structure run by a different agency entirely: the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, or PELSB. The two systems share some DNA, a bachelor’s degree, clinical experience, background checks, but the licensing path itself changed enough that older guidance about “the Department of Education’s Licensing Division” no longer describes how Minnesota actually issues teaching licenses.
Choose the description that best matches your situation, and jump straight to the relevant guide:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Minnesota’s Tiered Teacher Licensing System
On July 1, 2018, Minnesota replaced its old licensure categories with a four-tier system and handed oversight to the newly formed PELSB. The tiers exist to match the license to the preparation and classroom experience a candidate already has, rather than issuing a single, all-or-nothing credential. Requirements vary by licensure tier. Traditional Tier 3 candidates generally complete a bachelor’s degree, an approved teacher preparation program, clinical experience, and any applicable testing or testing exemptions. Tier 1 and Tier 2 pathways follow different statutory requirements.
Each tier carries its own detailed statutory eligibility criteria, and a summary can’t capture every path into it. In general terms, Tier 1 and Tier 2 serve candidates who are still completing preparation requirements or working toward full credentialing, while Tier 3 and Tier 4 are the licenses most traditionally held by prepared and experienced teachers. For the current, complete eligibility criteria for each tier, review PELSB’s Licensure Requirements page directly, since statutory details can change between rulemaking cycles.
PELSB evaluates out-of-state applicants individually to determine the appropriate Minnesota licensure tier. Placement depends on the applicant’s existing license, preparation program, teaching experience, testing history, and current Minnesota law. Minnesota’s own teacher reciprocity guide walks through how PELSB weighs these factors for out-of-state candidates.
Initial Minnesota Teaching Certification
Minnesota has one of the more research-active education agencies in the country, and PELSB’s own dashboards track everything from licensure volume to which preparation routes candidates use most. Find schools offering teaching certification programs in Minnesota before you map out the steps below.
Education Requirements
Most traditional teacher licensure pathways require a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and completion of a PELSB-approved teacher preparation program. Minnesota also requires Human Relations preparation and training in teaching students from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. However, candidates may satisfy this requirement in different ways depending on their preparation route, prior coursework, or licensure pathway.
If you trained outside Minnesota, PELSB reviews out-of-state preparation programs and transcripts to determine whether they satisfy Minnesota licensure requirements. Applicants educated outside the United States should follow PELSB’s current foreign credential evaluation requirements, since accepted evaluation services can change.
Minnesota licenses cover the full K-12 range, as well as specialty areas: early childhood, elementary, middle-level content areas, world languages, career and technical education, special education categories, and the arts, among others. PELSB publishes the complete, current list of licensure fields and their grade bands, since these fields are periodically added to or restructured.
Examinations
Minnesota uses its own testing system rather than the Praxis exams that most other states rely on. Traditionally, candidates needed to pass the NES Essential Academic Skills exam, a pedagogy subtest matched to their intended grade band, and a content-area subtest in their licensure field, all administered through the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE) program.
Testing exemptions took effect August 1, 2023, but eligibility depends on license tier, preparation pathway, completion date, equivalent examinations already passed, and current statute. Many Tier 3 and Tier 4 applicants who complete approved preparation programs qualify for statutory testing exemptions, while others must still satisfy applicable testing requirements. PELSB’s Testing page lays out the current exemption criteria in detail.
Experience Requirements
Traditional approved preparation programs include supervised student teaching or clinical practice meeting Minnesota program standards. Before that placement, most programs include a practicum in which candidates observe experienced teachers and gain hands-on experience with lesson delivery and classroom management.
Application and Licensure Steps
Once you’ve met your education, testing (if required), and experience requirements, you’ll apply through PELSB’s online licensing system. Applicants submit the documentation required for their licensure tier through that system, which may include transcripts, program verification, test scores, and other tier-specific materials. You can track your application status through the same online system once it’s submitted.
Criminal History Background Check
First-time applicants complete a fingerprint-based criminal history check. Fingerprints are processed through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI. Applicants should follow PELSB’s current fingerprint instructions and are responsible for the associated fees.
Contact PELSB
For questions about approved preparation programs, licensure tiers, or an application already in progress, contact the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board directly at 1021 Bandana Blvd. E., Suite 222, St. Paul, MN 55108-5111, by phone at 651-539-4200, or by email at [email protected].
Teacher Salary and Job Outlook in Minnesota
As of May 2025, Minnesota elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $76,350, and secondary (high school) teachers earned $76,460, according to BLS state wage data. These figures are statewide occupational medians, not beginning-teacher salaries or district-specific salary schedules, and they cover the BLS occupational categories below rather than every licensed Minnesota teacher.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $75,500 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $76,350 |
| Middle School Teachers | $62,640 |
| High School Teachers | $76,460 |
| Occupation | Avg. Annual Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 310 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 1,740 |
| Middle School Teachers | 760 |
| High School Teachers | 1,180 |
Nationally, the BLS projects a slight decline in teacher employment through 2034 as enrollment trends shift. Minnesota projects modest demand across several teaching occupations, with many annual openings resulting from retirements and workforce turnover. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), elementary teaching positions are projected to grow 1.4% between 2024 and 2034, adding 1,740 openings a year on average. For a closer look at pay by district and benefits beyond salary, see Minnesota Teaching Salaries and Benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PELSB?
The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) is the state agency that has overseen Minnesota teacher licensing since July 2018. It replaced the old Board of Teaching and the Department of Education’s Educator Licensing Division, and now handles licensure tiers, testing policy, and approval of preparation programs.
Do I still need the MTLE?
Not always. Minnesota law now provides testing exemptions for many candidates completing approved preparation pathways, while other applicants must still satisfy applicable examination requirements. Requirements depend on the licensure tier and preparation pathway.
How long does it take to get a Minnesota teaching license?
Most traditional candidates complete a four-year bachelor’s degree with an embedded preparation program that includes supervised student teaching. From there, PELSB processing times vary depending on application volume and document completeness, so it’s worth applying as early as your requirements allow.
Can I teach in Minnesota if I’m licensed in another state?
PELSB evaluates every out-of-state applicant individually. Tier placement depends on your current licensure, teaching experience, preparation program, and applicable statutory requirements, not a single blanket rule. Review the Minnesota teacher reciprocity guide before assuming which tier you’d qualify for.
What if I don’t have an education degree?
Minnesota’s alternative licensure options allow candidates with a bachelor’s degree in another field to work toward certification while teaching under the applicable tiered license authorized by Minnesota law. See the Minnesota alternative teaching certification guide for the specific requirements.
- PELSB administers Minnesota’s four-tier licensure system. It replaced the old Board of Teaching and the Department of Education’s Educator Licensing Division in 2018.
- Requirements differ by licensure tier. Tier 1 and Tier 2 pathways follow different statutory requirements than Tier 3 and Tier 4.
- Many traditional candidates qualify for MTLE testing exemptions under current law. Eligibility depends on license tier, preparation pathway, and completion date.
- Out-of-state applicants are evaluated individually. PELSB weighs existing licensure, experience, preparation, and current Minnesota law before assigning a tier.
- Salary and employment outlook data represent statewide occupational estimates. They aren’t guaranteed employment outcomes or district-specific salary schedules.
Find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. State or district job-growth projections are sourced separately from national BLS outlook data. Conditions vary by school sector, subject area, and district. Data accessed July 2026.
