Alternative Teaching Certification in Minnesota
Minnesota offers two main routes to alternative teacher certification: completing a PELSB-approved post-baccalaureate preparation program or pursuing Licensure via Portfolio. Candidates need a bachelor’s degree and can often teach on a provisional Tier 2 license while finishing requirements. As of August 2023, most candidates who complete a state-approved program are exempt from Minnesota’s MTLE content and pedagogy exams for Tier 3 or Tier 4 licensure.
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Minnesota lets career changers become teachers without repeating a full undergraduate education degree, but the state handles alternative certification differently than most states do. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), which took over teacher licensing from the former Minnesota Board of Teaching in 2018, has approved multiple alternative preparation programs and also runs a separate path called Licensure via Portfolio. Which route fits depends on how much of your background already overlaps with teaching. If you’re still weighing whether the switch makes sense, it’s worth reviewing Minnesota teacher salaries and benefits alongside the requirements below.
Use the links below to jump to Minnesota’s alternative certification pathways, licensing tiers, requirements, and contact information.
- Two paths to alternative certification in Minnesota
- How Minnesota’s tiered licensure system works for alternative candidates
- Alternative certification requirements
- Contact information for PELSB and MDE
Two Paths to Alternative Certification in Minnesota
PELSB has approved several post-baccalaureate teacher preparation programs at Minnesota colleges and universities. These programs are built for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field outside of education and typically lead to a graduate certificate or master’s degree while the candidate is teaching. Program length and format vary by provider, so check the specific school’s timeline before enrolling.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? See teaching certification programs in Minnesota.
The second route is Licensure via Portfolio, designed for professionals with a bachelor’s degree and substantial work experience in the subject area they want to teach. Candidates submit an eligibility form to PELSB first. Once PELSB confirms eligibility, candidates have one year to submit a full portfolio for review by a licensing panel. This path skips a formal preparation program but still requires proof of subject-matter competence and, in most cases, completion of student teaching or an equivalent supervised experience.
How Minnesota’s Tiered Licensure System Works for Alternative Candidates
Minnesota uses a four-tier licensing structure. Many alternative-route candidates begin teaching under a Tier 2 license when they meet the statutory eligibility requirements, though this isn’t automatic for every candidate. Tier 2 lasts up to two years and lets eligible candidates teach in the classroom of record while finishing a preparation program, portfolio review, or remaining coursework. For those who qualify, it’s a common way to begin earning a paycheck as a teacher instead of waiting until every requirement is finished first.
Once you complete an approved preparation program (or your portfolio is recommended for licensure), you move to Tier 3, a standard professional license good for three years and renewable indefinitely. Tier 4, the most advanced tier, requires a Tier 3 license plus three years of Minnesota teaching experience without an improvement plan on your record. Every candidate, regardless of which alternative path they take, must complete a Human Relations course covering instruction for students from diverse cultural and social backgrounds if that coursework isn’t already built into their preparation program.
Alternative Certification Requirements
Education Requirements
Most PELSB-approved alternative preparation programs require a bachelor’s degree, and many set a minimum 3.0 GPA. However, admission requirements are set by the individual preparation provider rather than by state statute. From there, your next step depends on the route: enroll in a PELSB-approved post-baccalaureate preparation program, or submit an eligibility form to PELSB to start the Licensure via Portfolio process.
Examinations
Effective August 1, 2023, teachers who complete a Minnesota-approved preparation program, along with certain other qualifying applicants including some out-of-state candidates and Portfolio candidates, are exempt from Minnesota’s pedagogy and content exam requirements when applying for Tier 3 or Tier 4 licensure. Exactly which exams you can skip depends on your specific licensure circumstances, not just on whether you’re pursuing alternative certification in general.
Candidates who aren’t exempt should consult PELSB’s testing guidance to confirm whether MTLE exams are required for their licensure pathway. Where testing is still required, it covers the correct pedagogy subtest for your intended licensure area through the MTLE testing system:
- Pedagogy: Early Childhood (Birth to Grade 3)
- Pedagogy: Elementary (Grades K-6)
- Pedagogy: Secondary (Grades 5-12)
and the correct MTLE Content Test for your subject area. PELSB’s testing page has the current, program-by-program breakdown of who still needs to test.
Experience and Provisional Licensure
No prior teaching experience is required to enter an alternative pathway program. Once enrolled, most candidates complete a student teaching placement, a mentoring and induction period, and an evaluation process, then receive a recommendation from their school site team before applying for a Tier 3 license. While completing these requirements, many alternative candidates teach under a provisional Tier 2 license, gaining paid classroom experience instead of waiting until every requirement is finished.
Criminal History Background Check
Every teacher candidate in Minnesota, including those in alternative pathway programs, must complete a criminal history background check, including fingerprinting. PELSB administers licensing, so once you’ve enrolled in a program, contact PELSB at 651-539-4200 or [email protected] for current fingerprint card instructions. Your local law enforcement agency can typically fingerprint you and expedite the process. You’re responsible for any fees the background check process requires.
Contact Information
For more information on alternative pathways to teacher licensure in Minnesota, contact PELSB at 651-539-4200 or [email protected]. PELSB’s website also has program-specific details on both the post-baccalaureate preparation route and Licensure via Portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alternative teaching certification in Minnesota?
It’s a licensing path for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field outside of education. Candidates either complete a PELSB-approved post-baccalaureate preparation program or pursue Licensure via Portfolio, often teaching on a provisional Tier 2 license while finishing requirements.
Do I still need to take the MTLE exams for alternative certification in Minnesota?
Not necessarily. As of August 1, 2023, teachers who complete a Minnesota-approved preparation program, along with certain other qualifying applicants, are exempt from the pedagogy and content exam requirements for Tier 3 or Tier 4 licensure. Whether you’re exempt depends on your specific licensure circumstances, so check PELSB’s testing guidance for your situation.
Can I teach in Minnesota while completing an alternative certification program?
In many cases, yes. Candidates who meet the statutory eligibility requirements can hold a provisional Tier 2 license, which allows you to serve as the teacher of record for up to two years while you finish your preparation program or portfolio review. This isn’t automatic for every alternative candidate, so confirm your eligibility with PELSB.
What is Licensure via Portfolio in Minnesota?
It’s an alternative route for professionals with a bachelor’s degree and significant work experience in the subject they want to teach. Candidates submit an eligibility form to PELSB, then have one year to submit a full portfolio for review by a licensing panel.
Who oversees alternative certification in Minnesota?
The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) oversees all teacher licensing in Minnesota, including alternative pathways. PELSB replaced the former Minnesota Board of Teaching in 2018.
- Minnesota has two alternative certification routes — a PELSB-approved post-baccalaureate preparation program or Licensure via Portfolio for experienced professionals.
- Many alternative candidates teach on a Tier 2 license first — eligible candidates can work as the teacher of record for up to two years while finishing requirements. However, this isn’t automatic for everyone.
- Exam requirements changed in 2023 — candidates who complete a Minnesota-approved preparation program (and some other qualifying applicants) are exempt from the pedagogy and content exams for Tier 3 or Tier 4 licensure.
- A background check and fingerprinting are mandatory — every candidate, regardless of pathway, must clear this step before licensure.
- PELSB oversees the entire process — it replaced the Minnesota Board of Teaching in 2018 and handles both preparation program approval and portfolio review.
Find accredited teacher preparation programs in Minnesota, including alternative and post-baccalaureate options for career changers pursuing licensure.
