Alternative Teaching Certification in Wisconsin
Wisconsin offers two routes to alternative teaching certification: a nontraditional educator preparation program (EPP) at an approved non-profit, school district, or for-profit provider, or the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE), authorized under Wis. Stat. § 118.197. Both require a bachelor’s degree and lead to a license through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) online licensing system.
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Career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree don’t have to go back for a second four-year education degree to teach in Wisconsin. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) recognizes two alternative pathways to a teaching license outside the traditional college route, and each has its own coursework, testing, and application requirements. If you already hold a valid license from another state, Wisconsin teacher reciprocity works differently than the pathways covered here. And before committing to a program, it’s worth checking Wisconsin teaching salaries and benefits to see what the career shift pays.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Wisconsin.
Alternative Certification Requirements
Education Requirements
Both alternative pathways start with a bachelor’s degree, though the specifics differ.
Applicants pursuing a nontraditional EPP, such as a program run through a school district, non-profit, or for-profit provider, typically need a bachelor’s degree in the subject area they plan to teach, unless the program states otherwise. ABCTE candidates only need a bachelor’s degree in any subject, since ABCTE’s own coursework covers pedagogy separately from content knowledge.
Nontraditional EPP candidates pick a subject area to focus on during their program. Common subject areas offered include:
- Math
- Science
- Computer Science
- Special Education
- ESL
- Art
ABCTE candidates choose from a narrower set of licensure areas: English Language Arts (4-12), Elementary/Middle (K-9), Math (4-12), Science (4-12), Social Studies (4-12), and Cross-Categorical Special Education (K-12).
Candidates also select a developmental level to concentrate in during their program. Wisconsin’s developmental levels include:
- Early Childhood (Birth to Age 8)
- Early Childhood-Middle Childhood (Birth to Age 11)
- Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence (Ages 6 to 12 or 13)
- Early Adolescence-Adolescence (Ages 10 to 21)
- Early Childhood-Adolescence (All ages in Public Schools)
Examinations
Testing requirements depend on which alternative pathway a candidate follows. Nontraditional EPP candidates typically sit for the Praxis Subject Assessment tied to their content area, since Wisconsin’s DPI-approved competency measures include Praxis subject tests administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Exact timing and additional requirements, such as the Foundations of Reading Test for elementary and special education candidates, are set by each individual EPP.
ABCTE candidates take a different set of exams entirely. ABCTE is the only state-approved alternative certification pathway that doesn’t require the edTPA (Educational Teaching Performance Assessment). Instead, ABCTE candidates complete a Professional Teaching Knowledge exam and a Content Knowledge exam through ABCTE itself before applying to DPI.
See the ETS website for Praxis preparation materials, or the American Board site directly for ABCTE exam details.
Experience
Nontraditional EPP candidates typically begin teaching under a Tier I license with stipulations while completing their program requirements, gaining classroom experience as the teacher of record rather than through a separate unpaid internship. ABCTE candidates who begin teaching on a Tier I, one-year renewable license with stipulations must complete ABCTE’s program within three years.
Throughout this period, candidates are usually assigned a mentor or supervising administrator who documents progress toward full licensure. For more information on license stipulations and how they’re resolved, visit the DPI’s statutory stipulations page.
Document and Application Requirements
Once a candidate has completed the requirements of their chosen pathway, they’re ready to apply for a Wisconsin educator license.
All license applications, including alternative pathway applications, are submitted online through Wisconsin’s Educator Licensing Online (ELO) system, not by mail. ABCTE completers apply as Out-of-State (1025) applicants and submit a bachelor’s degree transcript, a PI-1612 Institutional Endorsement and Assurances form, their ABCTE certificate of completion, and their ABCTE exam results. Nontraditional EPP completers apply through the Wisconsin Program Completer pathway once their preparation program confirms they’ve met all requirements.
Most license applications carry a processing fee of $135, current as of July 2026, with some license types priced differently. The fee covers the cost of processing the application only. It isn’t refunded if a license ultimately can’t be issued.
Criminal History Background Check
In Wisconsin, every teacher licensure applicant must undergo a background check and complete a Conduct and Competency questionnaire as part of the ELO application process.
The Conduct and Competency questionnaire consists of 14 questions designed to assess whether a candidate can safely work with children, covering topics such as prior disciplinary action, criminal history, and license actions in other states.
Answering “yes” to any question requires the applicant to explain the situation and provide supporting documentation. The questionnaire also determines whether fingerprints are required for a given application. If they are, applicants submit them electronically through the state’s contracted vendor, or by paper card if they live outside the United States.
Contact Information
More information about alternative teacher licensure pathways is available on the DPI website. You can also call the DPI toll-free at (800) 266-1027.
The DPI office is located at:
DPI Educator LicensingDrawer 794
Milwaukee, WI 53293-0794
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the alternative routes to teacher certification in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin recognizes two alternative routes: a nontraditional educator preparation program (EPP) run by an approved non-profit, school district, or for-profit provider, and the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE), authorized under Wis. Stat. § 118.197. Both require a bachelor’s degree and lead to a Wisconsin teaching license through the DPI.
Do I need a teaching degree to qualify for alternative certification in Wisconsin?
No. Nontraditional EPP candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree in the subject they plan to teach, while ABCTE only requires a bachelor’s degree in any subject, since ABCTE’s coursework covers teaching pedagogy separately from content expertise.
What exams do I need to pass for alternative certification in Wisconsin?
It depends on the pathway. Nontraditional EPP candidates generally sit for the Praxis Subject Assessment in their content area, plus the Foundations of Reading Test if they’re pursuing elementary or special education. ABCTE candidates instead complete ABCTE’s own Professional Teaching Knowledge and Content Knowledge exams and are not required to complete the edTPA.
How much does it cost to apply for a teaching license in Wisconsin?
Most license applications carry a processing fee of $135 as of July 2026. Candidates applying for multiple license types in the same application cycle pay a separate fee for each one, since each is treated as its own transaction.
Can I start teaching while I finish an alternative certification program in Wisconsin?
Yes. Most alternative pathway candidates begin teaching under a Tier I license with stipulations while completing program requirements. ABCTE candidates who start on this license must finish the ABCTE program within three years to keep their license current.
- Two pathways lead to alternative certification — a nontraditional EPP through an approved district, non-profit, or for-profit provider, or the ABCTE program authorized under Wis. Stat. § 118.197.
- Exam requirements differ by pathway — nontraditional EPP candidates typically take Praxis Subject Assessments, while ABCTE candidates take ABCTE’s own Professional Teaching Knowledge and Content Knowledge exams instead of the edTPA.
- Applications go through ELO, not the mail — Wisconsin’s Educator Licensing Online system handles all license applications, including a required background check and 14-question Conduct and Competency review.
- Most candidates teach while finishing requirements — a Tier I license with stipulations lets candidates work as the teacher of record while completing coursework and exams.
Find accredited alternative teacher certification programs in Wisconsin, including coursework options and exam preparation support for your licensure path.
