Licensure via Portfolio

Licensure via Portfolio is a non-traditional option for earning a Tier 3 teaching license or to add additional licensure fields to an existing Tier 3 or Tier 4 teaching license. Through this process, a teacher can submit a “portfolio,” which is a collection of evidence with accompanying narratives describing how the teacher has the knowledge, skills and competencies required for a specific licensure field.

Generally, licensure via portfolio is not needed and teachers may apply for licensure now if they have one of the following:

Completed teacher preparation in Minnesota, another state, or another country with at least 12 weeks of student teaching aligned to the license sought
Hold a professional license in another state in good standing aligned to the licensure area sought with two years of teaching experience as the teacher of record aligned to the licensure area sought
Three years of experience as the teacher of record under a Tier 2 license aligned to the licensure area sought

The first step for the portfolio process is verifying eligibility to make sure that candidates aren't otherwise eligible for licensure and to confirm that candidates have prerequisite experiences and qualifications.

Refer to the Licensure via Portfolio Guidelines for more information. Once eligibility has been confirmed, additional individualized information will be provided to portfolio candidates.
For eligibility information, portfolio candidates need to indicate which of the Minnesota's licensure fields they are seeking. Note that some licenses, such as related services, may not be added via portfolio. Some licenses may only be added as an additional license.
To gain a general overview of the Licensure via Portfolio Pathway and the portfolio process, this video provides helpful information from PELSB's Licensure via Portfolio and Alternative Pathways Specialists.
When preparing a portfolio, candidates must be mindful of the Minnesota Code of Ethics and include an Affidavit of Authenticity with their portfolio(s).
For information about becoming a Portfolio Reviewer, please see this document and email portfolio.pelsb@state.mn.us with any questions.

Preparation Pathway Grant

PELSB has a Preparation Pathway Grant that funds public school districts, charter school districts, education service cooperatives, and partnerships between teacher preparation providers and school districts and charter schools to support teachers holding a Tier 2 license and seeking a Tier 3 license through completion of a teacher preparation program or licensure via portfolio.

Process
Eligibility
Required Standards
Resources

Process

Step 1: Eligibility

The teacher must submit an Eligibility Form in Proserva to confirm their ability to seek licensure through the portfolio process.

Step 2: Prepare Portfolio(s)

Once eligibility is determined, the teacher has up to one year to submit their portfolio(s). If additional time is needed, check with portfolio.pelsb@state.mn.us to verify continued eligibility with the same standards. At the time the teacher submits the portfolio(s), they will be required to submit the review fee (non-refundable).

Step 3: Review of Portfolio(s)

A teacher's pedagogy portfolio is reviewed by a panel of reviewers. The teacher may choose to present their pedagogy portfolio to the panel on a set review date. A teacher's content portfolio and core skills portfolio (if applicable) are reviewed by two content experts.

For information on becoming a Portfolio Reviewer, please see this document and email portfolio.pelsb@state.mn.us with any questions.

Step 4: Obtain Recommendation

After the teacher's portfolio(s) are submitted, the reviewers have 90 days to assess the portfolio(s) and provide a recommendation for licensure or indicate why the teacher is not being recommended for licensure. If the teacher’s portfolio(s) are not recommended for licensure, the teacher may resubmit for an additional review. As soon as the portfolio review is complete, PELSB staff will contact the portfolio candidate.

Step 5: Apply for Licensure

Once recommended for licensure, the teacher must submit an application to apply for a Tier 3 or 4 license.
View the Licensure via Portfolio Handout here.

Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

(1) Educational requirements: One of the following:

A. holds a minimum of a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree, or

B. holds a credential from outside the United States that is equivalent to the U.S. bachelor degree (Foreign Credential Evaluation (mn.gov), or

C. falls under the exemption from holding a bachelor’s degree:

a. Seeking a license in Career and Technical Education or Career Pathways and has one of the following:

i. Five years of relevant work experience aligned to the licensure area sought;

ii. An associate’s degree aligned to the licensure area sought; or

iii. A professional certification aligned to the licensure area sought from an approved certifying organization.

b. Seeking a license in World Language and Culture and is a native speaker of the language.

c. Seeking a license in Visual Arts, Dance, Theatre, or Music and has give years of relevant work experience in the licensure area sought.

(2) Experience requirements: One of the following:

A. A year-long mentorship program that includes all the following:

a. Yearlong collaborative relationship with an experienced Tier 3 or 4 mentor teacher who voluntarily agrees to mentor the mentee teacher;

b. The mentor has access to resources or training, develops common expectations for the mentorship experience, and encourages the mentee to select areas of growth over the course of the year;

c. Consists of sessions no less than once per month that focus on building a collaborative relationship with a focus on the exchange of knowledge, skills, and experiences, including the needs and questions of the mentee; and

d. The sessions include discussion of effective strategies to engage students; classroom management strategies that reflect an understanding of the stages of child development; the educational rights of students and their diverse needs and experiences; school policies and practices, including appropriate boundaries and data privacy; and how student learning data can be used to improve classroom planning and instruction; or

B. Two years of experience teaching as the teacher of record in the licensure area sought; or

C. A Tier 3 or 4 teaching license (excluding related services)

Endorsement Fields

To be eligible to add one of the following licensure fields through the portfolio process, the teacher must hold a Tier 3 or Tier 4 teaching license. Some endorsement licenses require that teachers hold or qualify for a specific license.

Endorsement	Must hold or qualify for the following initial license by the time the candidate applies
Preprimary	Tier 3 or 4 K-6 Elementary Education license (must include kindergarten)
World Languages and Cultures (K-8)	Tier 3 or 4 K-6 Elementary Education license
Bilingual/Bicultural Education	Tier 3 or 4 license in Elementary Education, mathematics, science, social studies, or health education
Computer, Keyboarding, and Related Technology Applications	Any Tier 3 or 4 license to teach students in grades kindergarten through 12. (Note: The scope of the endorsement will align to the scope of the initial license held by the candidate.)
Middle Level Endorsement for Communication Arts and Literature, Mathematics, Social Studies	Any Tier 3 or 4 teaching license
Reading	Any Tier 3 or 4 license but the Parent and Family license
Reading Leader	Tier 3 or 4 Reading license
Work-Based Learning	Any Tier 3 or 4 teaching license that includes the 9 through 12 scope
Developmental Adapted and Physical Education (DAPE)	Tier 3 or 4 Physical Education license

Eligibility Submission

To verify eligibility for the licensure via portfolio process, follow these instructions to upload this eligibility form. Read the directions carefully to complete the required sections.

After eligibility information is submitted with indicated documents, please allow two weeks for a response. Please do not resend your eligibility information while you wait.

If a candidate is eligible for the licensure via portfolio process, the candidate may submit a portfolio for review. To be recommended for licensure, the portfolio must include evidence aligned to the intent, all parts, and depth and breadth of standards.

Required Standards

What is a licensure standard?

Minnesota is a "standard-based" licensure state, which means that licensure candidates must demonstrate knowledge and skills specific to each licensure field (rather than a "course-based" state which requires a certain number of courses or credits aligned to a particular topic).

Licensure standards are set in rule - pedagogical standards are set in Minnesota Rules 8710.2000 and subject-matter standards are set in Minnesota Rules 8710.3000-8710.8080. Additionally, special education licenses have additional standards, called the Core Skills for Special Education teachers, in Minnesota Rules 8710.5000, and CTE licenses have additional standards, called the Core Skills for CTE teachers, in Minnesota Rules 8710.8000. These licensures standards were developed by professionals in the field and represent the foundational knowledge and skills needed for each licensure field.

Required Standards: Initial Tier 3 License

For initial licensure, a teacher must submit the following portfolios:
- Pedagogy: A pedagogy portfolio demonstrates the teacher's ability to meet the Standards of Effective Practice. A teacher can use a passing score on the edTPA in place of a pedagogy portfolio.
- Content: A content portfolio demonstrates the teacher's ability to meet license-specific content standards.
- Core Skills: Core skills portfolios are requires for teacher's seeking initial licensure in a special education field or CTE field.
Required Standards: Additional Licensure

To add an additional license through the licensure via portfolio process, the teacher must prepare a content portfolio demonstrating the teacher's ability to meet license-specific standards.

If the teacher is seeking a special education license or CTE license and the teacher has not previously completed a SPED or CTE licensure program or portfolio, the teacher will be required to complete a Core Skills portfolio in addition to the content portfolio.

Questions

For questions about which standards may apply in your situation, please email portfolio.pelsb@state.mn.us.
Candidate Resources

The Licensure via Portfolio Guidelines document provides information about the portfolio pathway, including guidance on portfolio preparation and the portfolio evaluation process.

To gain a general overview of the Licensure via Portfolio Pathway and the portfolio process, this video provides helpful information from PELSB's Licensure via Portfolio and Alternative Pathways Specialists.

An overview for the Licensure via Portfolio Pathway slide deck is available here.