July 14, 2023

2023 Legislative Updates

The 2023 state legislature made a number of changes to the laws governing teacher licensure, teacher preparation, grant recipients, and educational partners. This update focuses on legislative changes that expand the exemption from a bachelor's degree requirement for licensure to include teachers seeking licensure in world language & culture and the visual or performing arts. Previously, the bachelor's degree exemption was limited to teachers of career and technical education (CTE) and career pathways when tiered licensure went into effect in 2018. 

For more information about:

• changes to licensure exams, please see this update.
• changes to Tier 4 licensure, please see this update.
• the short-call substitute teacher pilot, please see this update.

Tiered Licensure: BA Exemptions

These legislative changes exempt the following applicants from needing a bachelor’s degree to qualify for a teaching license in any tier. All other tiered licensure requirements remain in effect and individuals must meet all qualifications to receive a license.

World Languages & Culture (Minn. R. 8710.4950)

Individuals who are native language speakers of a world language are exempt from the bachelor's degree requirement when pursuing a license in a world language.  The hiring school district will be responsible for attesting to the teacher's native language speaker status. 

Visual Arts (Minn. R. 8710.4900), Dance (Minn. R. 8710.4310), Theatre (Minn. R. 8710.4320), and Music (Minn. R. 8710.4650)

Individuals with 5 years of relevant work experience in the visual or performing arts are exempt from the bachelor's degree requirement when pursuing a license in the arts aligned to their experience. The applicant will need to have their prior experience verified by a prior employer or the hiring school district. 

Tier 1 & 2 Application Requirements and Process

All applicants must have a job offer from a school district. The applicant and school district will jointly apply for the license. PELSB will begin accepting applications beginning August 1. Applications will be available on PELSB’s website closer to August 1. 

Statutory Reference

Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 55, article 5, sections 27, 32, and 37

Next Steps

PELSB will initiate a rulemaking project in order to further clarify the new requirements for a teacher who does not hold a bachelor's degree and is seeking licensure in world languages & culture, visual arts, dance, theatre, or music. This rulemaking will include extensive stakeholder input. Please consider subscribing to PELSB's rulemaking listserv to learn how to become involved. 

Refresher: BA Exemption for Teachers of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Career Pathways

An individual who does not hold a bachelor's degree is qualified to seek a license in career and technical education (CTE) and career pathways when they meet one of the following criteria :

1. The individual holds a Professional Certification aligned to the licensure field sought, 
2. The individual holds an Associate's Degree aligned to the licensure field sought, or
3. The individual has a at least 5 years of relevant work experience aligned to the licensure field sought.

Please review this resource , which contains the approved professional certifications and associate degrees by licensure field. Please note, an individual who holds a professional certification or associate's degree not highlighted in the resource can still apply and request that the Board approve their credentials. If the Board approves, the applicable professional certification or associate's degree will be added to the approved list of credentials.