Changes to Tier 4 Licensure

Three years of teaching experience

Effective August 1, teachers seeking a Tier 4 license will no longer be required to complete three years of teaching specifically in Minnesota.  Instead, teachers can utilize teaching experience from other states or countries to satisfy the three-year requirement.

Summative evaluation

Effective August 1, teachers seeking a Tier 4 license will no longer be required to demonstrate that the teacher's most recent summative evaluation did not place the teacher or otherwise keep the teacher in an improvement plan.

Content, Pedagogy, and Basic Skills Exams

Effective August 1, a number of teachers seeking a Tier 4 license may be exempt from taking content and pedagogy exams. Teachers will no longer need content and/or pedagogy exams if one of the following are met:

• The teacher has completed a Minnesota state-approved teacher preparation program,
• The teacher has completed an out-of-state teacher preparation program and has completed all licensure testing in that state (or no testing was required), or
• The teacher is adding a licensure field to an existing Tier 4 license via portfolio.

Also starting August 1, teachers seeking a Tier 4 license will no longer be required to demonstrate passing scores on a basic skills exams in reading, writing, and math.

Application Instructions

PELSB is now accepting applications for teachers who qualify for a Tier 4 license based on the new changes.  Teachers seeking their initial license can use PELSB’s online system to start the application process. For teachers who already hold a license with PELSB, please use a paper application. 

Note: PELSB is in the process of updating application forms, webpages, and other materials to reflect the new changes. In the meantime, applicants can still use the existing paper applications and/or online system to seek licensure (even if old requirements are referenced).