The information on this page pertains to applicants who completed educator preparation programs for teaching, pupil services, and/or administrator at a college or university headquartered outside the state of Wisconsin, including on-line colleges or universities and out-of-country (non-U.S.) colleges/universities.
Educators who live outside of Wisconsin but completed a Wisconsin educator preparation program are considered in-state applicants.
To apply for a Wisconsin license as an out-of-state applicant, you must meet eligibility requirements in Part One and apply for Wisconsin licensure by following the steps in Part Two.
Part One: Self-Screen for Eligibility
To become licensed in Wisconsin, an out-of-state applicant must verify completion of the following:
1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Please refer to the following Regional Accreditation page for information about regional accreditation agencies and the link to check the accreditation of your college or university.
2. A state-approved educator preparation program that is:
- offered through a regionally accredited four-year college or university;
- offered at the bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, or master’s degree level for teaching;
- offered at the master’s, education specialist, or doctorate level for pupil services personnel or administrator licensure;
- comparable to Wisconsin in its requirements for licensure based on Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 34;
- resulting in a license that exists in Wisconsin;
- approved by the state education department where the approved program is headquartered.
3. Wisconsin Testing Requirements:
The following testing requirements apply to all out-of-state applicants who completed their educator preparation program after August 31, 1992, including those prepared through on-line colleges or universities as well as all non-U.S. colleges/universities:
- Applicants who completed an out-of-state educator preparation program must pass all tests required for licensure in the state where their educator preparation program is headquartered.
- Applicants must be eligible for licensure in the state where their educator preparation program is headquartered.
- Effective for licenses starting on July 1, 2013, all applicants must pass all tests required for Wisconsin licensure before a license will be issued - see Out-of-State Testing Information.
- If the same tests are required by both states (Wisconsin and the state where the approved program is headquartered), the applicant must meet the higher of the two states’ passing scores. Similar, but not identical, content tests completed in other states will not substitute for Wisconsin-required tests.
- Wisconsin does not issue licenses on the basis of reciprocity.
The following applicants are not eligible to apply as OOS (out-of-state) applicants; instead, please review the information on License Based on Equivalency (LBE) to determine if you are eligible through that pathway:
- Those who completed an alternative route preparation program outside of Wisconsin,
- Those who received licensure directly from another state agency via a certificate program or equivalency process,
- Those who received licensure through a two-year institution outside of Wisconsin,
- Those who sought or received licensure through another process in another state (e.g. passing a content examination).
Part Two: License Application, IF eligible based on Part One above:
1. Download the PI-1602-OS application form.
2. Complete all sections of the application, including the license(s) you are requesting in Wisconsin.
- Indicate the subject(s) and grade level(s) of the license(s) you wish to obtain.
- The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI) will review your complete application materials to determine your eligibility.
3. Complete the Conduct & Competency form in its entirety. Sign this form in front of a notary.
4. Review fingerprint requirements and submit fingerprints as required.
5. Submit original transcripts from ALL post-secondary institutions you attended.
Note: Graduates of foreign (non-U.S.) universities must send a detailed, course-by-course credential evaluation report prepared by professional credential evaluation agency. See page Non-U.S. Applicants for more information.
6. Submit institutional endorsement (PI-1612) form(s) verifying successful completion of a state-approved educator preparation program(s) at a four-year, regionally-accredited college or university. Forms must be signed by the designated school of education certification officer.
- If you completed approved educator preparation programs at multiple colleges or universities, submit a signed PI-1612 form from each campus.
- Graduates of foreign colleges or universities will submit the course-by-course credential evaluation report instead of the PI-1612 form.
7. Submit employment verification (PI-1613) from each PK-12 employer where you have worked.
You may need to submit multiple forms if you have had multiple employers.
8. Attach a copy of your out-of-state license(s), if applicable.
9. Attach score report(s) documenting passing scores on all tests that were required in the state(s) where your educator preparation program is headquartered.
10. Attach score report(s) documenting passing scores for all required Wisconsin tests.
11. Submit the completed PI-1602-OS application form, completed and notarized Conduct and Competency form, all supporting documentation, and payment to the address shown on the form.
Incomplete applications that are missing any required documentation will remain in pending status for no more than 5 months. Accordingly, it is your responsibility to submit any missing documentation as quickly as possible and keep the WIDPI apprised of address changes.