{"id":46644,"date":"2024-10-06T12:52:41","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T17:52:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/?p=46644"},"modified":"2024-11-28T02:23:59","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T08:23:59","slug":"how-to-become-a-teacher-in-wisconsin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/how-to-become-a-teacher-in-wisconsin\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Teacher in Wisconsin – Step by Step Guide 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
What to work in an inspiring and engaging profession? That’s exactly why people become teachers. It’s a vocation that goes beyond spreadsheets, meetings, and filing. Sure, there are still admin and staff meetings. However, the job also involves crafts, investigation, debates, science experiments, discovery, and working with keen young minds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wisconsin is seeking more inquisitive and inspiring leaders to enter their classrooms. In April 2024, the <\/span>Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction<\/span><\/a> (DPI) <\/span>released a report<\/span><\/a> investigating the teacher shortage and poor retention rates. The report also highlighted areas of most significant shortages, including needing more special education, math, and science teachers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How to become a teacher in the United States depends on where a candidate lives. Our guide will cover Wisconsin’s traditional and <\/span>alternative pathways<\/span><\/a> to becoming a certified educator. We’ll also provide tips for landing your first teaching role at a Wisconsin school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Teaching is the right career for you if you enjoy working in an energetic, evolving environment. Educating the youth is a commitment to lifelong learning. As you teach, your own knowledge expands. Consequently, teaching is a terrible career choice for individuals who enjoy a stagnant and predictable lifestyle and prefer to ignore new information.<\/span><\/p>\n Teaching is a vocation that calls to people who don’t shy from a challenge. It isn’t easy; the hours are long, the demands are high, and you frequently find glitter in the most startling places. Being a professional educator demands creativity, excellent communication skills, empathy, a willingness to cooperate, and fantastic listening skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Committing to teaching requires an ethos of putting others first. There are students, parents, guardians, co-workers, and members of the local community who all depend on you to do your best. You will not be awarded a bonus for meeting quarterly targets. But you will get smiles, high-fives, crumpled notes, excellent job security, health care, and summers off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Teacher salaries and benefits vary across the country. For instance, the average annual salary in <\/span>Wisconsin is $62,524, whereas in Indiana, it is $57,015.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n State requirements for teaching are different across the country. The Wisconsin DPI has a traditional pathway and alternative routes for those who want to become professional educators.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The most common pathway is the traditional route. The steps for Wisconsin teaching candidates are as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wisconsin, like the rest of the country, requires teachers to have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Those on the traditional route are advised to get a degree focused on education or major in a subject they wish to teach, such as math, and take other classes on the educational track.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Examples of bachelor’s degrees available to Wisconsin teacher candidates include:<\/span><\/p>\n Bachelor’s degrees in education provide teaching candidates with knowledge, strategies, tools, and strategies to help them succeed in the classroom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Teacher preparation programs provide more in-depth knowledge, skills, tools, and practical experience. Most candidates on the Wisconsin traditional pathway will attend the teacher preparation program at the same institution where they obtained their four-year degrees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, candidates are welcome to choose any <\/span>teacher preparation programs<\/span><\/a> approved by the WPI.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Teacher preparation programs require fieldwork and student teaching experience as part of their course. Wisconsin requires a minimum of 18 weeks, although some programs require more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Student teaching is generally done for free as an internship. The student teachers are coached and mentored by experienced teachers. However, in some alternative pathways, the required student teaching hours can be gained while being paid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wisconsin DPI requires teaching candidates to take various exams. The exams a teaching candidate needs to pass depend on the grade level, subject, and any specialty area the educator wishes to be certified to teach. <\/span>Popular exams<\/span><\/a> taken by Wisconsin teaching candidates include:<\/span><\/p>\n Wisconsin DPI requires a <\/span>background check<\/span><\/a> to be conducted with a certification application. The background check is done in state and nationally, looking for any prior criminal behavior or records of “immoral conduct” or “incompetency” (defined in state code <\/span>PI 34.097<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n To begin the process, applicants must:<\/span><\/p>\n The background check aims to ensure the students and staff in Wisconsin schools are safe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wisconsin teaching candidates who have completed the traditional pathway can apply for their teaching license. The <\/span>directions are on the DPI website<\/span><\/a>, beginning with the background check process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Candidates will also be required to:<\/span><\/p>\n Those wishing to check the status of their application can do so <\/span>here.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A master’s degree is not required to teach in a Wisconsin public school. However, a master’s degree will put an educator in a higher pay bracket and open doors for other opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A master’s degree is essential for some educational roles in Wisconsin, such as an educational specialist (EdS). In addition, many higher administrative roles require a master’s or doctoral degree and an <\/span>Administrator License.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, some roles will require a doctoral degree\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The traditional pathway is not the only route to becoming a teacher in Wisconsin. There are three alternative routes that prospective candidates should explore. These routes allow candidates to become teachers without obtaining a second four-year degree.<\/span><\/p>\n Which of Wisconsin’s teaching pathways is right for you depends on your qualifications, experience, finances, and time to devote to studies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Not everyone knows what they want to do with their life while obtaining their college degree. Wisconsin allows those who recently graduated from college or career changers with a bachelor’s to pursue teaching by going through a traditional educator preparation program or master’s degree program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Candidates who wish to use this pathway to teaching must:<\/span><\/p>\n The cost, time to complete, and flexibility of the coursework depend on the program selected. Some will be in-person, others are online, and some mix the two. In addition, student teaching may be an unpaid internship instead of a paid placement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wisconsin Alternative Route Program is for candidates who want to teach in the subject where they obtained their bachelor’s degree. For example, if you have a bachelor’s degree in English, you could enroll in an alternative route program to become an English teacher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The steps for Route 2 are the same as Route 1. The main difference between the two options is that in Route 1, the candidate will receive a master’s degree and become fully licensed. In contrast, in Route 2, the candidate will only receive a certificate and a license.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wisconsin grants teacher licenses to candidates who have completed their online teacher certification through the <\/span>American Board<\/span><\/a> and obtained an ABCTE certification of completion. Please note there are exams that must be passed to achieve ABCTE certification.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Those who obtain their ABCTE certification can apply for a teaching license in Wisconsin. These candidates must submit an <\/span>Out-of-State application (1025)<\/span><\/a> even if they are residents of Wisconsin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before applying, see the <\/span>ABCTE Applicant Checklist<\/span><\/a> to ensure you have all documentation, including submitting your fingerprints.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The advantage of the <\/span>Wisconsin ABCTE route<\/span><\/a> is that it is online and self-paced, making it accessible for those still working full-time or with substantial family obligations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting hired as a teacher in Wisconsin is easier than it used to be due to the nation’s teaching shortage. However, positions in the best-paying districts remain highly competitive. Thus, it still takes preparation and putting your best self forward.<\/span><\/p>\n The first step towards being an employed teacher is ensuring you have obtained the correct license. Once that is secured, you can confidently begin the job hunt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We’ve put together our top tips to help get you started in your journey to getting hired as a Wisconsin teacher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A CV is your first opportunity to make a favorable impression. Make it your best by investing time into research, feedback, and editing.<\/span><\/p>\n Tips for polishing your CV include:<\/span><\/p>\n Once you have a highly polished CV, save it as your working template. Use this document as a starting place for every position you wish to apply. Rework the CV to “speak” to each position by highlighting specific skills or, perhaps, bringing up hobbies or interests that might appeal to that position.<\/span><\/p>\n Teachers never stop learning. Even certified professionals are required to update and expand their knowledge and skill sets through <\/span>professional development courses<\/span><\/a>. Applicants who have never worked as a full-time teacher can also demonstrate their commitment to acquiring additional strategies, information, and tools by participating in various opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Upgrade your skill set by considering taking part in the following:<\/span><\/p>\nIs Teaching the Right Career for You?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
State Requirements for Teaching in Wisconsin<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. Bachelor’s Degree<\/span><\/h3>\n
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2. Complete an Accredited Teacher Preparation Program<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Gain Student Teaching Experience<\/span><\/h3>\n
4. Pass Praxis Exams<\/span><\/h3>\n
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5. Get Fingerprinted & Background Check<\/span><\/h3>\n
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6. Get Certified<\/span><\/h3>\n
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7. Consider Getting a Master’s Degree<\/span><\/h3>\n
Alternative Pathway to Teaching in Wisconsin<\/span><\/h2>\n
Wisconsin Route 1: Post Bachelor’s Degree Candidate<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Wisconsin Route 2: Alternative Route Program Candidate<\/span><\/h2>\n
Wisconsin Route 3: American Board Candidate<\/span><\/h2>\n
Getting Hired as a Teacher<\/span><\/h2>\n
Polish Your CV<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Upgrade Your Skill Set<\/span><\/h3>\n
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