Wisconsin has a long tradition of professional excellence in education. The engine driving this excellence is you-the dedicated educator who positively impacts the intellectual, physical, creative, and social-emotional development of Wisconsin’s youngest citizens. Your educator license is validation by the State of Wisconsin of your knowledge and experience as defined by the Wisconsin Educator Standards.
Wisconsin maintains a 3 tiered licensing system for certificated staff. Rules surrounding your license are governed by state statue and Department of Public Instruction agency rules. The key legislation governing licensure is PI-34. WEAC is committed to helping you understand both the statue and the rules so that you can make informed decisions and keep your license active.
Common Licenses Held by WEAC Members
1. Provisional: a provisional license is a three-year license that allows an educator to work in the subject and grade level indicated on the license. A provisional license may be renewed indefinitely. An educator with six semesters of teaching experience in their license area is eligible to apply for a lifetime license.
2. Lifetime: A lifetime educator license is issued to educators who have successfully completed at least six semesters of experience in the category of their provisional educator license and have completed all statutory requirements.
3. Master Educator: a master educator license is an optional license issued to educators who have successfully completed National Board Certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) or a Wisconsin Master Educator Assessment Process (WMEAP).
4. Special Education Program Aide License: a special education aide license is required for any educational support professional (ESP) who directly support special education students. Special education program aide licenses are valid for five years. Wisconsin does not license regular education classroom aides or other para educators.
Background Checks
All educators are required to submit a background check with a license application or every five years. License applications and background checks are always due by June 30. Applications and background checks are submitted online using the Educator Licensing Online (ELO) system. The DPI no longer accepts paper applications or payment by check.
WEAC members uphold and exhibit high professional standards of excellence in the licensing process. While keeping your license up-to-date and submitting regular background checks is the responsibility of the license holder, your union is here to help you. If you have questions related to your license, need assistance navigating ELO please send us a message. We’ll respond quickly.