Become a Teacher in Minnesota

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Teaching in Louisiana Snapshot

$65,290Secondary School Teacher Salary
$63,490Elementary School Teacher Salary
$12,382Public School Spending Per Student

All career and salary information pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics pupil expenditure information was provided by Governing

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

1500 Highway 36
West Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 582-8200

Explore Featured Degree Options in Education

Featured Online programs
University Name Type of Program Learn More Program Description
University of Southern California Master of Arts in Teaching Learn more about USC Rossier The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Fordham University Master of Science in Teaching Learn more from Fordham University Fordham University’s online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education.
Vanderbilt University Master of Education in School Counseling Learn more about Vanderbilt Peabody Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings.

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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Minnesota

Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 02/12/2019)

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Prerequisite Coursework in Minnesota

All states require that prospective teachers have at least a bachelor’s degree and complete a state-approved teacher preparation program to receive certification.  Some states also have specific course and credit-hour requirements. Minnesota does not list specific course or credit hour requirements, but every college or university teacher preparation program will have requirements of its own. Contact your teacher preparation program or

Contact your teacher preparation program or Minnesota Department of Education for more information.

 

2

Minnesota Teacher Certification Programs

Teacher certification programs can be taken online or on-site. They typically include an educational theory and classroom skills seminar and a fieldwork component of student teaching in the area. A list of institutions offering education preparation programs can be found on the Minnesota Board of Teaching’s teacher preparation page.

 

3

Required Tests for Minnesota

Most states require tests to show competency in basic skills as well as in the desired subject area. Minnesota requires the NES Essential Academic Skills Test, the MTLE content knowledge test for subject area competency and the MTLE pedagogy test.

You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.coms' Ultimate Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.

Initial Teaching Certifications

To earn your Minnesota teaching credential you will have to complete required the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. Minnesota issues three levels of teacher certification.

To earn your Minnesota teaching credential you will have to complete required the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. The teaching credential issued to beginning teachers who have completed an accredited teacher preparation program is the First-time Full Professional Minnesota Education License, which is then renewed every five years after meeting requirements for professional development. Learn more about earning your teaching credential on the Minnesota Department of Education’s licensing page.

Visit Teach.com for additional details about earning your teaching credential.

Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard's Bok Center

Learn more about an 8-week short course from Harvard's Bok Center

Earn recognition of your ability to develop and deliver a memorable teaching experience when you receive a premier certificate from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX, upon successful course completion.

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Alternative Certification in Minnesota

Licensure via Portfolio is a non-traditional option for earning a Minnesota teaching license. The portfolio provides an alternative process for evaluating the knowledge, skills and competencies of individuals seeking a license who have not completed an approved teacher preparation program in the licensure field being sought.

For more information about different types of certification, visit the Teach Minnesota certification page.

Minnesota Teacher Certification Information & Links

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Transferring Your Certification

Certification Reciprocity in Minnesota

Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Minnesota, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page. Or, for more specific questions about your situation, contact the Minnesota Department of Education.

To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Minnesota, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.

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Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Minnesota

Minnesota Teaching Jobs

Many public school districts in Minnesota post teaching vacancies on their websites, including Minneapolis Public Schools.

The Minnesota Department of Education runs an online Teacher Recruitment Center with up-to-date teaching positions and the ability to create a profile and post your resume online.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

Minnesota Teacher Salary and Incentives

In Minnesota,  teachers earned an average of $57,346 per year in 2017-18, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Minnesota does not provide differential pay for teachers in high-needs schools or shortage subjects. Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

Minnesota Teacher Benefits and Retirement

Minnesota public school employees are covered by Minnesota’s State Employee Group Insurance Plan, which includes several health coverage options. Teachers either at age 55 or older with 5 or more years of creditable teaching service to the state, or at any age with 30 or more years of creditable teaching service are eligible for retirement benefits administered by the Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association, which publishes its handbook of benefits and services online.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

Minnesota Teacher Shortage Areas

A teacher shortage occurs when there are not enough teachers in key subject areas, which has been partly caused by years of teacher layoffs during the Great Recession, a growing student population and fewer people entering teacher preparation programs, according to the Learning Policy Institute.

The following is a partial list of teacher shortage areas in Minnesota for the 2016-17 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education (see page 93).

  • Agricultural Education
  • Business Education
  • Chemistry
  • Communication Technology Careers
  • Computers/Keyboarding
  • Construction Careers
  • Dance and Theatre Arts
  • English as a Second Language
  • Family and Consumer Science
  • Library Media Specialist
  • Manufacturing Careers
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Careers
  • Middle Level Science (Grades 5–8)
  • Parent and Family Education
  • Physics
  • School Psychologist
  • Special Education
  • Academic and Behavioral Strategist
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Blind or Visually Impaired
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Oral–Aural Deaf Education)
  • Developmental and Adapted Physical Education
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Early Childhood
  • Emotional Behavioral Disorders
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Speech–Language Pathologists
  • Teacher Coordinator: Work–Based Learning
  • Technology Education
  • World Languages and Cultures

Financial Aid in Minnesota

Minnesota residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship as well as the TEACH Grant, a grant which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.

Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree on Teach.com.

Career Advancement

Professional Development for Minnesota Teachers

Minnesota offers a standard range of professional development opportunities, such as conferences and technology training. Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Education runs an induction and mentoring program for new teachers. Minnesota requires completion of 125 hours of approved professional development activities during each five-year licensing period, including activities relating to certain areas such as behavioral intervention and reading preparation.

Benefits of a Master's Degree in Minnesota

It is no longer enough to just have years of experience in teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on their results in the classroom. A master's degree in the field of education will give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor. After a Master's program, you may be able to achieve better results in the classroom and have more job security and higher pay.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.

Explore Featured Program Options in Education

Featured Online programs
University Name Type of Program Program Description
University of Southern California Master of Arts in Teaching The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Fordham University Master of Science in Teaching The online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education.
Harvard University's Bok Center Advanced Certification in Teaching The 8-week Teaching and Learning Strategies for Higher Education online short course is delivered by Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX. Students in this course will engage deeply with the most relevant research on effective teaching methods in the higher education context, while refining their own practices, portfolio, and teaching philosophy.
Vanderbilt University Master of Education in School Counseling Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings.

Sponsored Program