The CESA 5 License Renewal and Support Center is working with the Department of Public Instruction to facilitate the transition to full implementation of PI 34.

Initial educators, including teachers, administrators, and pupil services staff members, who were licensed after August 31, 2004 are required to renew their license through the completion of a professional development plan.  The plan is reviewed and verified by a 3 member team.  Two out of the three review team members must approve the professional development plan in order for the initial educator to renew their license and enter the professional educator licensure category.

 If you were a  licensed teacher in Wisconsin prior to August 31, 2004 then you are grand fathered into the new system as a “Professional Educator,” which means that you can continue to take six credits every five years or you can use the new Professional Development Plan (PDP) tool provided by DPI to renew your license.  Under the new system, you are no longer required to take six credits every five years.  Instead, you can document your learning, both inside and outside of the classroom, by using the PDP tool. 

License Renewal & Support Center (LRSC)

2009-10 PI 34 Consortium Members

FAQ's:

How do I write a Professional Development Plan?

The professional development plan forms can be downloaded from http://web.cesa5.k12.wi.us/departments/assess_Templates.cfm

The CESA 5 License Renewal and Support Center also offers the following trainings for people who would like more intensive training in the PDP process:

Writing a High Quality Professional Development Plan

Reflective Practice and the PDP

Participants may also use the on-line professional development plan tool that enabled educators to create and store their PDP and have it verified completely on-line! Wisconsin Quality Educator

What is a review team?

A review team is 3 people who have been trained by DPI to review professional development plans.  Review team members for an initial educator include a teacher, an administrator, and a representative from an institution of higher education.  Review team members for a professional educator include 3 colleagues (i.e. 3 teachers for teacher PDP’s, 3 administrators for administrator PDP’s, and 3 pupil services staff members for a pupil services PDP).

Who serves on a review team?

Anyone who has been trained by DPI to review professional development plans can sit on a review team.  Some districts may have staff members within their district that can provide this service to educators.  If there are not trained staff members in your district, then the CESA 5 License Renewal and Support center can assist you in convening your team, whether you are an initial educator or a professional educator.

How can you become a review team member?

You can become a review team member by attending the 2-day DPI training.  Watch the CESA 5 website for upcoming PDP Reviewer training opportunities.       

Who can be a mentor?

Any professional educator can serve as a mentor, as long as they have had some form of mentor training.  There is no specific required mentor training.  Each district decides what mentor training they will provide for their own mentors.

Licensure Categories?

Initial Educator License:  A 3-5 year non-renewable license issued to educators seeking a license after August 31, 2004.  Initial educator licenses are also issued to educators seeking a new licensure category (i.e. a teacher who becomes a reading specialist or a teacher who becomes an administrator)

Professional Educator License: A 5 year renewable license.

Master Educator License:  A 10 year renewable license

Who can be a Master Educator?

A teacher who has passed the National Board Certification is eligible to be a Master Educator in the state of Wisconsin.  If there is NOT a National Board category for your area (i.e. administrator or school psychologist) then you can go through Wisconsin’s Master Educator process, which requires a portfolio that is reviewed by the Department of Public Instruction.  In order to qualify for the Master Educator process, you must already hold a Master’s Degree.  Having a Master’s Degree does NOT automatically make you a Master Educator in the state of Wisconsin.