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. 

Wisconsin is seeking more inquisitive and inspiring leaders to enter their classrooms. In April 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released a report 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. 

How to become a teacher in the United States depends on where a candidate lives. Our guide will cover Wisconsin’s traditional and alternative pathways to becoming a certified educator. We’ll also provide tips for landing your first teaching role at a Wisconsin school. 

teacher learning music

Is Teaching the Right Career for You? 

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.

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. 

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. 

Teacher salaries and benefits vary across the country. For instance, the average annual salary in Wisconsin is $62,524, whereas in Indiana, it is $57,015. 

State Requirements for Teaching in Wisconsin

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. 

The most common pathway is the traditional route. The steps for Wisconsin teaching candidates are as follows: 

1. Bachelor’s Degree

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. 

Examples of bachelor’s degrees available to Wisconsin teacher candidates include:

  • Early Childhood, Birth – 3
  • Education, Mathematics 4 – 12
  • Special Education, K4-12
  • Elementary and Middle Education, K – 9
  • Art Education, K – 12
  • Secondary Broadfield Science Education, 4 – 12
  • Physical Education, K – 12

Bachelor’s degrees in education provide teaching candidates with knowledge, strategies, tools, and strategies to help them succeed in the classroom. 

  • Best practices in education. 
  • Youth development.
  • Integrating technology into the classroom. 
  • Digital literacy. 
  • Subject area knowledge. 
  • Classroom management techniques. 

2. Complete an Accredited Teacher Preparation Program

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. 

However, candidates are welcome to choose any teacher preparation programs approved by the WPI. 

3. Gain Student Teaching Experience

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. 

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. 

4. Pass Praxis Exams

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. Popular exams taken by Wisconsin teaching candidates include:

5. Get Fingerprinted & Background Check

Wisconsin DPI requires a background check 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 PI 34.097).

To begin the process, applicants must:

The background check aims to ensure the students and staff in Wisconsin schools are safe. 

6. Get Certified

Wisconsin teaching candidates who have completed the traditional pathway can apply for their teaching license. The directions are on the DPI website, beginning with the background check process. 

Candidates will also be required to:

  • Gather required documentation, such as transcripts. 
  • Apply using the Educator Licensing Online (ELO) system. 
  • Wait for an email confirmation. 
  • Click to finish the process, including payment. 

Those wishing to check the status of their application can do so here. 

7. Consider Getting a Master’s Degree

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. 

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 Administrator License. 

However, some roles will require a doctoral degree 

Alternative Pathway to Teaching in Wisconsin

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.

Which of Wisconsin’s teaching pathways is right for you depends on your qualifications, experience, finances, and time to devote to studies. 

Wisconsin Route 1: Post Bachelor’s Degree Candidate

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. 

Candidates who wish to use this pathway to teaching must:

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. 

Wisconsin Route 2: Alternative Route Program Candidate

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. 

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. 

Wisconsin Route 3: American Board Candidate

Wisconsin grants teacher licenses to candidates who have completed their online teacher certification through the American Board and obtained an ABCTE certification of completion. Please note there are exams that must be passed to achieve ABCTE certification. 

Those who obtain their ABCTE certification can apply for a teaching license in Wisconsin. These candidates must submit an Out-of-State application (1025) even if they are residents of Wisconsin. 

Before applying, see the ABCTE Applicant Checklist to ensure you have all documentation, including submitting your fingerprints. 

The advantage of the Wisconsin ABCTE route is that it is online and self-paced, making it accessible for those still working full-time or with substantial family obligations. 

Getting Hired as a Teacher

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.

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. 

We’ve put together our top tips to help get you started in your journey to getting hired as a Wisconsin teacher. 

Polish Your CV

A CV is your first opportunity to make a favorable impression. Make it your best by investing time into research, feedback, and editing.

Tips for polishing your CV include:

  • Look for current CV examples in your desired teaching grade and subject area. A kindergarten teacher’s CV will probably look very different from a high school physics teacher’s. 
  • Obtain constructive criticism. All those people telling you, “Looks great!” are not helpful. Seek out people in your network who can advise on layout, font, messaging, tone, and keywords. If you don’t know anyone in the educational sphere to ask, look for those who play a role in hiring in other areas, such as managers, small business owners, or HR personnel. 
  • Proofread your CV. An excellent way to catch errors is to save it in a different file and change the font type and size. It will ruin your layout but make your eyes work harder, so those sneaky typos will get caught.

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.

Upgrade Your Skill Set

Teachers never stop learning. Even certified professionals are required to update and expand their knowledge and skill sets through professional development courses. 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. 

Upgrade your skill set by considering taking part in the following:

  • Tutor through a volunteer organization or as a job.
  • Volunteer to work with the youth in your religious community.
  • Volunteer at a community organization. 
  • Get a job at a summer camp.
  • Volunteer to help with a youth organization such as Scouts, 4H, or a robotics club.
  • Participate in a community project, such as fundraising or planning a large event.

Teaching skills that schools want from their educators include:

  • Adaptability: The most predictable part of any plan is that the reality will be very different from what you’d envisioned. A plot twist (or many) always occurs when working with children. Excellent teachers can roll with the unexpected and still accomplish their main goals for a lesson, activity, or outing. They are flexible in their thinking and methodology, so they can meet the needs of all their students, even as their plans are crumbling into dust. Fast thinking, creativity, and a sense of humor also help.
  • Critical thinking: The leaders of tomorrow must be able to think, and they learn this by having their teachers model it. Excellent educators examine problems from various angles and consider different perspectives. They try to use logic and ask questions to ensure they understand an issue rather than parrot answers. Great teachers bring their students on this path of discovery, encouraging debate and investigation rather than only learning by rote. 
  • Multitasker: There are jobs where an individual is granted space to focus task by task. Teaching is not one of them. Educators must be able to manage an entire classroom, teach a lesson, and adapt the activity to accommodate various needs while answering many questions and juggling interruptions. Administrative duties, parental communication, staff meetings, fundraisers, and after-school activities will also spill into the day’s plan. 
  • Active Listener: Teachers must be leaders. Excellent leaders listen to ensure they meet the needs of the people they serve. Educators must communicate with numerous people daily, including students, colleagues, parents, politicians, religious leaders, and concerned members of the community. The only way to build bridges and foster communication is to hear people. 
  • Teamwork: Teachers are often the only adults in the classroom, but they never work alone. They must collaborate with students, fellow teachers, school staff members, administrators, students’ families, and other community members. Teachers must network and rely on others to ensure successful field trips, fundraisers, productions, fairs, and concerts. Working as an educator does take a village. 

Begin Your Job Search

Wisconsin teacher candidates can begin their job search by visiting the DPI Job Page and the Wisconsin Educator Career Access Network (WeCan). These sites will help put teachers looking for work in touch with school districts in need. 

Wisconsin teaching candidates can also use the following online platforms to look for work:

Join a Professional Organization and Network

Joining a professional organization and network helps educators find a like-minded community. They are good sources for advocacy, support, and hearing about exciting opportunities. 

Wisconsin educational professional organizations to consider include:

You can find more suggestions on the Wisconsin DPI website.

Ace Your Job Interview

Wisconsin teaching candidates must complete a job interview to secure a position at a school. To help you ace your job interview, we’ve gathered some top tips: 

  1. Research the school and the advertised role. Learn everything about the school district, the administration, staff, students, and the position opening. What is a typical class size? What is the dress code? What income bracket does the school generally serve? What is the school’s history? What is their education philosophy? What has the local news written about the school in the past year? 
  2. Greet everyone in the room. Everyone who sits in an interview is important. It doesn’t matter if their job title is “teacher’s assistant,” “janitor,” or “bus driver,” there is a reason the school has asked that individual to meet you. Perhaps the janitor has a keen eye for character. Maybe the bus drivers have their pulse on who students will like and respect. You don’t know. But you know that if their opinion didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be in the room. Treat everyone with respect and make eye contact with all while you answer. 
  3. Put students first. When answering teacher interview questions, frame your response to put the students front and center. Even when speaking about yourself, demonstrate how these qualities or experiences benefit the students. 
  4. Talk about your interests and hobbies. Schools don’t just need a math or Spanish teacher. They also need people who are good with computers, have experience in theater, have a background in fundraising, or know how to do fun activities such as knitting, basket weaving, windowsill gardening, sports, woodwork, and dance. The more you can bring to the school, the better your chances of securing the position.

Career Outlook & Salary in Wisconsin

Wisconsin needs quality teachers to join their schools. The teaching shortage already hit the state hard, and job growth is predicted to grow by 2% in the sector. The Wisconsin DPI and state legislators are working on making the career more attractive, including initiatives to provide support for new educators. 

Wisconsin’s biggest teaching needs, according to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Areas Reports, are in the following areas:

  • Special Education, Pre-K –– 12
  • English as a Second Language, Pre-K –– 12
  • Mathematics, Pre-K –– 12
  • Elementary Education
  • Language Arts, Pre-K–– 12
  • Art and Music, Pre-K ––  12

Become a Teacher in Wisconsin

Folks in Wisconsin care about their youth. They are ranked #6 in the nation for education. In the same report, they are ranked #5 for opportunity, making it an appealing place to live. Plus, the state makes excellent cheese. 

People enjoy living in Wisconsin because of its sense of community. It’s a place that takes pride in Midwestern values, including helping your neighbor even if you can’t agree on politics. While winters are chilly, the summers are warm, and autumn puts on a gorgeous show. A great place to live if you appreciate four distinct seasons. 

Teachers in Wisconsin are valued members of their community. Teachers of Tomorrow is eager to help individuals considering taking the journey. What are you waiting for? Embrace a career that inspires and changes lives.