Programs offering innovative/experimental or alternative routes to a Wisconsin Teacher Certification

Carthage College
For individuals with earned degrees, who hold emergency teaching permits, and seek full certification. Developed in collaboration with a team of educators, Accelerated Certification for Teachers will provide teaching skills and the confidence that accompanies them. Flexibility in course offerings allow practicing professionals opportunities to realize their dreams of becoming teachers and the chance to begin graduate study while obtaining certification.

Marian College
The Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) for Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence (grades 1-8) is available to individuals possessing a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and interested in entering a teaching career.

The program is comprised of 42 credits, which include field experiences and student teaching. The program can be completed in two years and meets on weekends and evenings to meet the needs of students presently working in other careers.

CESA 1 – Proficiency Based licensure program

• Candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• To teach math, science, business education, music, foreign language, or technical education, candidates must have a major in that area or a letter from their university indicating that their coursework is equivalent to a major in that area.
• To teach special education, candidates must have a baccalaureate degree and demonstrate involvement with children with disabilities.
• To teach bilingual education, candidates must have a baccalaureate degree and demonstrate proficiency in English and in the second language in which they will teach.
• Candidates must full-time teachers of record in good standing with a school district in the CESA #1 area.
• Candidates who do not have a full-time teaching position can apply for teaching positions in the CESA #1 area through the Pre-Registration program.

CESA #6 and #9 – RITE (Residency in Teacher Ed)
TWO YEAR RESIDENCY IN TEACHER EDUCATION (RITE) "EARN AS YOU LEARN" for applicants who have a Bachelor's Degree in engineering, music, art, foreign language, computer science, mathematics or science from an accredited institution.

Have five years work experience in their degree area.

After being hired by a district and admitted to RITE, candidates become RITE Teachers and they will learn through formal instruction as they pursue their teaching credentials.

CESA 7
The Department of Public Instruction permits alternative licensure in certain high demand subject areas. Candidates need to be seeking to teach in one or more of the following content areas at the middle or high school level: math, science, business, computer science, technology education, foreign language, music, or art.

Requirements for Regular Education Licensure:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in math, science, business, computer science, foreign language, engineering, music, or art
• Have vocational or a vocational experience that demonstrates interest in and ability to work with young people
• Have a teaching position at a school district
• Be able to pay $5,000 each year for two years for instruction in best practices in being a teacher
• Be available for summer sessions and periodic weekend sessions during the school year.

Milwaukee Teacher Education Center
The Milwaukee Teacher Education Center (MTEC) is a not-for-profit, innovative, professional development center for teachers. MTEC's goal is to provide qualified, diverse teachers who are committed to and connect with the children of Milwaukee Public Schools.

Qualified participants from all walks of life and professional experience are carefully selected for a program designed to enable them to become a teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools.

Metropolitan Multicultural Teacher Education Pre-Service Program (MMTEP)
Entrance Requirements

• Those entering the program have been paraprofessionals or teacher aides in MPS for at least one year.
• They hold a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university.
• They have passed interviews and background checks by MPS and UWM.
• Applicants must be admissible as post baccalaureate students to the UWM School of Education.

UWM Special Education Program
The UWM/MPS Special Education Internship Program is an innovative program that prepares teachers to provide special education services at the early childhood, middle, or high school level. Post-baccalaureate special education students work in Milwaukee Public Schools as interns teaching with full teaching responsibilities. Interns are supported by full-time mentor teachers while earning certification through UWM.

Successful completion of the Internship Program leads to eligibility for Wisconsin teacher certification in special education.

Project: Teaching! (Norda, Inc.)

A teacher certification program approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for persons with bachelor's degrees in middle and high school subject areas.

• 100 Hour Permit
• Candidates who hold degrees in Visual Arts, Computer Science, Engineering, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Music, or Science and who also have five years of professional work experience are eligible to obtain a permit to teach immediately after completing the basic 100 hour program.
• Teaching fields related to these degrees are considered shortage areas. Once the permit is received, candidates can go directly into the workforce and teach at full pay. They must undergo two years of on-the-job training with a monitoring teacher once employed.
• Certification by Equivalency
• Candidates who do not have degrees in areas required for the “100 Hour Permit” program or who do not meet the five year professional work requirement are placed in the “Certification by Equivalency” program. The major difference is that these candidates must also student teach for one semester.
• Upon completion, candidates are fully licensed as Initial Educators beginning in the 2004 school year. This is the same license issued to all other new teachers and qualifies holders to teach at full pay with full benefits in any public school in Wisconsin .

The “Troops to Teachers” Program (TTT)

This unique program was implemented to help reservists, veterans, or returning troops gain the knowledge and certification to become public school teachers. While final hiring decisions are left up to each school district, financial aid, information and referral services are offered to those participating in the program. Special incentives are also available to those who agree to work in areas with a large amount of low-income students.

Other helpful links:

Educational Resource Information Center (ERIC)
National Association for Alternative Certification
National Center for Alternative Certification
National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse
Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-2005
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction