Renewing a DPI-issued License or Permit

****** We have experienced an overwhelming volume of phone calls and email these past few weeks seeking assistance with ELO and licensing. We will continue to work with educators who had reached out for assistance or started an application online prior to June 30th to be able to assist with technical issues that prevented application completion.  Applications from these educators who made a good faith effort to apply will be considered as having been made timely. ******

All applications to renew a license or permit are made in our Educator Licensing Online system.  Requirements to renew a license or permit depend on the type of license an educator holds or held and when the educator completed his/her educator prep program.  

In general, educators who completed their programs after August 31, 2004, must complete a verified, multi-year Professional Development Plan (PDP) - see http://tepdl.dpi.wi.gov/pdp/professional-development-plan. 

Educators who completed their program before September 1, 2004, can choose either to complete a verified PDP or six semester credits from a regionally accredited college or university.  Continuing Education Units (CEUs) cannot be used in place of credits for license renewal.  Emergency licenses/permits have separate requirements for renewal (see http://tepdl.dpi.wi.gov/licensing/emergency-license-and-permit).

These professional development requirements for license renewal must be completed within the five (5) years immediately preceding the license renewal date.

Licenses and permits issued by the DPI usually have a start date of July 1 and expire on June 30.  When you submit a complete and accurate renewal application before June 30th, Wis. Stat. 227.51 (2) provides that your existing license does not expire until the DPI completes the processing of your renewal application.

To avoid delay in processing your application, please submit a complete application in the Educator Licensing Online system. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Military personnel who are in active duty status at the time of license expiration/renewal may be eligible for a waiver of fee and professional growth requirement. Please refer to the  Act 209 web page for more information.

If an applicant holds multiple licenses with different expiration dates, other eligible licenses will usually be renewed at the same time so all licenses can be on the same validity period. Eligibility depends on the various factors such as license types, license stages, and when the professional growth requirement was completed.
 

What if I do not complete my PDP or credits before my license expires?

Initial and Professional Edcuators who do not complete the required professional development may apply for a one-year non-renewable license, also known as an extension.  Educators who do not complete the professional development requirement during this additional year will only be eligible for a substute license until the requirements are fulfilled.  Tips for applying for the one-year extension are available for Initial Educators and Professional Educators.
 

How do I renew my license if I am working outside of Wisconsin?

Professional Educators who have worked outside of Wisconsin for the entire five years of their license, including those who are expected to complete a PDP because they completed their preparation program after August 31, 2004, may renew their license by completing six semester credits from a regionally accredited college or university.
 

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Contact the Licensing Team