Continuing Education Requirements

• The primary requirement for the renewal of a teaching license in Minnesota is the completion of continuing education coursework. The state mandates that all teachers complete a minimum of 125 hours of professional development coursework during each licensing cycle. School districts typically provide these continuing education classes for their teachers, offering them during in-service days or arranging for them to occur after hours or during summers. Online courses may also be used toward the continuing education coursework.
  
  

Topics for Continuing Education

• The Minnesota Department of Education requires teachers to receive training on specific topics during each licensing cycle. All educators in the state must complete at least one course related to positive behavior intervention strategies. A class in accommodations and adaptations in course materials and instruction is also mandatory, as well as a course in recognizing the signs of mental illness in children. Teachers with licenses that expire after June 30, 2012, must take a course in technology and another in personal growth.
  
  

Reading Program Requirements

• All teachers in Minnesota are required to receive training in teaching reading during each licensing cycle. Each school district is responsible for determining how many hours of reading training various types of teachers at their schools must complete. Typically, reading immersion and English teachers must complete more hours than other types of educators. Topics for reading education courses may include phonemic awareness, vocabulary instruction, reading in specific content areas like math or science, research on reading instruction or other topics approved by the Minnesota Department of Education.
  
  

Application

• Minnesota teachers must complete an application to qualify for renewal. The application is only completable online and is accessible from the state Department of Education website. The first time teachers use the system, they establish a username and password that they enter for every subsequent use. The renewal application requests information about teachers' continuing education coursework and work history during the past licensing cycle. All teachers must pay a fee along with the application using a major credit card or debit card.