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New State Licensure Requirements
Library Licenses
Technology and AV Licenses
Professional Development Plan
More Information
Emergency Licensure
Details on past and new licensure rules for school library media can be found in a memo by Kate Bugher, School Library Media Consultant, and Steve Sanders, Education Consultant, at the DPI web site.
LIBRARY LICENSES SINCE AUGUST 30, 2004
Instructional Library Media Specialist
PI 34.33 (5m): In order to qualify for an initial instructional library media specialist license, an applicant shall complete a program that incorporates Wisconsin’s model academic standards for library media, including all of the following strands:
1.    Media and technology.
2.    Information and inquiry.
3.    Independent learning.
4.    The learning community.
Library media (902) licensure in Wisconsin is in two stages. Specific guidelines for the license levels can be found at the DPI website.
First stage
PI 34.18 Initial Educator License: For a person completing an initial teacher education program in an area other than school library media services after August 31, 2004 with an add-on approved program with institutional endorsement in library media (formerly 901, now called 902 initial educator level):
•    Complete a performance based initial teacher education program and 902 initial educator level approved program in library media services with institutional endorsement under PI 34 to be issued an Initial Educator License as a teacher and library media specialist (902 initial license).
•    Advancement to the Professional Educator License would require completion of an approved 902 professional educator level in library media services at the masters or equivalent level as part of a Professional Development Plan (PDP) AND accrual of a minimum of 3 years teaching experience.
•    License valid of up to 5 years and non-renewable.
•    Renewal would require completion of either a PDP
PI 34.18 Professional Educator License with Stipulations: For a person who has completed a teacher education program in an area other than school library media services prior to August 31, 2004 and completing an add-on approved 902 initial educator level program with institutional endorsement for an initial library media license after August 31, 2004:
•    Complete a performance based 902 initial educator level program in library media services under PI 34 to be issued a 5 year Professional Educator License with Stipulations upon completion of the 901 program.
•    Advancement to Professional Educator License in library media requires completion of an approved 902 professional educator level program in library media services at the masters or equivalent level AND accrual or a a minimum of 3 years teaching experience.
•    License valid of up to 5 years and non-renewable.
•    Renewal would require completion of either a PDP or 6 semester credits of professional development.
Second Stage
PI 34.18 Professional Educator License: For a person who has held an initial library media specialist license or professional educator license with stipulations for at least 3 years :
•    Complete a master’s degree or equivalent for professional educator in library media services within 5 years of obtaining the initial certification and accrue a mininimum of 3 years teaching experience
•    Must be renewed every 5 years.
•    For those completing the first stage of licensure before August 31, 2004
◦    Renew professional level 902 license by completion of a Professional develop Plan (PDP)
•    For anyone who has completed the first stage of licensure after August 31, 2004, the following requirements will be in effect.
◦    Current 902-licensed library media specialists: Renew professional level 902 license by either completion of a Professional Development Plan (PDP) or 6 semester credits or professional development.
◦    Current 901-licensed library media specialists (received For a licensed teacher with a 901 library media license that expires after August 31, 2004
- Complete a performance-based 902 professional education level approved program in library media services with institutional endorsement under PI 34
- Be issued a 5 year Professional Educator License in Library Media upon completion of the 902 professional educator program.
- Renewal of the Professional Educator License would require completion of a Professional Development Plan (PDP) or 6 semester credits related to the 10 standards or area of licensure.
Instructional Library Media Supervisor License (91)
PI 34.32 (9): An instructional library media supervisor license is required for any person who is responsible for supervising and evaluating professional staff in addition to directing the district library media program.
Requirements: A license may be issued to an applicant who has:
•    Three years of successful school library media experience
•    Completed an approved program for instructional library media supervisorwith institutional endorsement
Specific guidelines for the supervisor license can be found at the DPI website.
Previous Licenses
Licensure before June 30, 2004
Licensure for school library media specialists:
901: Initial Instructional Library Media Specialist (nonrenewable 5-year license)
902: Instruction Library media Specialist (renewed by earning 6 college credits every five years)
Licensure prior to 1986
900: School Librarian
The 902, 91, and 900 licenses may continue to be renewed by obtaining six college credits or a professional development plan. They may also be renewed using the semester credit/equivalency clock hour option through 6/30/2008, although DPI clock hours will no longer be issued.
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TECHNOLOGY & AUDIOVISIUAL LICENSES 
Technology Licenses Since August 30, 2004
PI 34.32 Instructional Technology Coordinator
An instructional technology coordinator license is required for any person who is responsible for the direction and administration of the instructional computing and other instructional technology at the district level. A license may be issued to an applicant who has completed an approved program for instructional technology coordinator and who has the institutional endorsement for the license. Specific guidelines for the instructional technology coordinator license can be found at the DPI website.
Initial Level
•    Eligible to hold any educator license
•    Three years classroom or education experience
•    Completion of a master’s degree or equivalent in an approved program for Instructional Technology Coordinator, based on PI 34.03.
•    Valid for up to 5 years. This is non-renewable.
Professional Level
•    Has held an initial Instructional Technology Coordinator license for at least 3 years
•    Completion of a PDP.
•    Must be renewed every 5 years.
Previous Licenses
Licensure before June 30, 2004
903: Instructional Technology Specialist (discontinued as of July 1, 2004)
Licensure prior to 1986
905: Audiovisual Coordinator
904: Audiovisual Director
The 903, 904 and 905 licenses may continue to be renewed by obtaining six college credits or a professional development plan. They may also be renewed using the semester credit/equivalency clock hour option through 6/30/2008, although DPI clock hours will no longer be issued.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP)
A professional development plan includes:
1.    Goals and objectives, which address selected Wisconsin Teacher Standards with a rationale for each goal.
2.    Identified activities related to the professional development goals with evidence of application to the classroom or learning community.
3.    A timeline for achieving the professional development goals with evidence of annual review of goals and activities.
4.    Evidence of collaboration with professional peers and others including the review panel required under par. (c).
5.    An assessment plan that specifies indicators of growth and how meeting the goals improved the educator’s professional knowledge and affected student learning.
Successful completion of the professional development plan shall be verified by a majority of the professional development team. Initial educators and professional PDP teams are composed three individuals:
•    Professional Development Plan at the Initial Educator License stage must have goals approved and completion verified by a majority of a 3 person team including a peer (teacher), an administrator, and a higher education representative.
•    Professional Development Plan at the Professional Educator License stage must have completion verified by a majority of a 3 person team of peers (teachers).
A initial educator license and the professional educator license with stipulations shall be issued for a period of 5 years and is a nonrenewable license unless the individual has not been employed as an educator for at least 2 years within the 5-year period. Obtaining the professional level is done through completion of a professional development plan that demonstrates meeting the competencies outlined by the state for the professional level in library media which include obtaining a masters degree or equivalent in an approved program. Successful completion of the PDP shall be measured at the initiation of the educator no sooner than 3 years but no later than 5 years after the license is granted.
After earning of the professional level license, a professional educator shall complete a professional development plan that demonstrates increased proficiency every five years. For those educators at the professional level before August 31, 2004, renewal of the professional license can be done through 6 semester credits of professional development.
A one-year nonrenewable professional educator license may be issued to an applicant who meets the license requirements under this chapter but who has not met the continuing education requirement for renewal of a professional educator license or to an applicant who meets the license requirements under this chapter but who has not been regularly employed in education for 5 consecutive years immediately preceding application for the license or renewal, upon written request of an employing school district administrator.
PI 34.19: Master educator license: This is an optional license available to those at the professional level who have been in their position for 5 years and have taken and passed the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards assessment for school library media specialists. This is a ten-year license. At some point, the state plans to develop another method of obtaining this license in different licensure areas.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on licensure in Wisconsin, contact
Kate Bugher, School Library Consultant
Phone: 608-266-9287, FAX: 608-266-2529
or 
Steve Sanders (Instructional Technology Coordinator Licensure)
Phone: 608-266-7112, FAX: 608-267-1052
For information on transferring a license from within Wisconsin or from another state, contact:
DPI Educator Licensing Website for specific information:
•    Applicant Guide
•    Application Procedures
•    Application Form and other Necessary Materials
Note: Graduates of Wisconsin educator preparation programs apply for “Initial Licensure” using form PI-1602-IS. Graduates of non-Wisconsin programs must apply using form PI-1602-OS. More information on out-of-state licensure requests is available at the DPI website.
Email licensing questions using the DPI online form:
On line form can be found here. 
Phone numbers:
•    Educational Licensing: 608-266-1027
•    Licensing Voice System: 800-266-1027
Commonly asked questions on the current licensure requirements can be found at the DPI website. These will apply to anyone receiving licensure by June 30, 2004.
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EMERGENCY LICENSURE
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction issues emergency licenses for districts when a licensed candidate is not available or when extenuating circumstances justify it. These can be granted for someone holding a teaching certification and working outside their certification area or for someone with a bachelor’s degree and no teaching certification. According to information reported by districts to the DPI in the 2002 Supply and Demand Study the following emergency licenses were granted in library media in 2001-2002 and in 2003 Supply and Demand Study, the following emergency licenses were granted in library media in 2002-2003. This does not necessarily indicate full time positions.

Over the past decade, the number of emergency licenses has increased overall:

Emergency licensure is requested and must be approved by DPI initially by the district, not the individual. To renew an emergency license, an individual must take 6 credits each year toward the required license. Further information on emergency licensure is available at the DPI website.