Graduate Teaching Licensure

Tuition: $614/credit*

* Tuition rates are for the 2025-26 academic year. Additional fees and costs for course materials may apply. Total program cost and completion time varies depending on transfer credits and individual program plans. Tuition rates are subject to change. View 2024-25 rates.

Fees

Total program costs and fees are approximately $820.

Prepare for teaching licensure in Minnesota in one of the following areas:

• Elementary Education (broad studies, K–6)
• Secondary Education (choose one concentration area, 5–12)
  • Chemistry
  • Communication Arts and Literature
  • Life Science
  • Math
  • Social Studies
• Spanish (K–12)

Our online Graduate Teaching Licensure program was created in collaboration with the Minnesota K-12 community. Through coursework grounded in research and best practices, we instill committed teachers with the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to promote student learning. The varied courses and field experiences enable students to develop mastery of the Standards of Effective Practice for beginning teachers.

Program Length

The GTL program varies in length due to the differences in students’ undergraduate education. Typically, students can complete the program in two years.

We highly recommend before you apply to the program, you send the following to our admissions counselor.

• Copy of your undergraduate transcripts (can be a copy, does not need to be official)
• Contact information, including an email address
• Content area and grade level you are interested in teaching

We will do an informal analysis of how many courses you will need to be licensed in the area you want to teach. We do this because program length varies due to our program being customized around your undergraduate degree and the Minnesota teaching standards in the area you want to teach.

Work Toward Your Master’s While Earning Your Teaching License

Our Master of Science in Teaching with Licensure program is designed to meet the requirements of a Master of Science while you are working toward your initial Minnesota teaching license. This means you can enter the teaching profession with a master’s degree, giving you more earning potential, better credentials and a full understanding of how to be an effective teacher.

If you’re not interested in earning a Master of Science degree and just want your teaching license, then we can accommodate your needs as well. To learn more, fill out the request information form on this page. Or if you’re ready, start the application.

Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs for Teachers

Learn more about the U.S. Department of Education’s loan forgiveness programs for teachers.

View Requirements

View Learning Outcomes

Career Outlook for Teachers is strong, with federal loan forgiveness programs available to help ease the financial burden. The U.S. Department of Education offers loan forgiveness options for teachers, making the profession even more accessible. 

Earning your teacher certificate is a great path to pursue your passion and become the best educator possible. Take the next step to earning your Master of Science in Teaching at St. Scholastica.

The Teacher Education program at the College of St. Scholastica is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) for a period of 7 years, from July 2019 to July 2026. The accreditation does not include individual education courses that the Educator Preparation Program offers to P-12 educators for professional development, re-licensure, or other purposes.

PART I: Publicly Available Program Performance and Candidate Achievement Data

Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)

The fully accredited Teacher Education Program is assessed according to the requirements and standards of the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). The teacher education program has full continuing unit approval through June 30, 2026.

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions, financing and the Center for Equal Access.

Application Deadline

Fall: July 15

Eligibility

New Students

• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university
• GPA of at least 2.8 required for full acceptance

Note: Meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission.

Before Applying

The GTL program length varies due to our program being customized around your undergraduate degree and the Minnesota teaching standards in the area you want to teach. Before submitting an application, you may request an informal analysis of how many courses you will need by contacting your admissions counselor.

Prerequisite and content courses may be taken in advance or during the program.

Accepted Students

Students can officially enter the program after successfully completing a background check ($59 fee). If you are a current teacher in MN or have passed a separate background check recently, it can be reviewed as a possible alternative.

Background Check

A background check is required for all students enrolled in this program.

View Background Check Requirements