Licensure Programs

St. Cloud State University’s educational licensure programs prepare educators to make a meaningful impact in today’s diverse classrooms. With a wide range of licensure pathways across grade levels and subject areas, you’ll gain the knowledge, hands-on experience, and professional support needed to become a confident, effective teacher. Through strong partnerships with schools and a focus on real-world learning, our programs equip you to succeed in Minnesota and beyond.

Teacher Education unites all St. Cloud State University programs that lead to teacher licensure, regardless of where the programs are housed. Teacher Education provides a common identity for all teacher candidates, as well as a sense of community, connectivity, and cohesiveness among faculty, staff, and students associated with teacher preparation programs.

Initial Teaching Licensure: Open to candidates with or without a teaching license

Education programs that earn initial teaching licensure
Major College Department Licensure Name
and Scope
Education Level
Art Education (BS) College of Arts and Sciences Art Visual Arts Grade K-12 Undergraduate
Career/Technical Ed: Communication (GC) College of Business, Engineering, and Technology Engineering  CTE: Communication Technology Grades 7-12 Graduate
Career/Technical Ed: Construction (GC) College of Business, Engineering, and Technology Engineering CTE: Construction Careers Grades 7-12 Graduate
Career/Technical Ed: Manufacturing (GC) College of Business, Engineering, and Technology Engineering  CTE: Manufacturing Careers Grades 7-12 Graduate
Career/Technical Ed: Transportation (GC) College of Business, Engineering, and Technology Engineering CTE: Transportation Careers Grades 7-12 Graduate
Chemistry Education (BS) College of Arts and Sciences Biology & Chemistry Science:
Chemistry Grades 9-12
Undergraduate
Chemistry Education + General Science (BS) College of Arts and Sciences Biology & Chemistry Science:
Chemistry Grades 9-12
General Science:
Grades 5-8
Undergraduate
Communication Arts and Literature (BS) College of Arts and Sciences Humanities Communication Arts and Literature Grades 5-12 Undergraduate
Early Childhood Education (BS) College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education Early Childhood Birth through Grade 3 Undergraduate
Earth and Space Science (BS) College of Arts and Sciences Atmospheric and Earth Sciences Science: Earth and Space Grades 9-12 Undergraduate
Earth and Space Science + General Science College of Arts and Sciences Atmospheric and Earth Sciences Science: Earth and Space Grades 9-12
General Sciences: Grades 5-8
Undergraduate
Elementary Education (BS) College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education Elementary Education Grades K-6 Undergraduate
Library Media Specialist College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education Library Media Specialist Grades K-12
(Also an endorsement)
Graduate
Life Science Education (BS) College of Arts and Sciences Biology & Chemistry Science: Life Science Grades 9-12 Undergraduate
Life Science + General Science Education (BS) College of Arts and Sciences Biology & Chemistry Science: Life Science Grades 9-12
General Science: Grades 5-8
Undergraduate
Mathematics Education (BS) College of Arts and Sciences Mathematics, Physics & Astronomy Mathematics Grades 5-12 Undergraduate
Social Studies Education (BS) College of Education, Health and Human Sciences K-12/Secondary Education Preparation Social Studies Grades 5-12 Undergraduate
Special Education (SPED): Academic and Behavioral Strategist (BS) College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education SPED: Academic and Behavioral Strategist
Grades K-12
Undergraduate and Graduate
Teaching English as a Second Language College of Arts and Sciences Humanities English as a second language Grades K-12 Undergraduate and Graduate
Technology Education (BS) College of Business, Engineering, and Technology Engineering Technology Grades 5-12 Undergraduate

Additional Teaching Licensure: Open to candidates with a teaching license

Education programs that earn additional teaching licensure
Major College Department Licensure Name
and Scope
Education Level
Special Education:
Autism Spectrum Disorders
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education SPED: Autism Spectrum Disorders
Birth through grade 12
Graduate
Special Education:
Developmental Disabilities
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education SPED: Developmental Disabilities
Grades K-12
Graduate
Special Education:
Emotional Behavioral Disorders
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education SPED: Emotional Behavioral Disorders
Grades K-12
Graduate
Special Education:
Learning Disabilities
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education SPED: Learning Disabilities
Grades K-12
Graduate
Work Based Learning College of Business, Engineering, and Technology Engineering Work Based Learning Grades 9-12 Graduate

Endorsements: Only open to candidates with a teaching license

Education programs that earn an endorsement (candidates already hold a license)
Major College Department Endorsement Education Level
Library Media Specialist College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Education Library Medial Specialists Grades K-12 (also an initial license) Graduate
Middle School Mathematics College of Science and Engineering Mathematics, Physics & Astronomy Middle Level Mathematics
Grades 5-8
(can be earned simultaneously with an initial license)
Undergraduate
Traffic Safety Education College of Education, Health and Human Sciences K-12/Secondary Education Preparation Driver and Traffic Safety Grades 9-12 Graduate

Related Service License

Education programs that earn a related service license
Major College Department Licensure Name
and Scope
Education Level
School Counseling College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Behavioral Health and Counseling School Counselor Grades K-12 Graduate

Administrative Licenses: approved by the Board of School Administrators

Education programs that earn an administrative license
Major College Department Endorsement Education Level
Community Education Administration Graduate Studies Educational Leadership, Higher Education, and Student Development Community Education Director Graduate
K-12 Principal Graduate Studies Educational Leadership, Higher Education, and Student Development K-12 Principal  Graduate
Special Education Administration Graduate Studies Educational Leadership, Higher Education, and Student Development Director of Special Education: District Graduate
District Superintendent Graduate Studies Educational Leadership, Higher Education, and Student Development District Superintendent Graduate

Licensure Outside of Minnesota

Programs at St. Cloud State University that lead to a professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare a student for potential licensure or certification in Minnesota. While the St. Cloud State programs meet the relevant academic requirements set by the licensure or certification board/agency in Minnesota, they may or may not meet the educational requirements for a licensure or certification in another state. If you are planning to seek professional licensure or certification outside Minnesota it is important for you to know the specific requirements of the state in which you intend to apply for licensure or certification. If you are considering a program that leads to professional licensure or certification, it is important that you contact the personnel with direct oversight of the academic program you are interested in for licensure and certification requirements.

The following links may be used to explore licensure requirements in other states. St. Cloud State makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure or certification is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, jurisprudence exams, training, etc. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Minnesota, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program.

Learn more on the Teacher Certification Degrees website