Transferring your teaching license from New York to Minnesota
Minnesota evaluates out-of-state teaching credentials on a case-by-case basis. Expect a credential review by Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) and additional Minnesota-specific exam or coursework requirements before a full license is issued.
See 4,077 open teaching jobs in Minnesota →Your current credential (New York)
- Issuing authority
- New York State Education Department (NYSED)
- License type
- Initial Certificate (5 years (non-renewable))
- Reciprocity policy
- New York participates in NASDTEC but requires New York-specific exams (NYSTCE) in most cases. A master's degree is required for the Professional Certificate, making NY one of the more demanding reciprocity states.
Minnesota certification
- Issuing authority
- Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
- License you'll earn
- Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) (1 year (Tier 1) or renewable (Tier 2))
- Typical timeline
- 12–18 months for Tier 2 (traditional program); Tier 1 available immediately for qualified career changers
- Minnesota reciprocity policy
- Minnesota evaluates out-of-state licenses individually. Tier 2 may be issued to teachers with at least 2 years of out-of-state teaching experience.
Exams typically required in Minnesota
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on Minnesota's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE) Basic SkillsReading, writing, and mathematics
- MTLE Pedagogy AssessmentTeaching knowledge and practice
- MTLE Content Area SubtestsSubject matter knowledge by licensure field
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your New York credential is current. Minnesota will request a verification of your active Initial Certificate from New York State Education Department (NYSED).
- Apply through Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any Minnesota-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but Minnesota may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to Minnesota districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 4,077 active openings — browse Minnesota teaching jobs to start identifying districts.