Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist Licenses

Reading Teacher License (PI 34.082)

A Reading Teacher license is a supplementary (teaching) license.

A Reading Teacher license authorizes an individual to have a specific assignment to teach reading in kindergarten through grade 12. To be eligible for the Reading Teacher license, candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Complete an approved program
  • Receive institutional endorsement for a reading teacher license
  • Eligible to hold a Wisconsin license to teach or completion of an approved teacher education program
  • Two years of successful regular classroom teaching experience
  • Is proficient in teaching reading
  • Complete a clinical program in teaching reading, which includes experience with all of the following content areas:
    1. Developmental reading for pupils in kindergarten through grade 12
    2. Assessment and instructional techniques for readers with special needs
    3. Language development
    4. Specific Learning Disabilities
    5. Content area reading
    6. Literature for children or adolescents

Reading Specialist License (PI 34.070)

A Reading Specialist license is an administration license.

A Reading Specialist license authorizes an individual to have a specific assignment to direct early childhood through grade 12 reading programs, work with reading teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and others as a resource teacher in reading. To be eligible for the Reading Specialist license, candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Complete an approved program
  • Receive institutional endorsement for a reading specialist license
  • Eligible to hold a Wisconsin license to teach or completion of an approved teacher education program in kindergarten through grade 12
  • Complete three years (e.g., six semesters) of successful regular classroom teaching experience in any grade
  • Hold a Reading Teacher license under PI 34.082
  • Complete a Master’s degree with a major emphasis in reading and demonstrated expertise in all the following content areas:
    • Guiding and directing a kindergarten through grade 12 program
    • Field experience in kindergarten through grade 12 reading programs
    • Research related to reading
    • Supervision of instruction
    • Content area reading for the reading specialist

For additional information, please contact:

tec@education.wisc.edu