MDE Teacher Certification 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Minnesota school district wishes to hire a candidate who has a bachelor's degree but no teacher preparation program completion. Under which Tier would this candidate receive a license?
- Tier 1 (Correct answer)
- Tier 2
- Tier 3
- Tier 4
Correct answer: Tier 1
Tier 1 is the lowest-level Minnesota teaching license, available to individuals who have a degree but have not completed a state-approved teacher preparation program.
Question 2: What is the maximum number of consecutive years a Minnesota school district can employ a teacher under a Tier 1 license in the same assignment?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 3 years
Minnesota law limits consecutive Tier 1 employment in the same position to three years, after which the educator must progress to a higher tier.
Question 3: Which of the following coursework areas is specifically required for all Minnesota teacher license applicants under cultural competency standards?
- Advanced calculus
- Human relations and multicultural education (Correct answer)
- Second-language acquisition theory
- School finance and budgeting
Correct answer: Human relations and multicultural education
Minnesota requires all teacher candidates to complete coursework in human relations and multicultural education as part of licensure preparation.
Question 4: Under Minnesota rules, a teacher seeking to add a new licensure field must typically:
- Complete a full new preparation program in the new field
- Pass the content exam for the new field and meet any additional coursework requirements (Correct answer)
- Wait until their current license expires before applying
- Obtain approval from their local school board only
Correct answer: Pass the content exam for the new field and meet any additional coursework requirements
Adding a new field typically requires passing the relevant MTLE content exam and satisfying any field-specific coursework requirements set by PELSB.
Question 5: Minnesota's tiered licensure system was established primarily to:
- Reduce the number of teachers entering the profession
- Create a pathway for career changers and address teacher shortages while maintaining quality (Correct answer)
- Replace the previous single-license system with a more complex structure for administrative ease
- Allow school districts to pay lower salaries to unlicensed staff
Correct answer: Create a pathway for career changers and address teacher shortages while maintaining quality
Minnesota's four-tier system was designed to address teacher shortages by creating multiple entry points while still establishing a progression toward full professional licensure.
Question 6: Which Minnesota agency administers the MTLE exams on behalf of the state?
- Pearson (Correct answer)
- ETS (Educational Testing Service)
- National Evaluation Systems (NES)
- ACT Inc.
Correct answer: Pearson
Pearson administers the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations under contract with the state of Minnesota.
Question 7: A Tier 3 Minnesota teaching license is best described as:
- A license for substitute teachers only
- A professional teaching license requiring a master's degree
- A standard license for candidates who have completed a preparation program and met all basic requirements (Correct answer)
- A license exclusively for candidates pursuing National Board Certification
Correct answer: A standard license for candidates who have completed a preparation program and met all basic requirements
Tier 3 is the standard professional license awarded to candidates who have completed an approved preparation program and satisfied all licensure requirements including exams.
MDE Teacher Certification 3
A Minnesota school district wishes to hire a candidate who has a bachelor's degree but no teacher preparation program completion.
Under which Tier would this candidate receive a license?