Requirements  /  Minnesota

Minnesota Teacher PD Requirements (2026)

125 hours every 5 years for teachers

Source

Primary source: Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). The local Continuing Education Committee (CEC) pre-approval step is unusual and adds an administrative checkpoint not present in most states. MN has multiple mandatory topic categories within the 125 hours — these change periodically (most recent additions include positive behavior interventions and mental health).

Teachers

Annual hours
Cycle hours
125
Cycle years
5

Minnesota Tier 4 teaching license (the long-term professional license) renews every 5 years. Required: 125 clock hours per 5-year cycle. Tier 3 license (also 5-year, pre-Tier 4) requires 125 clock hours as well. Clock hours must be approved by the local district's Continuing Education Committee BEFORE submission to PELSB. Mandatory topic categories must be included (e.g., reading preparation, English Learners, accommodations for disabilities, positive behavior interventions, mental health/suicide prevention). 1 graduate semester credit = 15 clock hours under PELSB's conversion. Renewal via PELSB online licensing system.

Counselors

Annual hours
Cycle hours
125
Cycle years
5

School counselors hold a PELSB-issued school counselor license, same 125 clock hours / 5-year framework with same mandatory-topic and local-CEC approval requirements.

Administrators

Annual hours
Cycle hours
125
Cycle years
5

Administrators hold a PELSB-issued administrator license, same 125 clock hours / 5-year framework.

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Information current as of May 25, 2026. Verify with your state Department of Education for official licensure decisions.