Wisconsin Schools Using Emergency Teaching Licenses More Than Ever

Friday, November 7th, 2025 -- 9:00 AM

(Wisconsin Radio Network) Wisconsin schools are using emergency teaching licenses more than ever.

According tot he Wisconsin Radio Network, a Wisconsin Policy Forum report shows that 3,832 Tier I “emergency” licenses were given out by the state in 2023-24, which is almost 20% more than in 2022.

The report says schools are using the emergency licenses because traditional teacher training programs aren’t producing enough educators. An emergency license lets someone with a college degree start teaching right away while they work on getting their full teaching certificate.

In 2019, only 2.5% of Wisconsin’s licensed teachers had emergency licenses. By 2024, that number had grown to 3.6%.

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