Performance-Based
Already made an impact in the classroom but missing a license? The Performance-Based Pathway offers an alternative licensure option for experienced educators who have positively impacted student outcomes but have not met traditional testing requirements.
License Details
Requested by the employing district, this three-year license is designed to retain high-performing educators while they complete additional requirements. It’s currently available for teachers in middle and high school English (7–12) and Math (7–12).
Requirements
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally/nationally accredited institution
- Have 3 years of lead teaching experience, OR
- 6 years of classroom experience as a teaching assistant
- A combination of the two (2 years of assistant experience = 1 year of lead teaching)
- Show evidence of positive student outcomes using pre-/post-assessment data from your district
- Have your district submit:
- A local request and letter of justification
- Your résumé
- Official transcripts
- Pass a background check
- Be assigned to a MAAP-tested growth subject area in grades 5–8
Approved Subjects
This pathway is currently available for:
- English Language Arts (Grades 7–12)
- Mathematics (Grades 7–12)
License Duration
- The initial license is a three-year, non-renewable license
- Once you meet all the performance benchmarks, you can convert it to a five-year renewable license
Restrictions
- You must work at least one full year in your current district before you can transfer
- The license is not transferable unless the new district submits a formal request
- If you’re non-renewed by your district, your license is no longer valid—even if time remains
- Only the candidate can request to add additional endorsements to the five-year license (via coursework or subject test)
- The three-year license is only available in English or Math
Next Steps
The Performance-Based Licensure page has everything you need to know, from FAQs to requirements to how to apply.