Requirements/Minnesota

High School English Teacher in Minnesota.

Same story: no test if you were prepared in Minnesota.

Exams
1
Passing
240
Certificate
Communication Arts and Literature, Grades 5-12

The exam you have to pass

In the order most candidates take them.

01

MTLE Communication Arts and Literature (5-12)202

Out-of-state route only.

Pass240
See what is scored →

What people get wrong

Each of these costs a candidate either money or a test date.

  • If you completed a Minnesota preparation program or Licensure via Portfolio, no testing is required for a Tier 3 license. Tier 2 requires no testing either, and Tier 4 adds none. The MTLE has not disappeared, but most Minnesota-prepared candidates never sit it.
  • The tests below are the out-of-state route. You are exempt if you hold or held a license in the state where you prepared, or if you passed that state’s required tests, or if that state required no testing. Only a candidate who fits none of those must pass both the pedagogy and content tests.
  • Secondary Pedagogy covers grades 5-12 in Minnesota and is two subtests, 209 and 210.

Required, but not an exam

  • A bachelor’s degree
  • A PELSB-approved Minnesota preparation program, or Licensure via Portfolio
  • Application through PELSB

Now go pass it.

Knowing the list is the easy part. Built To Pass teaches the strategy layer that works on any of these, aimed at the domains where you are actually losing points.

Start with your exam

Verified 2026-08-06 against Minnesota PELSB, Minnesota Teacher Licensure Testing Information (September 2024), under Minnesota Statute 122A.185. Certification rules change by state board vote. Confirm with the state before you register for a test.