Become a Reading Teacher
Fast track your career with the 100% online, 12-month Reading Teacher Certification (Wisconsin #1316). Enhance your skills in providing support and interventions for striving readers. Become a leader in reading education in your school or district with focused competencies using reading assessments and instructional strategies.
This Program Leads to WI Department of Public Instruction License #1316
Program Highlights
- Complete the 6 courses (18 credits) 100% online in two years
- Apply skills to instruction and professional development
- Focus on real-world literacy projects for your classroom
- Taught by experienced reading specialists/literacy coaches
- Apply literacy courses as electives with only four additional core courses required for the Master of Science in Education graduate degree.
- Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools (NCA)
Certification Requirements
Flexible Reading Certification Course Sequence
Prerequisites: Undergraduate bachelor's degree and a teaching license Each reading course is 3 semester hours of graduate credits.
- Developmental Reading K-12 (RDGED 701, 3 Credits)
Fall: September 15 - November 21, 2025
Spring: January 5 - March 13, 2026 - Reading in the Content Areas K-12 (RDGED 702, 3 Credits)
Fall: September 15 - November 21, 2025
Spring: February 2 - April 10, 2026 - Choose One of the Following Literature Courses
- Children's Literature in the Reading Program (RDGED 703, 3 Credits)
Fall: September 8 - November 14, 2025
Spring: January 12 - March 20, 2026 - Young Adult Literature in the Reading Program (RDGED 704, 3 Credits)
Fall: September 8 - November 14, 2025
Spring: January 12 - March 20, 2026
- Children's Literature in the Reading Program (RDGED 703, 3 Credits)
- Assessment & Evaluation of Reading & Language Development (RDGED 706, 3 Credits)
Fall: September 8 - November 14, 2025
Spring: January 20 - March 27, 2026 - Instructional Techniques for Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties (RDGED 705, 3 Credits)
Fall: September 8 - November 14, 2025
Spring: January 5 - March 13, 2026 - Practicum in Reading Difficulties (RDGED 707, 3 Credits)
Prerequisites: Successful completion with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in each of the five prerequisite reading courses: RDGED 701, 702, 703 or 704, 705, 706 and Background Check.
Fall: September 15 - November 21, 2025
Spring: Spring: January 5 - March 13, 2026
Field-based teaching experience in your school/community.
Apply Your Classes to a Graduate Degree
Let's Talk
If you are considering a Reading Teacher Certification, we encourage you to contact Emily Hines, the certification advisor at hinese@uwstout.edu. She can explain how our certification will give you a unique and competitive advantage as you pursue your career. And when you're ready to get started, Emily will help you successfully complete the certification.
Request Information
Tuition & Fees
- 2025-2026: $485 per semester hour graduate credit ($1,455 per course)
- Tuition is the same for Wisconsin residents, out-of-state, and international students.
- Tuition Due Dates
Financial Aid & Scholarships
UW-Stout Office of Financial Aid
You may qualify for financial assistance if you are enrolled in our Master's of Science in Education degree program, with at least five graduate credits in a semester.
Stout University Foundation sponsors scholarships for graduate students.
Reading Teacher Certification Admission Requirements
Eligibility
To apply for the Reading Teacher Certification program, you must have the following:
- Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- Current teaching license
- Current background check
- Note: Per revised Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction PI 34 legislation, reading program students are required to obtain a background check using the online program supported by UW-Stout School of Education: https://www.uwstout.edu/academics/colleges-schools/school-education/background-checks
Certification-Specific Application Requirements
To successfully apply for the program, be prepared the submit the following when completing the Reading Teacher Certification Application:
- Official Transcript(s)
- Current Teaching License
- Written Statement of Goals reflecting on your professional development goals, commitment to working with students with reading needs, and goals related to seeking the certification as aligned with the International Literacy Association Standards for Reading Professionals.
How many years of teaching experience are required for a reading teacher license in Wisconsin?
The WI reading teacher license (#1316) is a supplemental/add-on teaching license, which requires at least two years of classroom teaching experience; however, the years of teaching experience do not have to be completed in Wisconsin.
A long-term substitute teaching assignment, in Wisconsin or out-of-state for the minimum time of an entire semester, may count towards the total number of years in teaching experience for the reading teacher certification.
If you have questions about your current Wisconsin teaching license, obtaining a Wisconsin reading teaching license, or the verification of your teaching experience, please contact the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
How do I apply to the Reading Teacher Certification Program?
The reading teacher (Wisconsin license #1316) license is a supplemental/add-on teaching license, that requires a bachelor's degree, initial teaching license, at least two years of teaching experience, and current background check.
If you are a beginning teacher, you may enroll in the #1316 reading teacher certification courses before completing two years of teaching. Then you can apply for your #1316 license after finishing the two years of classroom teaching requirement. For educators in Wisconsin, the Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) may be required; please see WI DPI for licensure requirements on the FORT.
Questions/clarifications, please email Dr. Emily Hines at hinese@uwstout.edu.
Do I need to apply for admission to the university's graduate program?
No, you do not need to apply for graduate admission to the university unless you are beginning the Master of Science in Education online degree program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
When can I start?
The reading courses are offered three times each year (fall, spring, and summer).
After being admitted to the certificate program, complete the Online Registration Request Form. There is no registration fee to reserve a class.
This program is very popular, and courses fill well before the start date.
How many courses should I take per semester?
Carefully weigh your teaching responsibilities, family, and personal life commitments. Consider how much time you will have to devote to coursework and the requirements involved in taking an online course including electronic interaction (posting responses to the course discussion board, reading and replying to other participants' postings).
If you are teaching/working full-time, enrolling in one course per term is the recommendation of the reading faculty. Most teachers prefer to take one online course at a time.
What are the course refund and drop/cancellation policies?
If, after submitting the enrollment form, you find that you need to drop the class before the first day of class, send a cancellation request by email to outreachreg@uwstout.edu. (Cancellations by phone are not accepted.)
UW-Stout Refund Policy can be found at: https://www.uwstout.edu/admissions-aid/paying-college/tuition-fees-payments/tuition-refunds
Will the course credits apply to a master's degree?
Absolutely, all reading courses are approved M.S. Education electives. Only four additional classes are required to complete your M.S. Education graduate degree.
Course Sequence if You Begin in September
Can previous graduate-level literacy or reading coursework be applied to the UW-Stout reading teacher certification sequence of courses?
A maximum of six graduate credits completed within the past seven years may be transferred pending a syllabus review of previous reading/literacy coursework.
Transfer credits may only apply to the first three courses in the reading certification sequence of courses (RDGED 701, RDGED 702, and RDGED 703 or RDGED 704 Young Adult Literature).
NOTE: The last three courses (RDGED 705, RDGED 706, and RDGED 707) must be taken from University of Wisconsin-Stout to demonstrate competencies using specific assessments and instructional techniques to prepare for the practicum.
May I enroll in the reading courses if I am a beginning teacher and have not completed two years of teaching experience?
Yes, you may enroll in the courses as a beginning teacher. In addition to successful coursework completion, you may apply later for the reading teacher license, after you have met the two years classroom teaching experience requirement.
May I enroll in the reading courses if I have already completed a Master's degree?
Yes, you may enroll in the courses to meet your goals for
- add-on reading teacher certification/license
- professional development
- a continuing education refresher course
- license renewal
- graduate credits to apply for salary advancement
- transfer credit to another university or state's licensure program
Who is eligible for a reading teacher license in Wisconsin?
The reading teacher license (WI #1316) is a supplemental/add-on teaching license, which requires at least two years of teaching experience and or eligibility of another teaching license.
Library media specialists, special education teachers, and speech-language pathologists may apply for add-on reading teacher licensure because they hold another teaching license.
School counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers (i.e. pupil services) may not apply for add-on reading teacher licensure unless they hold another type of teaching license.
What are the requirements before I can apply for Wisconsin reading teacher licensure (#1316)?
Before applying for the license, students must demonstrate:
- Satisfactory Dispositions ratings
- Satisfactory Learner Assessment and Instruction Profile ratings
- Satisfactory e-portfolio ratings
- GPA of 3.0 or higher each of the six required reading courses (18 credits)
- Two years of classroom teaching experience
- A Wisconsin teaching license
- A bachelor's degree
- A current background check
How do I apply for Wisconsin Reading Teacher License (#1316)?
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction provides directions to assist with your application for an initial license for the #1316, reading teacher.
Apply Online At Educator Licensing Online
All licenses are issued electronically.
- Create an account in the ELO (Educator Licensing Online) system and initiate the process online.
- Enter biographical data and upload supporting documents online.
- Pay online by credit card.
- Print license certificates from the online system.
For updates and additional information about the Educator Licensing Online system visit: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
What are the classroom teaching experience requirements for a reading teacher license in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will issue the reading teacher (#1316) license to applicants who can verify two years of teaching experience, hold a valid Wisconsin teaching license, and show proficiency in the teaching of reading based on work completed in UW-Stout's reading courses and practicum.
If you hold a teaching license from a state other than Wisconsin and want to obtain a Wisconsin reading teacher license, you will need to obtain a Wisconsin teaching license before you are eligible for a reading teacher (#1316) license.
The years of teaching experience do not have to be completed in Wisconsin.
A long-term substitute teaching assignment, in Wisconsin or out-of-state for the minimum time of an entire semester, may count towards the total number of years in teaching experience for the reading teacher certification.
If you have questions about your current Wisconsin teaching license, obtaining a Wisconsin teaching license, or the verification of your teaching experience, contact the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
If I have a license in another state and completed two years of classroom teaching in that state, then moved to Wisconsin, received a Wisconsin teaching license, but have been substitute teaching in Wisconsin, will my out of state teaching experience qualify for the Wisconsin Reading Teacher License (#1316) requirement?
Individuals applying for an initial license as a reading teacher (#1316) must hold, or be eligible to hold, a Wisconsin teaching license and have two years of successful teaching experience. The license needs to be a regular teaching category – not substitute or emergency teaching license.
Out-of-state teaching experience (regular contract—not substitute teaching) must be documented with employment verification for the two years’ experience requirement.
If I live outside of the state of Wisconsin, will the reading certification apply in my state?
If you are considering an online academic program that leads to a professional license, it is highly recommended you contact the appropriate licensing agency where you plan to receive instruction before beginning your academic program. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) do not provide reciprocity for state professional licensing requirements. Academic programs and individual graduates must meet standards set by your state’s licensure requirements for a graduate to be eligible for a license.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
Contact your state's accrediting agency, State Board of Education or other certifying agency and obtain a statement regarding the coursework requirements in your state. They will assist you in verifying the applicability of this reading certification to your state's requirements. Each state has different certification requirements.
We will be happy to assist you by providing course descriptions and syllabi for the reading courses in University of Wisconsin-Stout's online program, and you may submit those to your state's certification agency for approval and apply for license/certification in your state.
If you hold a teaching license from a state other than Wisconsin and want to obtain a Wisconsin reading teacher license, you will need to obtain a Wisconsin teaching license before you are eligible for a Wisconsin reading teacher license.
Additional information about out-of-state applicants for a Wisconsin teaching license: Initial License for Out-of-State Program Completers
If you have questions about your current Wisconsin teaching license, obtaining a Wisconsin teaching license, or the verification of your teaching experience, contact the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
How do I apply for an emergency reading teacher license (#1316)?
If you are applying for an emergency #1316 reading license, you and your employing school/school district must complete the emergency license form online from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Contact UW-Stout's certification officer to request the institutional verification that you are currently enrolled in reading courses.
If you have a question about the process, please contact the School of Education Certification Officer. Wisconsin Emergency License Information
Our students include:
- 4K-Elementary, Middle School, and High School Teachers
- Reading/Math Interventionists
- Special Education Teachers
- English Language Arts Teachers
- Dual-Language Spanish Teachers
- Academic/Instructional Coaches
- Reading Resource Teachers
- Title I Teachers
- ELL/ESL Teachers
- Bilingual Teachers
- Literacy Specialists
- RTI Coordinators
- Literacy Coaches
- Library Media Specialists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
If you reside outside of Wisconsin, please note that UW-Stout cannot confirm whether this program (or course) meets requirements for professional licensure in your state. See the following website for additional information.
What types of reading teaching opportunities are available?
- Reading teacher, Title 1 teacher, reading interventionist (in a public school district, varies/based on experience) $34,000-$50,000
- Reading teacher (correctional institution) $44,000-$45,000
- Adult educator (technical college) $25,000-$40,000
- Tutor (private setting) $14-$26 per hour
How will a graduate reading certification help me?
- Add your reading certification to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Demonstrate you are acquiring new skills and knowledge if you are seeking a transition or change in jobs.
- Enhance your bachelor’s or master’s degree with literacy subject matter expertise.
- Use your online reading eportfolio to showcase your skills to employers.