As of September 2010, the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations is the sole means of assessing the basic skills, pedagogical, and content-area knowledge of Minnesota K–12 teacher candidates. All candidates for an initial license will be required to pass the MTLE basic skills test as well as pedagogy and content-area tests. If you are already licensed and adding another license, you only have to take the content knowledge test in the new licensure field.

Basic Skills

The Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE) - Basic Skills competencies are broad, conceptual statements that reflect the general education knowledge and skills an entry-level educator needs to teach effectively in Minnesota public schools. You will be able to find test-taking strategies and you are able to purchase Study Guides and Practice Tests.

Pearson Education has created online study guides that combine practice tests written by the test authors with Pearson’s best-selling content. Here are the ISBN numbers. You can order these online.

• 0132614839 – MN Basic Skills Study Guide
• 013261507x – MN Early Childhood Education Study Guide
• 0132615169 – MN Elementary Education Study Guide

Many states have competency exams for beginning teachers that are designed to assess similar competencies to those in the MTLE.  Below are links to study materials from several states. These materials may be helpful to you, but please remember that they are not designed specifically to meet Minnesota’s standards. 

Pedagogy and Content Area Tests

The two pedagogy, Elementary (Grades K–6) and Secondary (Grades 5–12), examinations include two subtests. Candidates must take and pass both subtests to qualify for a Minnesota license. You may take one or both subtests at one test appointment.

The following study guides are available for purchase from xamonline.com. The Briggs Library has limited copies available for our students to checkout.

MTLE: Minnesota Pedagogy Elementary (K-6)
MTLE: Minnesota Communication Arts/Literature (5-12)
MTLE: Minnesota Elementary Education(K-6) - 2 copies available
MTLE: Minnesota Life Science (9-12)
MTLE: Minnesota Mathematics (5-12)
MTLE: Minnesota Middle Level Mathematics (5-8)
MTLE: Minnesota Middle Level Science (5-8) - 2 copies available
MTLE: Minnesota World Language and Culture: Spanish (K-12)