German
Foreign Language Testing Requirements for Teacher Licensure in the State of Wisconsin
Foreign Language Testing Requirements for Teacher Licensure in the State of Wisconsin
ATTENTION
German Education Students
Changes to Foreign Language Testing Requirements for Teacher Licensure--New Foreign Language Content Exams
Wisconsin requires Foreign Language Education students who complete their professional education programs after August 31, 2011 to take the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) specified by the state for their license area(s) in order to qualify for a state education license. All state approved professional education programs in Wisconsin require student assessments of content knowledge (in most license fields) that are determined, in Foreign Languages, by obtaining a score on the OPI and WPT at the proficiency level of Intermediate High as approved by the state superintendent. This includes programs offered at colleges and universities as well as alternative training, experimental and innovative programs. Each Wisconsin professional education program establishes by policy when the tests must be completed within its education program sequence.
Language Testing International—Information for Wisconsin Teachers
The UW Oshkosh Testing Center will provide services for these tests. There are currently plans to establish a Fall 2011 testing date, probably in October. There is a 90-day waiting period before you may retake these tests, should you not pass them at the Intermediate High level. If you will be student teaching in Fall 2012, you are required to provide passing scores with your student teaching application on March 1, 2012.
Who Must Take the ACTFL OPI and WPT Tests?
All Foreign Language Education students who complete a professional education program after August 31, 2011 must take the ACTFL OPI and WPT required by Wisconsin for their license area in order to qualify for a state education license. It is important to note that no candidate may be waived from taking the required test for her or his license area. This includes all scenarios of program completion including but not limited to:
- FL Educators licensed prior to September, 2011 returning to complete a license program in a new subject;
- FL Educators licensed prior to September, 2011 returning to complete programs to add on age levels that were not covered by their previous licenses;
- All educators who complete initial licensing programs after August 31, 2011 and all subsequent programs they complete;
- Students completing licensing programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
- Students completing licensing programs as special students.
