The only Minnesota-approved CTE alternative teacher preparation program in the state.

We prepare candidates for teaching careers in Advanced Manufacturing; Construction; Design, Arts, & Entertainment (Creative Design); Digital Technology (Communications Technology); Education (Early Childhood); Energy & Natural Resources (Park Services); Healthcare (Medical); Hospitality, Events, & Tourism (Hospitality Services); Human Services (Cosmetology); Public Service & Safety (Law Enforcement); Supply Chain & Transportation; and Work-Based Learning.

Intake Application
Initial Licensure
(Tier 1 and 2)

Start a teaching career with an initial license including teaching methods/SEPs and subject matter standards. For individuals who have not completed a teacher preparation program (e.g., Tier 1 and Tier 2 teachers, industry experts).

Additional Licensure
(Tier 3 and 4)

Add an additional license to an existing Tier 3 or Tier 4 Minnesota teaching license. For individuals who have completed a teacher preparation program (e.g., Tier 3 and Tier 4, teachers on an Out-of-Field Permission).

Career Cluster CTE Teaching Licensure Programs

Communications Tech. Construction Creative Design Early Childhood Hospitality Service Manufacturing Medical Transportation

Career Pathway CTE Teaching Licensure Programs

Cosmetology Law Enforcement Park Services

CTE Licensure Endorsement Programs

Work-Based Learning

About the Program

In October 2018, the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) approved Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC) as the first alternative teacher preparation provider under Minnesota Statute §122A.2451. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education awarded LCSC a $150,000 Alternative Teacher Preparation grant to build the first Career and Technical Education (CTE) alternative licensure programs for incumbent teachers to obtain additional CTE licenses or endorsements. In 2024 PELSB approved LCSC to offer initial licensure as well. We now serve more than 200 teachers per year across all CTE areas and career fields.

Each year, LCSC works to secure more than $600,000 in funding from grants, donors, and a state legislative appropriation to support teachers in both initial and additional licensure. Most candidates are able to participate in our programs at no cost to them as individuals.


State Licensing Board Approved

We offer an efficient, affordable, attainable, results-oriented, and competency-based licensure program that is a clear pathway to obtain a license, yet nimble enough to provide individualized programs of study based on the identified needs of each licensure candidate. Our program is different than post-secondary instruction. There are no grades or tuition fees. Candidates do not have to spend thousands of dollars on expensive academic textbooks. Everything we do is practical and practitioner based, teaching skills and knowledge in a hands-on and real environment. Each module and project is applicable and immediately useful in the classroom. And we offer all these high-quality experiences on-demand to candidates without the traditional confines of the academic year. Our licensure programs are grounded in a coherent, practice-based conceptual framework aligned to the Danielson Framework for Teaching, which guides program design, mentoring, and candidate assessment.

Recruitment & Admission

We recruit teachers through a vast network of partners. Principals, Perkins coordinators, service cooperative leaders, professional organizations, and more recommend our programs to teachers. We schedule a meeting with candidates needing licensure support, and map out their needs and program options.

Advising & Mentoring

Each admitted candidate is assigned an advisor/mentor who will guide the candidate throughout the licensure program. Candidates work with their advisor/mentor to determine their individualized licensure program needs and design a sequence of modules and field experiences to learn necessary content.

Individualized Learning

Candidates work through our program’s modules asynchronously, at their own pace, with support from their advisor. Candidates complete their program through a variety of experiences including, but not limited to, intensive professional development, asynchronous online instruction through our learning management system, earned certifications and industry credentials, and other forms of demonstrated proficiency via a portfolio.

Review & Recommendation

We consider the content phase of a candidate’s program complete when the candidate has completed each of the four to sixteen modules approved by the MN Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to fulfill the standards of each license they are seeking. See each licensure page for a list of the modules in each licensure program. Following completion, we recommend the candidate to PELSB for licensure.

2025-2026 CTE Core Bootcamps

  • Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    STEP High School, Anoka, MN
  • Thursday, October 9, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Minnesota North College, Hibbing, MN
  • Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Resource Training & Solutions Service Cooperative, St. Cloud, MN
  • Tuesday, October 23, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Fergus Falls, MN
  • Thursday, November 6, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative, Marshall
  • Thursday, November 6, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Southeast Service Cooperative, Rochester, MN
  • Monday, November 24, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    South Central Service Cooperative, Mankato, MN
  • Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    STEP High School, Anoka, MN
  • Thursday, December 4, 2025, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Sourcewell Service Cooperative, Staples, MN
  • Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Fergus Falls, MN
  • Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Resource Service Cooperative, St. Cloud, MN
  • Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    STEP High School, Anoka, MN
  • Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Southeast Service Cooperative, Rochester, MN
  • Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative, Marshall, MN
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    South Central Service Cooperative, Mankato, MN
  • Thursday, March 19, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Fergus Falls, MN
  • Thursday, April 2, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Lake Superior College, Duluth, MN
  • Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    STEP High School, Anoka, MN
  • Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Fergus Falls, MN
  • Monday, June 15, 2026, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
    St. Cloud, MN

Licensure Candidates

Adrian, AFSA, Alexandria, Bemidji, Duluth, Eden Prairie, Lester Prairie, Minnesota River Valley Education District, Osseo, Saint Paul, Sartell-St. Stephen, Springfield, and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

Adrian, Aitkin, Alexandria, Anoka-Hennepin, Avalon School, Badger, Barnesville, Battle Lake, Bemidji, Bertha-Hewitt, Big Lake, Bloomington, Brainerd, Brandon-Evansville, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, Cannon Falls, Centennial, Cleveland, Cook County, Crosby-Ironton, Dassel-Cokato, Department of Corrections, Detroit Lakes, Dover-Eyota, Dream Technical Academies of Minnesota, Duluth, East Grand Forks, Eastern Carver County, Eden Prairie, Eden Valley-Watkins, Elk River, Fairmont Area, Faribault, Farmington, Fisher, Foley, Forest Lake, Fosston, Frazee-Vergas, Freshwater Education, GFW, Grand Rapids, Greenway, Hastings, Hawley, Hayfield, Hermantown, Hill City, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, Hutchinson, Intermediate #287, Intermediate #288 (Southwest Metro), Intermediate #916 (Northeast Metro), Intermediate #917, Intermediate 287, International Falls, Jackson County Central, Kalon Prep Academy, Kingsland, La Crescent-Hokah, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, Lakeview, Lanesboro, Le Sueur-Henderson, Lewiston-Altura, Littlefork-Big Falls, Mankato, Marshall, McGregor, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnewaska, Montevideo, Monticello, Moorhead, Morris Area, Mounds View, Murray County Central, Nevis, New London-Spicer, New Prague, Nicollet, North Branch, Northfield, Ortonville, Osseo, Parkers Prairie, Pine River-Backus, Prior Lake-Savage, Redwood Area, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Rochester, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, Rothsay, Royalton, Saint Paul, Sauk Centre, Shakopee, South St. Paul, South Washington County, Spring Lake Park, St. Francis, St. James, St. Louis County, St. Paul, Staples-Motley, Stillwater, Tracy, Upsala, Wabasso, Waconia, Warroad, Waseca, Wayzata, West St. Paul-Mendota Hts-Eagan, Westonka, Wheaton, White Bear Lake, Willow River, Windom, Winona, and Worthington.

Anoka-Hennepin, Battle Lake, Bertha-Hewitt, Brainerd, Browerville, Byron, Chisago Lakes, Chisholm, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Cloquet, Crookston, Crosby-Ironton, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, Frazee-Vergas, Glencoe-Silver Lake, Glencoe-Silver Lake, Grand Rapids, Hayfield, Hibbing, Jordan, Lac qui Parle Valley, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, Lakeview, Lakeville, Lyle, Mahtomedi, Mankato, Marshall, Minneapolis, Moorhead Area, Mora, Mounds View, Nashwauk-Keewatin, Osseo, Pequot Lakes, Pine River-Backus, Princeton, Proctor, Rochester, Rock Ridge, Roseau, Sourcewell, Spring Lake Park, St. Francis Area Schools, St. Michael-Albertville, St. Peter, Wadena-Deer Creek, Waseca, Wayzata, and West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan.

Aitkin, Albert Lea, Alexandria, Anoka-Hennepin, Barnesville, Brooklyn Center, Career Pathways (Saint Paul), Chisholm, Edina, Elk River, Fond du Lac Ojibwe, Goodhue, Granada-Huntley-East Chain, Grand Meadow, Grand Rapids, Hayfield, Hibbing, Hill City, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, International Falls, Inver Grove Heights, Jackson County Central (Jackson), Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, Jordan, Kasson-Mantorville, Lake Park-Audubon, Lyle, Mahtomedi, Mesabi East (Aurora), Minneapolis, Minnewaska, Moorhead, Morris, Mounds View, Mountain Iron-Buhl, New Ulm, New York Mills, Northeast Metro 916 (White Bear Lake), Parkers Prairie, Pelican Rapids, Perham-Dent, Rochester, Rock Ridge, Runestone Area Ed District (Alexandria), Saint Paul, Sibley East, South St. Paul, St. Francis, St. Louis County, St. Peter, Tracy, Underwood, Warroad, Wayzata, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan, Windom, Worthington, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa.

Alexandria, Anoka-Hennepin, Ashby, Barnesville, Battle Lake, Bemidji, Bertha-Hewitt, Brainerd, Brandon-Evansville, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, Chisago Lakes, Cloquet, Crookston, Crosslake Charter, Deer River, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, East Grand Forks, Elk River, Fergus Falls, Fertile-Beltrami, Forest Lake, Frazee-Vergas, Freshwater Ed. District, Goodridge, Greenbush-Middle River, Hibbing, Lakeville, Lancaster, Le Sueur-Henderson, Lionsgate Academy (Minnetonka), Mankato, Minneapolis, Montevideo, Nashwauk-Keewatin, North Lakes Academy, Northeast Metro 916 (White Bear Lake), Northern Lights (Warba), Osakis, Osseo, Pelican Rapids, Pine City, Redwood (Redwood Falls), Lakes Country Service Cooperative (Fergus Falls), Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative (Marshall), Roseville, Saint Paul, Sauk Centre, Sibley East, Sourcewell (Staples), Spring Lake Park, St. Cloud, St. Francis, St. Louis Park, St. Michael-Albertville, Stillwater, Thief River Falls, Tri-City United (Montgomery), TRIO Wolf Creek (Chisago City), Warroad, Waubun-Ogema-White Earth, and White Bear Lake.

Anoka-Hennepin, Barnum, Bloomington, Cambridge-Isanti, Cloquet, Cromwell-Wright, Fairmont, Grygla, Hancock, Hills-Beaver Creek, La Crescent-Hokah, Minneapolis, Nashwauk-Keewatin, New London-Spicer, Princeton, Rockford, Saint Paul, South Koochiching (Northome), White Bear Lake, and Willow River.

Bloomington, Fergus Falls, Frazee-Vergas, Hawley, Kittson Central (Hallock), Moorhead, and Tri-County (Karlstad).

Licensure Frequently Asked Questions

A: Most candidates pay nothing out of pocket. Legislative appropriations and grant funding cover program costs for a limited number of participants. Some Perkins consortia also prioritize teacher recruitment and retention and may provide additional support.

A: The program is self‑paced and varies based on your background and experience. Most candidates complete within one to two years.

A: LCSC’s program is a state‑approved alternative licensure program, not based in higher education. It is highly individualized and focused on applying content in real classrooms rather than only knowing it. This approach often feels different from traditional programs but creates a deeper, more practical learning experience.

A: We do not award grades, credits, or degrees. Completion leads to licensure rather than academic credit.

A: Most content is delivered online. Minnesota requires at least 75% of an online program to be virtual, but some parts—such as Core Skills training—are short, in‑person sessions held regionally. Required clinical experiences (student teaching or practicum) are always in‑person and school‑based. Occasionally we offer optional in‑person professional development in place of virtual components.

A: A CTE license is a Minnesota teaching license in which the teacher has demonstrated foundational CTE skills as well as content and technical expertise in a career field (such as agriculture, construction, or health sciences). “CTE license” is a general category of licenses, not a single specific license. A list of current CTE licenses is available here.

A: No. Minnesota has not issued vocational licenses since 1999 (with rare exceptions through 2001), and those terms do not appear in current rule or statute. Minnesota issues licenses and endorsements, not certifications. To avoid confusion, these outdated terms should not be used.

A: Once you are accepted and enrolled in one of LCSC’s programs, you will receive a notification in your Proserva profile when it is time to sign up for Core Skills.

A: No. If you are enrolled in the licensure program, the LCSC team has already identified funding to cover your costs.

A: There is no separate “alternative license.” All Minnesota teaching licenses are the same regardless of whether a teacher completed a traditional or alternative program. Salary is determined by each district’s collective bargaining agreement (contract), which typically uses steps (years of experience) and lanes (degree level) to set pay. Teachers entering from industry often need to negotiate to show that their years of industry experience are as valuable as teaching experience. In addition, Career and Technical Education (CTE) licensure has a bachelor’s‑degree exemption, so pay structures built around bachelor’s degrees do not always fit well. Many contracts, however, include provisions that support CTE licensure.

A: You may apply, but admission requires that you are a Teacher of Record (Tier 1, Tier 2, or OFP) or that you hold a job offer in a Minnesota district. This ensures candidates can complete required practicum experiences.

A: You must be currently teaching as a Teacher of Record (Tier 1, Tier 2, or OFP) or have a job offer in a Minnesota district.
You must be teaching in the subject area for which you seek licensure.
You must have experience working with students.
You must complete an interview with program staff.
Some licensure areas also require five years of industry experience, an industry certification, or a related degree.

A: Contact Siri Livdahl, Program Coordinator of Admission and Advising, at slivdahl@lcsc.org.

A: No. The Technology (100100) license is not a CTE license and is not eligible for Minnesota Department of Education CTE program approval. Although it shares some skills with Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation, and/or Communications Technology licenses, it does not meet key CTE requirements.

A: No. LCSC’s program is an alternative licensure program approved by the state but not affiliated with a college or university.

A: Not always. Most CTE licensure areas allow entry with an associate’s degree, an industry certification, or five years of relevant experience.

A: No. The program leads to licensure but does not award credits or degrees.

A: We do not offer traditional financial aid such as FAFSA, but most participants have their costs covered through grants.

A: Because the program is self‑paced, you may pause and resume as needed. We encourage regular communication with your advisor to plan your timeline.

“I feel like this is the magic piece that has been missing from my career for a long time. I just did not understand what I needed and I would not have had the bandwidth to go back to school while I was raising a family and working full time.”

“Finally, there’s someone helping to make this work. The legislature and PELSB writes it in law and maybe wants it to happen but doesn’t seem to be able to do much to make this easier for us to keep teaching. What LCSC is doing is greatly, greatly appreciated.”

“I’m trying to learn this, but no one has answers for how to meet the standards or realistically move to Tier 3. No one is trying to help those of us at Tier 1. I took a big pay cut coming from industry to be a teacher. Lakes Country Service Cooperative is making a difference. LCSC is helping schools keep teachers.”

“The program had a tremendous impact on my personal development, allowing me to earn my CTE license, significantly build upon my knowledge and skills in the areas where I had limited practice, and design hands-on, classroom-ready lesson plans, activities, and materials that I will be able to use to make an impact on students years into the future. I am especially grateful for the program’s support, structure, and applicability.”