Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board - St Paul, Minnesota

The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) is a state-level governing body responsible for the licensing, regulation, and support of Minnesota's educators. Established in 2017, PELSB aims to ensure that Minnesota's educators are highly effective, well-prepared, and continuously improving. Located at 1021 Bandana Blvd E Suite 222, St Paul, MN 55108, PELSB plays a pivotal role in shaping Minnesota's education landscape.

• Licensing and Certification: PELSB manages the licensing process for Minnesota's educators, including initial licensure, license renewal, and out-of-state license reciprocity.
• Professional Development: PELSB oversees professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs, workshops, and online courses to help educators grow and improve their practice.
• Standards and Policies: PELSB sets and enforces professional standards and policies for Minnesota's educators, ensuring consistent quality in the state's education system.
• Discipline and Investigation: PELSB investigates complaints against licensed educators, overseeing disciplinary actions when necessary to maintain the integrity of the profession.
• Data and Research: PELSB collects and analyzes data on educator preparation, licensing, and effectiveness, using these insights to inform policy decisions and improve educator support.

The PELSB office is situated in the Willow Lake neighborhood of St Paul, Minnesota. The building is easily accessible via several major roads, including I-94, I-35E, and Highway 52. Public transportation is also convenient, with multiple bus routes serving the area. For those driving, there is ample parking available on-site, including designated accessible spaces. The building is wheelchair-accessible, with automatic doors, an elevator, and accessible restrooms.

• Modern Facilities: The PELSB office is housed in a modern, energy-efficient building that opened in 2015. The interior features an open floor plan, natural light, and collaborative workspaces.
• Multilingual Support: PELSB offers resources and services in multiple languages to better serve Minnesota's diverse educator population.
• Online Services: PELSB provides many of its services online, allowing educators to manage their licenses, access professional development opportunities, and submit required documents conveniently and efficiently.
• Community Engagement: PELSB actively seeks input from educators, school districts, and the public to inform its policies and practices. It hosts regular meetings and events to facilitate this engagement.

PELSB's office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. It is recommended that visitors schedule an appointment before visiting the office. PELSB can be reached by phone at 651-539-4200 or via email at [email protected]. The PELSB website, mn.gov/pelsb, offers a wealth of information and resources for educators, including license applications, professional development opportunities, and licensing requirements.

With an average rating of 2.9/5 from 14 reviews on Google My Business, PELSB receives praise for its helpful and knowledgeable staff, as well as the ease of using its online services. One reviewer commended the "quick response and helpfulness" of the staff, while another appreciated the "user-friendly" online license renewal process. These positive aspects highlight PELSB's commitment to providing quality support and services to Minnesota's educators.

👍 Reviews of Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board

M B.

1/5

Very difficult to work with, but I imagine who your assigned representative is makes a huge difference. Mine seemed to relish the opportunity to drag out the process and be confrontational.

Nicole K.

1/5

Called a couple of times during their extremely limited times that their call line for licnese questions was open. Was on hold for over 10 minutes before a real person answered only to be immediately transfered to a voice mail box before I could even speak. Once again, this was during the limited hours I was told to call to get my questions about my application answered. My question is literally a yes or no question as well, not complicated at all but its like pulling teeth to get ahold of anyone. I have also emailed and received no responses. Maybe leaving a voice-mail is the magic solution but I highly doubt it. Extremely unhelpful organization.

Marcus E.

5/5

I recently went through the steps for obtaining a short-call substitute teaching license. The friendly and helpful staff made the process easy.

Ann M.

1/5

If I could give negative stars, I would. On-going issue for over a year. Received a rude note that I had used "an incredibly out of date form" that is still the first thing that comes up when I Google search to voluntarily remove one of my licenses.

Melissa B.

1/5

I thought I did a short call substitute teacher license back in 2005 and when I had them check, they said “no”. So I had to reach out and find my teacher that I worked with during student teaching (after 19 years)! and have her write a letter of recommendation, plus get my transcript and fingerprints done, and other paperwork that didn’t need to be done. I don’t remember, but I renewed my license in 2021 and the woman who put in my married name in the system spelled it wrong and that’s why no one could find me in the system!! I sent them all my paperwork to get my tier 3 license and a month later, they can’t find the paperwork!?

Basileus

1/5

Some of the least helpful people I've encountered. They seemed so put off to answer any questions which made the process more unpleasant.

Kelsie K.

1/5

Traveled all the way here to talk to someone through a doorbell (during business hours) just to be told to put all my paperwork in a drop box. Not sure why I wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone if they were open. Then a few weeks later was issued the wrong license, even though all required signed paperwork was included.

Kyle S.

4/5

Very helpful and kind on the phone. Their hours are a bit inconvenient though.