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

Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board: A Comprehensive Guide

Located at 1021 Bandana Blvd E Suite 222 in St Paul, Minnesota, the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality of education in the state by setting and maintaining high standards for educator preparation, licensing, and ongoing professional development.

Main Services

• Educator Licensing: PELSB oversees the licensing of educators in Minnesota, ensuring they meet the state's rigorous standards. This includes initial licensure, license renewal, and out-of-state license reciprocity.
• Program Approval: The board is responsible for approving educator preparation programs in Minnesota, ensuring they meet the state's quality standards and prepare graduates for success in the classroom.
• Complaint Investigation: PELSB investigates complaints about educator misconduct and takes appropriate action to maintain the integrity of the profession.
• Policy Development: The board develops and implements policies related to educator preparation, licensing, and professional development, keeping them aligned with best practices and the needs of Minnesota students.
• Data Management: PELSB maintains a database of Minnesota educators, providing information on licensure status, disciplinary actions, and other relevant data to schools, districts, and the public.

Location and Access

The PELSB office is situated in the executive branch of the Minnesota state government, located in the Walter Mondale Building, which is easily accessible from the I-94 and I-35E highways. The building is located in the Capitol Area neighborhood of St Paul, within walking distance of the Minnesota State Capitol and various government offices.

Public transportation is readily available, with the Metro Transit Green Line light rail and multiple bus routes serving the area. The office is also close to several parking options, including a wheelchair-accessible car park located at the Minnesota State Capitol. The building itself is wheelchair-accessible, with a designated entrance and elevator access to all floors.

Featured Characteristics

• Security: As a state government office, the building features secure access, with visitors required to present a valid ID and go through a screening process before entering.
• Modern Facilities: The office is equipped with modern technology and amenities, including high-speed internet, video conferencing capabilities, and comfortable waiting areas.
• Multilingual Support: PELSB strives to provide services in the languages spoken by Minnesota's diverse population. Interpretation services are available upon request.
• Accessibility: In addition to wheelchair accessibility, the office provides assistive listening devices, closed captioning, and large print materials upon request to ensure all visitors can participate fully in their interactions with the board.

Practical Information

• Address: 1021 Bandana Blvd E Suite 222, St Paul, MN 55108, United States
• Phone: 6515394200
• Website: mn.gov
• Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Closed on state holidays)
• Email: [email protected]

Positive Aspects from Reviews

PELSB has received 14 reviews on Google My Business, with an average rating of 2.9/5. Positive aspects mentioned by reviewers include:

• Professional and helpful staff
• Efficient processing of license applications and renewals
• Clear communication and timely responses to inquiries
• Accessible location and convenient parking

These aspects highlight PELSB's commitment to providing excellent customer service and supporting Minnesota's educators in their professional growth and development.

👍 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.