Reading Teacher Certification

Advance your teaching career, complete your Wisconsin #1316 reading teacher certification online in 12 months.
Degree Type Certification
Careers & Salaries Certificate Outcomes
Delivery Online

Become a Reading Teacher

Are you seeking a transition or change in jobs? Fast track your career with the online 12-month reading teacher certification (Wisconsin #1316).

You can enhance your skills in providing support and interventions for striving readers. You'll become a leader in reading education in your school or district with focused competencies using reading assessments and instructional strategies.

Prerequisites: Undergraduate bachelor's degree and a teaching license

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Online Registration Form

Register now to reserve a spot, there is no registration fee to reserve a class.
Register Now!

Online Reading Courses 

Each reading course is 3 semester hours of graduate credits.

Flexible course sequence.

  1. RDGED 701 Developmental Reading K-12
    Summer: June 3 - August 9, 2024
    Fall: September 16 - November 22, 2024
     
  2. RDGED 702 Reading in the Content Areas K-12
    Summer: May 6 - July 19, 2024
    Fall: September 16 - November 22, 2024
     
  3. Choose one literature course:
    RDGED 703 Children's Literature in the Reading Program
    Summer: June 10 - August 9, 2024
    Fall: September 9 - November 15, 2024
    or
    RDGED 704 Young Adult Literature in the Reading Program
    Summer: June 10 - August 9, 2024
    Fall: September 9 - November 15, 2024
     
  4. RDGED 706 Assessment & Evaluation of Reading and Language Development
    Summer: June 3 - August 9, 2024
    Fall: September 9 - November 15, 2024
     
  5. RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques For Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties
    Summer: May 28 - August 2, 2024
    Fall: September 9 - November 15, 2024
     
  6. RDGED 707 Practicum in Reading Difficulties 
    Summer: May 6 - July 12, 2024
    Fall: September 16 - November 22, 2024
    Field-based teaching experience in your school/community.
    Prerequisites: Successful completion with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in each of the five prerequisite reading courses: RDGED 701, 702, 703 or 704, 705, & 706 and background check
     

Program Benefits

  • 100% convenient online courses
  • Apply skills to instruction and professional development
  • Focus on real-world literacy projects for your classroom
  • Taught by experienced reading specialists/literacy coaches
  • Apply literacy courses as electives with only four additional core courses required for the Master of Science in Education graduate degree.
  • Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools (NCA) and the  United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
  • Learn more about our other certificates and Professional Development classes.

Note: This program is designed to meet the requirements for licensure in the State of Wisconsin. If you reside outside of Wisconsin, please note that UW-Stout cannot confirm whether this program (or course) meets requirements for professional licensure in your state. Students from other states will need to contact their state regarding licensure requirements. See the following website for additional information.

How much will it cost?

  • 2023-2024: $476 per semester hour graduate credit ($1,428 per course)
  • Tuition is the same for Wisconsin residents, out-of-state, and international students.
  • Tuition Due Dates

Is financial aid available?

UW-Stout Office of Financial Aid
You may qualify for financial assistance if you are enrolled in our Master's of Science in Education degree program, with at least five graduate credits in a semester.

Stout University Foundation sponsors scholarships for graduate students.

Let's Talk

If you are considering a Reading Teacher Certification, we encourage you to contact Emily Hines, the certification advisor at hinese@uwstout.edu. She can explain how our certification will give you a unique and competitive advantage as you pursue your career. And when you're ready to get started, Emily will help you successfully complete the certification.

Apply Now!

Apply now if you plan to enroll in all six courses for Wisconsin certification.

The reading teacher (Wisconsin license #1316) license is a supplemental/add-on teaching license, that requires a bachelor's degree, initial teaching license, at least two years of teaching experience, and current background check.

If you are a beginning teacher, you may enroll in the #1316 reading teacher certification courses before completing two years of teaching. Then you can apply for your #1316 license after finishing the two years of classroom teaching requirement.   For educators in Wisconsin, the Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) may be required; please see WI DPI for licensure requirements on the FORT.

Reading teacher application

Questions/clarifications, please email Dr. Emily Hines at hinese@uwstout.edu.

Reading Program Admission Requirements

When can I start?

When can I start?

Register now to reserve a spot!

Complete the Online Registration Request Form

There is no registration fee to reserve a class.

This program is very popular, and courses fill well before the start date.

The reading courses are offered three times each year (spring, summer, and fall).

Can I apply the reading teacher classes to the Masters of Science in Education (MSED) degree?

Absolutely, all reading courses are approved MSED electives. Only four additional classes are required to complete your Master of Science in Education graduate degree.

Course Sequence if You Begin in September

Do I need to apply for admission to the university's graduate program?

No, you do not need to apply for graduate admission to the university unless you are beginning the Master of Science in Education online degree program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

May I enroll in the reading courses if I have already completed a Master's degree?

Yes, you may enroll in the courses to meet your goals for

  • add-on reading teacher certification/license
  • professional development
  • a continuing education refresher course
  • license renewal
  • graduate credits to apply for salary advancement
  • transfer credit to another university or state's licensure program

Can previous graduate-level literacy or reading coursework be applied to the UW-Stout reading teacher certification sequence of courses?

A maximum of six graduate credits completed within the past seven years may be transferred pending a syllabus review of previous reading/literacy coursework.

Transfer credits may only apply to the first three courses in the reading certification sequence of courses (RDGED 701 Developmental Reading, RDGED 702 Reading in the Content Areas, RDGED 703 Children's Literature or RDGED 704 Young Adult Literature).

NOTE: The last three courses, (RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques for Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties, RDGED 706 Assessment of Language and Reading Development and RDGED 707 Practicum in Reading Difficulties), must be taken from University of Wisconsin-Stout to demonstrate competencies using specific assessments and instructional techniques to prepare for the practicum.

Who Should Enroll

Our students include:

  • 4K-Elementary, Middle School, and High School Teachers
  • Reading/Math Interventionists
  • Special Education Teachers
  • English Language Arts Teachers
  • Dual-Language Spanish Teachers
  • Academic/Instructional Coaches
  • Reading Resource Teachers
  • Title I Teachers
  • ELL/ESL Teachers
  • Bilingual Teachers
  • Literacy Specialists
  • RTI Coordinators
  • Literacy Coaches
  • Library Media Specialists
  • Speech-Language Pathologists

If you reside outside of Wisconsin, please note that UW-Stout cannot confirm whether this program (or course) meets requirements for professional licensure in your state. See the following website for additional information.

Finding Reading Teacher Jobs

What types of reading teaching opportunities are available?

  • Reading teacher, Title 1 teacher, reading interventionist (in a public school district, varies/based on experience) $34,000-$50,000
  • Reading teacher (correctional institution) $44,000-$45,000
  • Adult educator (technical college) $25,000-$40,000
  • Tutor (private setting) $14-$26 per hour

How will a graduate reading certification help me?

  • Add your reading certification to your resume and LinkedIn profile. 
  • Demonstrate you are acquiring new skills and knowledge if you are seeking a transition or change in jobs.
  • Enhance your bachelor’s or master’s degree with literacy subject matter expertise.
  • Use your online reading eportfolio to showcase your skills to employers.

Where can I find reading teacher job listings and volunteer opportunities?