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). Enhance your skills in providing support and interventions for striving readers. Become a leader in reading education in your school or district with focused competencies using reading assessments and instructional strategies.
Program Highlights
- 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.
Certification Requirements
Flexible Reading Certification Course Sequence
Prerequisites: Undergraduate bachelor's degree and a teaching license Each reading course is 3 semester hours of graduate credits.
- Developmental Reading K-12 (RDGED 701)
Spring: January 6 - March 14, 2025 - Reading in the Content Areas K-12 (RDGED 702)
Spring: February 3 - April 11, 2025 - Choose One of the Following Literature Courses
- Children's Literature in the Reading Program (RDGED 703)
Spring: January 13 - March 21, 2025 - Young Adult Literature in the Reading Program (RDGED 704)
Spring: January 13 - March 21, 2025
- Children's Literature in the Reading Program (RDGED 703)
- Assessment & Evaluation of Reading and Language Development (RDGED 706)
Spring: January 21 - March 28, 2025 - Instructional Techniques for Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties (RDGED 705)
Spring: January 6 - March 14, 2025 - Practicum in Reading Difficulties (RDGED 707)
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.
Spring: January 6 - March 14, 2025
Field-based teaching experience in your school/community.
Apply Your Classes to a Graduate Degree
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 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.
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.
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.
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.