Alternative Teacher Preparation

Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC) is Minnesota’s first state-approved alternative teacher preparation provider under Minnesota Statute §122A.2451. Approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) in October 2018, LCSC launched Career and Technical Education (CTE) alternative licensure pathways with support from a $150,000 grant from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. In 2024, PELSB also approved LCSC to offer initial licensure. Today, LCSC supports more than 200 teachers each year across CTE areas and career fields.

 

LCSC’s licensure programs are competency-based and built for working educators. There are no tuition fees, grades, or expensive textbooks. Instead, candidates complete practical modules and projects designed for immediate use in classrooms and labs. Programs are flexible and individualized, allowing candidates to progress at their own pace rather than within the traditional academic calendar.

 

After admission, each candidate is paired with an advisor/mentor who helps design a personalized program of study aligned to the license or endorsement sought. Candidates demonstrate proficiency through a combination of experiences, such as targeted professional development, asynchronous online learning, industry certifications and credentials, and portfolio-based evidence of competence.

 

A candidate completes the content phase by finishing the PELSB-approved modules required for their licensure area, typically four to sixteen modules, depending on the license. Following a completion review, LCSC recommends qualified candidates to PELSB for licensure. Continuous improvement is built into the process, and candidates may be asked to provide feedback and data that strengthen the program over time.