
MN CTE is a statewide service of Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC), a regional government and school district (ISD 926) established under Minnesota State Statute 123A.21, in collaboration with the Minnesota Service Cooperatives. Although based in west-central Minnesota (Economic Development Region 4), LCSC provides high-quality, innovative programs to school districts, cities, counties, other governmental agencies, and nonprofit institutions throughout the state.
MN CTE is the only Career and Technical Education (CTE) alternative teacher preparation program in Minnesota approved by the state teacher licensing board. The program offers no-cost, grant-funded alternative pathways to licensure for accepted participants. To date, more than 300 teachers have earned their licenses through LCSC’s programs.

Deadlines
Program Start
Rolling Deadline
Rolling Deadline
Rolling Deadline
Rolling Deadline
Students at Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC) have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC) to see if you can, too!
Grants, Stipends, Scholarships
Tuition for the program is $7,000 for initial licensure and $3,500 for each additional license. However, if you’re accepted, these costs are fully covered by grants—so you won’t pay out of pocket. Funding from the Service Cooperatives’ CTE Consortium Grant, PELSB’s Pathways Preparation Grant, and the federal Perkins Grant makes the program generally free. Plus, there’s no application fee.