Blind or Visually Impaired (BVI)
About the BVI License
With a BVI license, you are authorized to provide evaluation and specially designed instruction to eligible infants, children, and youth from birth through age 21 who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind, and those with additional disabilities that include vision loss. Teachers collaborate and consult with families, other classroom and special education teachers, and specialized service providers in designing and implementing individualized education program plans.
BVI Licensure Programs
Currently, there are no teacher preparation programs leading to teacher licensure in Blind or Visually Impaired (BVI) in Minnesota.
At the request of legislators, to increase awareness of licensure programs in Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI), PELSB refers to other states’ programs.
Please know that PELSB is unable to pre-approve any licensure program located outside of Minnesota. Enrolling in an out-of-state program does not guarantee licensure in Minnesota.
Visual Impairment Programs
Preparation Provider | Level | License Type | Website |
Dominican College | Post Baccalaureate | Additional | Blind and Visually Impaired (TVI program) – Dominican College (dc.edu) |
Louisiana Tech University | Post Baccalaureate | Additional | |
New Mexico State University | Post Baccalaureate | Initial or Additional | Special Education – Master of Arts (Online) < New Mexico State University (nmsu.edu) |
University of Alabama – Huntsville | Post Baccalaureate | Additional | |
University of Massachusetts – Boston | Post Baccalaureate | Additional | |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Post Baccalaureate | Additional | |
University of North Dakota | Post Baccalaureate | Initial or Additional | |
University of Northern Colorado | Post Baccalaureate | Initial or Additional | Special Education: Visual Impairment (Master’s) – UNC Extended Campus (unco.edu) |
University of Pittsburgh | Post Baccalaureate | Additional | |
University of Utah | Post Baccalaureate | Additional | |
Vanderbilt Peabody College | Post Baccalaureate | Initial or Additional |