Advisement & Certification

Certification & Endorsements

Teaching Certification

Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your educational career!  We are pleased to assist you in becoming a certified teacher.

In order for our office to process your certification (also called entitlement) with the State of Illinois, you must have the following completed:

• Pass the basic skills test
  
• Pass the content area test(s)
  
• Complete all professional education courses
  
• Complete all requirements for your program

NOTE: Before the state will issue your certification, you will also need to pass the appropriate APT test. Information on all tests required for certification may be found at www.icts.nesinc.com.

Once you have been notified via e-mail that your entitlement has been processed with the State of Illinois, you may apply for and register your certificate by going to the following web site:

http://www.isbe.net/ECS/default.htm

If you want to review the Certification Presentation given by OCECA staff, you may access it here.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Your entitlement notification (the part where SIUE tells the State of Illinois you are entitled to a teaching certification) is only good for three (3) years.  If you fail to apply for your certificate within 3 years, you will be required to complete any additional requirements in effect at the time in which you do apply.

Testing Information:
For detailed information regarding the testing procedure and requirements, please click HERE.

Special Education Certification & Options

There are several options available for current teachers to add Special Education to their current certificate. For detailed information please click HERE.

Subsequent Teaching Certificates

Individuals who have an Illinois Teaching Certificate may apply for an evaluation for a subsequent certificate through the Office of Clinical Experience, Certification, and Advisement (OCECA). The OCECA Director will evaluate applications, transcripts, teaching experience, and ICTS test results to determine if the candidate qualifies for a focused program, and then forward the application to the appropriate program for further advisement on the focused program of study for the subsequent certificate being sought. SIUE will offer focused programs in several areas.

For detailed information on obtaining a Subsequent Teaching Certificate, please click HERE.

Endorsements

Secondary Endorsements

Current teachers wishing to add an endorsement on their existing teaching certificate should start with their local Regional Office of Education. You will need to submit form 73-52 requesting the endorsements.  The State will review your transcripts and either add the endorsement to your certificate or issue a deficiency notice informing you of the items you still need to complete.

This SEC Endorsement document might help you determine how close you are to an endorsement in a content area in which SIUE offers a program.

Middle School Endorsement
Middle School Endorsements are offered in a wide range of content areas.  In addition to the content courses, the following two courses are typically required for all middle school endorsements:

• EPFR 415: “Middle Grade Learner”
  
• CI 407: “Middle Grade Curriculum”

The MS Endorsement worksheet might be helpful in considering middle school endorsements.