Please note that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) maintains an official Web site with information about teacher certification and designations. See the ISBE's official Guide to Requirements for Certification, Endorsement and Assignment of Teachers, School Service Personnel, and Administrators for complete details (most recent edition July 2005). Also, answers to many of your questions may be found by accessing the Web site's Table of Contents.

Certification Requirements

The Illinois teacher certification system has three tiers: (a) Initial License, (b) Standard License, and (c) Master Teacher Certificate. To obtain the Initial License, candidates are required to graduate from an accredited teacher education program at one of the State's universities. The Physics Teacher Education Program at Illinois State University is a nationally accredited program.

Teachers who hold the Initial License must progress to the Standard License after three years.

To obtain the Master Teacher Certificate, students must earn National Board (NBPTS) certification. This can be done under the mentorship of ISU Physics Department PTE program director Ken Wester Illinois State University is home of one of only five National Board Resource Centers.

Reciprocity

Click here to see the current list of states that have reciprocity with Illinois teaching certificates under the Central States Teacher Exchange Agreement and NASDTEC Interstate Agreement.

Recertification Requirements

ISBE Teaching Certificate Renewal Process
ISBE Certificate Renewal Manual
IEA Web site containing additional information about renewal process