Illinois Alternative Certification

Become an ESL Teacher

teachbook — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:49:42 +0000

Obtain a Teaching License with an option for an English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree and wish to become a certified teacher, you can obtain your master’s degree with certification and a specialization in ESL instruction. We recommend the Master of Science in Education with Certification at Quincy University in partnership with National Teacher Education Center (NTEC).

Through this program, certification can be obtained in the following areas:
• Special Education
• Elementary Education

Secondary:
• Biology
• Math
• English
• History/Social Science
• Foreign Language

All programs are offered with an option for a Bilingual or an ESL endorsement.

Receive an ESL Teaching Endorsement
If you are a licensed teacher wishing to specialize in English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, you can earn a master’s degree with a concentration in ESL education. We recommend the Master of Science in Education with an ESL endorsement offered by Quincy University in partnership with National Teacher Education Center (NTEC).

The program is offered in a blended online format, with both online instruction and face-to-face seminars offered at convenient locations near you. The blended format allows you a flexible schedule during the day. As part of this 36-credit program, ESL candidates will take the 18 credits required to earn an ESL endorsement. Candidates for the ESL endorsement in Illinois will need to pass the Target Language Proficiency Exam prior to earning the endorsement. Learn more about the Master of Science in Education with ESL Endorsement.

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Become a Reading Teacher

teachbook — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:40:00 +0000

If you are a licensed teacher wishing to specialize in reading instruction, you can earn a master’s degree with a concentration in reading. We recommend the Master of Science in Education with a Reading Teacher endorsement offered by Quincy University in partnership with National Teacher Education Center (NTEC).

The program is offered in a blended online format, with both online instruction and face-to-face seminars offered at convenient locations near you. The blended format allows you a flexible schedule during the day. As part of this 36-credit program, candidates will take the 24 credits required to earn a Reading Teacher endorsement. Learn more about the Master of Science in Education with Reading Teacher Endorsement.

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Become a Bilingual Teacher

teachbook — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:35:33 +0000

Obtain a Teaching License with an option for Bilingual Endorsement
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree and wish to become a certified teacher, you can obtain your master’s degree with certification and a specialization in bilingual instruction. We recommend the Master of Science in Education with Certification at Quincy University in partnership with National Teacher Education Center (NTEC).

Through this program, certification can be obtained in the following areas:
• Special Education
• Elementary Education

Secondary:
• Biology
• Math
• English
• History/Social Science
• Foreign Language

All programs are offered with an option for a Bilingual or an ESL endorsement.

Receive a Bilingual Endorsement
If you are a licensed teacher wishing to specialize in bilingual instruction, you can earn a master’s degree with a concentration in bilingual education. We recommend the Master of Science in Education with a bilingual endorsement offered by Quincy University in partnership with National Teacher Education Center (NTEC).

The program is offered in a blended online format, with both online instruction and face-to-face seminars offered at convenient locations near you. The blended format allows you a flexible schedule during the day. As part of this 36-credit program, Bilingual candidates will take the 18 credits required to earn a Bilingual endorsement. Candidates for the Bilingual endorsement in Illinois will need to pass the Target Language Proficiency Exam prior to earning the endorsement. Learn more about the Master of Science in Education with Bilingual Endorsement.

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How Do I Become a Teacher?

teachbook — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:32:01 +0000

In order to become certified in Illinois, individuals must complete a state approved certificate preparation program (or hold a valid and comparable out-of-state certificate), meet all coursework and testing requirements, and meet all other requirements detailed in Illinois statute and rules.

Traditional Certification
A traditional teacher certification track is when individuals attend school full-time and earn a teaching certificate upon completing a degree. In Illinois, individuals must complete a state-approved certificate preparation program (or hold a valid and comparable out-of-state certificate), meet all coursework and testing requirements, and meet all other requirements detailed in Illinois statute and rules in order to become a certified teacher. Learn more about general certification requirements at the Illinois State Board of Education.

Some traditional certification programs are designed so that you can complete a bachelor’s degree and earn a teaching license while keeping a full-time job. We recommend the National Teacher Education Center (NTEC) where you will receive real-world experience in the classroom via a required student-teaching assignment in either Special Education or Elementary Education. After successfully completing the program of your choice, you will be eligible to continue on for a Bilingual or ESL endorsement with an extra semester of coursework.

National Teacher Education Center also offers the opportunity to earn your master’s degree and a teaching license in the evenings while continuing to work at your current job. All master’s programs have an option for a Bilingual, ESL, or Reading endorsement.

Both programs are offered in a blended format, with online instruction and face-to-face seminars offered at convenient locations near you. The blended format allows you a flexible schedule during the day, so you can maintain your current employment.

Alternative Certification
Individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have related work experience may be interested in one of Illinois’ Alternate Certification Programs. Candidates in an alternative certification program can earn teaching license while working as a full-time, paid teacher in an Illinois classroom if they:

complete one semester of coursework prior to entering the classroom
pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills
pass the content knowledge test relevant to their area of certification, and
complete a practice teaching assignment.

Candidates who meet these requirements earn a provisional teaching license and are deemed highly qualified under Illinois law. This allows schools to hire candidates on a provisional license and pay them as full-time teacher.

Qualified candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or the verified overseas equivalent.

In general, alternative certification programs may prepare teachers in any area. However, for the most part they are used to meet the need for more teachers in shortage areas like:

special education
bilingual education
high school math, and
high school science
foreign language.

It is also possible to complete an alternative certification program in other areas (e.g., elementary education) but these are not shortage areas and as a result schools generally hire candidates from the supply of traditionally certified teachers.

Alternative certification programs are offered by a number of providers. We recommend the programs offered by Quincy University through the National Teacher Education Center (NTEC).

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Testing Information

teachbook — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:24:43 +0000

The State of Illinois offers the tests needed to participate in an alternative certification program.

All alternative certification candidates must pass the Basic Skills test (Test #96). The Basic Skills Test includes a reading, writing and mathematics section. Visit www.icts.nesinc.com to register for the test. NTEC offers test preparation to program applicants. Please visit www.teach.us to learn more.

Alternative Certification candidates must also pass the Subject Matter Content Exam. The table below lists the content tests for several certification areas.

Certificate Area	Subject Matter Content Test
Elementary Bilingual	Elementary / Middle Grades (Test #110)
Special Education	Learning Behavior Specialist I (Test #155)
High School Math	Mathematics (Test #115)
High School Biology	Biology (Test #105)
High School Chemistry	Chemistry (Test #106)
High School Physics	Physics (Test #116)

To register for a Subject Matter Content Test or for a complete list of Subject Matter Content Tests, please visit www.icts.nesinc.com.

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