Certification Information

 

Certificate Changes in 2012

Certification Fees

2012 brings the start of a series of significant changes to teacher certification in Illinois.  One of the most obvious changes to certification is an increase in certification fees.  Beginning January 1, 2012, the following fees were enacted:

Certificate Application                       $75                     

Certificate Endorsement                   $50 

Certificate Registration                     $10 per year                          

 

Lapsed Certificates

The process for reinstating a lapsed certificate changed on January 1, 2012.  Under the new law, a certificate becomes lapsed after the certificate registration has been expired for a period of 6 months.  The only way to renew a certificate that has become lapsed is to complete 9 semester hours of college coursework in the area of endorsement and pay all back registration fees.  Now more than ever, it is important to know when your certificate registration is set to expire, to ensure that it is renewed in a timely manner.  You can access your certificate registration information online at www.isbe.net/ecs .  The form used to reinstate a lapsed certificate can be found online at http://isbe.net/certification/pdf/73-93a_reinstate_app.pdf.  

 

Certificate Endorsement

The requirements for most certificate endorsements will be changing on February 1, 2012.  Under the new law, the number of semester hours of college coursework required will not change.  However, there will be a requirement that 50% of the college coursework be upper level or graduate coursework.  Upper level coursework is coursework that is considered by the college to be junior/senior level coursework.  Typically, these are 300 and 400 level courses.  All coursework used to meet the endorsement requirements must also be passed with a grade of C or higher.  No coursework with a grade of C- or lower may be used to earn an endorsement.

The next few years will see more changes coming to certification.  We will keep you informed of the changes as the Illinois State Board of Education makes information available.  You may want to check the Illinois State Board of Education website and the Regional Office of Education website periodically for certification updates.

ISBE – www.isbe.net/certification

ROE – www.hmwroe27.com/certification_info.html

 

Certificate Renewal

The following Continuing Professional Development Unit (CPDU) Guidance Documents provide information about the number and type of professional development activities required for certificate renewal.  The Educator Certification System (ECS) Guidance Documents provide an overview of the process for entering professional development into the ECS system.

CPDU Guidance Document for teachers moving from Initial to Standard Certificate - CLICK HERE

ECS Guidance Document for teachers moving from Initial to Standard Certificate - CLICK HERE

CPDU Guidance Document for teachers with a Standard or Master Certificate - CLICK HERE

ECS Guidance Document for teachers with a Standard or Master Certificate - CLICK HERE

ECS Guidance Document for administrators with an Administrative Certificate - CLICK HERE

Looking for online professional development? 

CLICK HERE to access the Western Illinois University STAR-On Line Professional Development website.

Educator Certification System (ECS)

CLICK HERE to access ECS.

Certificate Registration

You must register in the region you are currently teaching. One fee will cover you and all your certificates throughout the state.  CLICK HERE to download a Registration Form.

• If you have registered and taught in a region (county) previously and are now teaching in a new region, you do not have to pay an additional fee, only register in the new region.

• If you are not teaching, but wish to keep your certificate active, you may register in any county in the state of Illinois.

Application for a New Certificate or Additional Certificates

New Certificate, New Graduate

New graduates from Illinois universities must go online to apply for the new certificate.  Applicants must create an Educator Certification System (ECS) account at www.isbe.net/ecs to complete this process.  CLICK HERE to download a guidance document which more thoroughly explains this process.

You will be issued an Initial teaching certificate. Once you have obtained four years of teaching experience, you must apply for a Standard certificate.

Applying for a New Certificate

You must complete the following steps and send the required forms, transcripts and fees to the Regional Office of Education:

• Completed application - CLICK HERE
• $75.00 evaluation fee and a $10 per year registration fee - CLICK HERE
• Official transcripts with the seals and degrees stated in a sealed envelope
• State Approved Program Verification Form - CLICK HERE
• A letter of teaching experience stating dates taught and grade level taught.  This is to be on letterhead

 

Applying for a New Certificate Endorsement

You must complete the following items from the Regional Office of Education and return them to the Regional Office:

• Completed endorsement application - CLICK HERE
• $50.00 evaluation fee
• Official transcripts in a sealed envelope

 

Duplicate Certificates

• 8.00 fee and completed application - CLICK HERE

Substitute Certificates

To obtain a Substitute Teaching Certificate, you must submit the following items to the Regional Office:

• Application indicating Substitute Certificate - CLICK HERE
• $75 Application Fee
• Official set of transcripts in a sealed envelope showing a Bachelors Degree

To work as a Substitute Teacher, you must complete the following steps through the Regional Office

• Complete Certificate Registration Form - CLICK HERE
• $40 Registration Fee
• Proof of a Physical and TB Test (must be within 90 days) - CLICK HERE
• Submit to a Fingerprint Background Check
• $50 Fingerprint Background Check Fee
• Signed Criminal History Records Check Release - CLICK HERE

Once these steps have been completed and your Background Check results have been received by the Regional Office of Education showing no offenses which would prohibit you from substitute teaching, you may be added to the Substitute Teacher List for Henderson, Mercer and Warren Counties.

For further information, please contact Bob Gound or Kae Tedford at the Regional Office of Education.     

Monday through Friday

8:00-4:30

(309)734-6822